Cool News
Visit Little Ralphie Parker's House As Seen In A CHRISTMAS STORY!!
Merrick again...
I know many AICN readers are rabid fans of A CHRISTMAS STORY – the now perennial Yuletide classic that almost didn’t get released back in the day. As such, we’d be woefully remiss if we didn’t tell you about this opportunity.
A CHRISTMAS STORY is easily one of the movies I cherish most, and is one of two films I can watch inexhaustibly in a loop. Which…happens nearly every Christmas Eve/Christmas Day when TNT runs their 24 hour CHRISTMAS STORY marathon.
The wonderful Cleveland house featured in the film…Ralphie’s house…has recently been restored to its cinematic appearance and condition. This was done by a former Navy Intelligence Officer named Brian Jones (you’d be surprised how many Intelligence people I’ve encountered in the Hollywood community). Jones was a huge fan of the film, selling replicas of the movie’s iconic Leg Lamps (“It’s a major award!”).
Here’s how the rest came about (from a press release):
Brian Jones, 30 of San Diego, is a true fan of the movie and a young entrepreneur. The former Navy intelligence officer not only sells leg lamps – just like the one featured in the movie – for a living, but he also purchased the Cleveland house used in the film. Jones bought the house – sight unseen and without ever visiting Ohio – in an eBay auction. His wife, who serves in the military, e-mailed him about the online listing as her ship was on its way to the Middle East. Since January 2006, he has been renovating the house to its original movie appearance.
The house officially opened on November 25, and includes a small museum dedicated to the film (photos, poor Randy’s snow suit…“I can’t put my arms down!”). If you’re in the area, this is an amazing chance to experience a part of cinema history.
If you’re not in the area, love the movie, and can afford to go: go. You can also check out other locations featured in the film (the Higbee's building, for example), as well as a restaurant that serves Chinese Turkey (Peking Duck)!
Maybe I can talk Harry into sending me and my son on an AICN mission. Of course, I’m such a pain in the ass that he’d probably send me there with a one way ticket. Ah well, one could do far worse than getting stuck in CHRISTMAS STORY land. Although, I'm saying this having never been to Cleveland.
Click the photo to learn more!
[HERE is a larger version of the same image.]
-
+ Expand All
-
Statistically speaking, it had to happen someday.
-
This might be a banner day.
-
Not your day, man . . .
-
Bumpuses!
-
Actually, I've been to Cleveland. Not a bad town at all. You could visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame while you are there!
-
Because I will be in Cleveland for Christmas. I will be sure to vist. Fa-Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra
-
Christmas. I'll have to check this shit out. Actually this was big news in Cle-Town about a year ago. Good to hear it has finally opened.
-
That's incredibly cool.
-
Any jackasses who find some way to hate on this one should be hunted down and have their Christmas/Holidays methodically, ironically and humorously destroyed.
-
The film hits next week on HD-DVD.
http://tinyurl.com/y52tgj
-
"My Summer Story" is now finally out on DVD.. Not near as "classic" as "Christmas Story", but still nice to have for the collection..
Part 3, "Ollie Hoopnoodles Haven of Bliss" was out on video, but you'll pay more than $30 for it..
Ironically, when I got my first BB gun, I caught a ricochet right under the eye too..
-
I have to agree. This is a holiday movie that got the message right. Counter-example - that Danny DeVito Matthew Broderick abortion Deck The Halls that is currently playing. The holidays should be a time when people come together and curse the Bumpeses' dogs for getting the turkey.
-
HAHAHAHAHAH. Oh, man. This is cool news. This movie seriously is one of my classics. Almost every scene has a moment I remember. Thanks for bringing this up, Merrick.
-
"Ra, Ra, Ra, Ra, RAAAAAH, Ra, Ra, Ra, RAAAH"
-
...from Back to the Future. Some day.
-
Cause the book was set there, the movie was filmed there, yet in the script it's all set in Indiana. Fuck Indiana!!! O - H!!! I - O!!!
-
Sorry, Nice Marmot, but the book is set in Hohman, Indiana.
-
I liked him on TITUS. And he had a bit role in FREDDY VS. JASON. Still looks exactly the same, just older. He gets props forever for being Farkus.
-
I always thought that made the character even funnier somehow
-
This was on Yahoo's home page two weeks ago! Way to stay on top of things!
