The Omen (1976) - Newspaper Ad

Oakland Tribune - June 25, 1976

In these United States, where this blog is currently housed, The Omen celebrates its 50th birthday today.

I remember being equal parts fascinated and unnerved by one of the countless advertisements for The Omen. It was the one where the shadow Damien casts is that of doglike figure, which I had no way on knowing at the time was supposed to represent a jackal (and Damien's birth mother). The more used alternate, of course, was Damien casting a shadow of cross that, because of the perspective, was rather conspicuously upside down (which means EVIL).

My only other memories are of flipping through the novelization and getting frightened by the black and white photos in the center. The same also applies for the novelization of Damien Omen II (1978).

I think I first saw the film when it made its network television debut. Because, at time of The Omen's theatrical release, my brother and I were considered far too young to see R-rated fare on the big screen.

Because this was a major theatrical release, The Omen had no double-feature in its indoor venues. However, at the Coliseum drive-in, where double-bills were essential to the point of being required, The Omen was well paired with 1973's The Legend of Hell House.
 

And those double-bills being shown on the adjacent screens were also pretty cool.