-
...this past weekend. You could go to a mall to meet some of the actors (not Peter Billingsly--he's a producer now and is tired of being known as Ralphie). But if you wanted Randy or Scott Farkus' autograph, you had to pay. I didn't attend. I live in Cleveland and can visit that house anytime of year, so why bother fighting the crowd? That movie was the best Christmas movie ever. Proud to have seen it in the theatre, first time around, shamoan!
-
Never heard of it! Must be a Yank thing!
-
What's the book called? I could have sworn it had some blatant title, like "A Child's Christmas In Cleveland" or something like that. Oh well, Cleveland rocks!
-
Is as much of a holiday tradition as anything else. No other Christmas movie even comes close.
-
But I loved the Christmas Story. My wife hated it.
-
The movie mainly draws from "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash" by Jean Shepherd.
Its A good read. -
The main one is "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash". The Bumpus hounds actually swipe an Easter meal, not a Christmas meal (that's in a follow-up book, forget the title).
Now that I think about it, I think they combined all the Christmas Story-related stories into a book called Christmas Story. -
The exteriors for this film were shot in Cleveland, the interiors where shot in Toronto, and all of the school scenes (outside and in) where shot at a school in St. Catharines, Ontario (about an hour south of Toronto, near Niagara Falls). I lived in St. Catharines for many years and it was pretty cool to drive by Ralphie's school almost every day. Great movie.
-
and fill it with coke and rage.
-
So some spoiled brat wants a gun really badly then shoots himself in the eye when he gets it. Wow. And why is this being played repeatedly every christmas on tnt and such? Maybe I'll never understand.
-
That commercial based on this movie was good for a laugh. Damn I love X-Mas!
-
Yeah, it was an ad for "Go" phones ... too bad they didn't show a clip of the dad's "leg lamp" or the kid's tongue stuck to the frozen pole [/fun times]
-
Oh Pipple, lighten up.
-
It is worth looking into. A Christmas Story is possibly the funniest holiday movie ever made and judged as comedy alone without any sentiment, it stands up. Very funny.
-
*shrugs*
-
I once spent an entire summer chained up in the attic for saying the word "fudge". Only I didn't say "Fudge." I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the "F-dash-dash-dash" word!
-
This is "ain't I going to kill myself if I hear one more fucking word about fucking Christmas Story" news. And whatever happened to the Billy Zane action movie they were filming outside my window? I'd recognize the title if I saw it on imdb, I think.
-
I think they changed the title of that Billy Zane thing to "Bet Your Life."
-
That is only about 2 hours away from my house. I'll have to pack up the kids and go check it out.
-
What's the other movie?
-
was a master of profanity." -- If you can make it through that scene without laughing, you are dead inside.
-
One of the greatest movie props ever. I even had a good chuckle when the leg lamp appeared in 'Zathura' which Peter (Ralphie) Billingsley co-produced. And yes, Cleveland Rocks!
-
Much more boffo socko is The Ghoul. He would likely tape some boom booms to the leg lamp and destroy it.
Stay sick! -
Complete with llama.
-
Hey, this is neeto... it's always amazing how certain movies hit people in a way that they do crazy stuff to prove how much they like it. Cool story, thanks...
-
The world will see what else his tongue gets stuck to ;)
-
You'll put your eye out!
-
I hate meatloaf!
-
I believe the story was supposed to be in Indiana, Indianapolis I think...whatever, those mid-western cities look pretty much the same.
-
..about this somewhere. It's interesting how the guy got to this point. I thought it was, anyway.
-
Friday, November 24, 2006
Fan's passion brings 'Christmas Story' house to life
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JOE MILICIA - The Associated Press
Ralphie Parker and Brian Jones know what it's like to want something.
For Ralphie, the object of desire was an official Red Ryder, carbine-action, 200-shot, range model air rifle. (Go ahead, say it, "You'll shoot your eye out, kid.")
For Jones, the gotta-have-it item was Ralphie's house -- the one used in "A Christmas Story," the quirky early '80s film that's found a niche alongside holiday classics like "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street."
Jones has restored the three-story, wood-frame house to its appearance in the movie and will open it for tours beginning Saturday. His hope is that it will become a tourist stop alongside the city's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and other destinations.
The 30-year-old is not sure if he'll make enough money to cover his $500,000 investment, but as sure as a kid's tongue will stick to a frozen flag pole, he's committed to the project.
"I just want people to come and enjoy it as I have," said Jones, a boyish-faced former Navy lieutenant.
"A Christmas Story" wasn't a big hit when released in 1983 but repeat television airings and, in recent years, a 24-hour run on Christmas Day have made its story of boy's quest to get a BB gun for Christmas as infectious as the bespectacled Ralphie's eager grin.
"It just kind of sets the mood. In the Jones household, it's on all day once the marathon comes on," said Jones, who is married with an 8-month-old daughter.
Jones first saw the movie in the late 1980s and he and his parents became fans.
When the San Diego resident's dream of a becoming a Navy pilot like his father was denied because of his eyesight, his parents sent him a package to lift his spirits.
Marked "FRAGILE" on the outside, it contained a leg lamp his parents built to look just like the one received by Ralphie's father, who proudly displayed it in the living room window, boasting, "It's a major award!"
Jones's mom noted that he could probably make a business out of selling them. In 2003, he started doing just that.
"I tooled together 500 lamps in my 1,000-square-foot condo in San Diego and sold them all in the first year," Jones said.
When the house from the film was put up for sale on eBay in December 2004, it seemed like destiny to Jones.
"I said, 'Ooh, I gotta have that.' "
The auction price was up to $115,000. Jones, who shares Ralphie's unflinching enthusiasm, less than 20/20 eyesight and ability to speak at a breakneck pace, said he'd pay $150,000 if the owner stopped the bidding.
"It was mine. I sent him a deposit and flew out two days after Christmas just to make sure it wasn't a falling down shack," Jones said. "Basically, I bought it site unseen."
He put in new windows and replaced the 111-year-old house's gray aluminum siding with mustard yellow painted wood and green trim that perfectly matches Ralphie's house.
Although only a couple interior shots were filmed there, Jones has recreated the '40s feel of Ralphie's home with a brown-and-white tile kitchen floor, a wide cast-iron sink in the kitchen, a claw-foot bathtub and, of course, a leg lamp in the window.
He also bought the house across the street -- Ralphie runs past it in the film's opening scene -- to serve as a museum and gift shop.
Several original items from the film are on display, including the infamous snowsuit ("I can't put my arms down!") worn by Ralphie's brother, Randy.
The house is located in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood, just a few minutes from downtown where the exterior department store shots were filmed at the former Higbee's.
The cooperation of the department store is what brought the filmmakers to Cleveland for the film based on author Jean Shepherd's stories of his upbringing in Hammond, Ind.
The house is well known in the neighborhood and neighbors like Marlene Childers have watched the house change owners and go through ups and downs over the years. She's excited about Jones's tribute -- even if it means more cars and traffic.
"I love that story," she said.
Jones knows the feeling. And he says stepping onto Ralphie's old street makes him feel like he's in the movie.
Standing in front of the house holding a replica Red Ryder rifle, he discusses his future plans -- which could include a nearby bed and breakfast -- when, seemingly on a director's cue, a motorist passes, stops his car, rolls down the window and shouts, "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"
-
CLEVELAND (AP) — The man who bought and restored a house used in the filming of the 1980s cult hit “A Christmas Story” says it was all worth it.
Between 3,000 and 5,000 fans came from across the United States and Canada on Saturday to attend its opening.
“I guess we had planned for this, but it’s still amazing to see it happen,” said Brian Jones, 30, of San Diego, who bought the three-story, wood-frame house last year on eBay.
-
You used up ALL THE GLUE...ON PURPOSE!!!
-
Great artist that had his troubles... But he gave us Phoenix's costume, Mystique, Black Cat, Storm, Colossus, Thunderbird, Starjammers, the Shi'ar Imperial Guard, the Futurians... Hope you're in a better place where your demons will let you rest.
-
seems to hold this movie in quite such high regard. Unusual take I must say. Saw this posted on a blog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMoZrC5JlM8
-
Don't know if anyone knows this, but most of the exterior filming was done in Toronto, as well as the interior of Higbee's which was the old Eaton's store at College and Yonge in Toronto. You can see some of the old Toronto Transit steet cars in the background when they are buying the christmas tree.
Just thought I'd mention this BECAUSE I WORKED AS AN EXTRA FOR BACKGROUND IN SOME OF THOSE SCENES!!! AWESOME!!! -
Zack Ward, who played Scut Farkus is a Toronto Native and has gone on to act in loads of other movies. Comin up is a bit part in the Transformers movie.
-
The house is only about 10 mins from my house (it is in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland). We actually have a about 20 seats booked on Lolly the Trolly to go visit the house and then go to the bars afterward at the end of the month...should be a blast.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 273 total posts 271 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 92 total posts 92 posts
- AVENGERS enemy revealed as pink boardgame pieces... You might suffer some form of elation... SPOILERS!!! -- 160 total posts 69 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 151 total posts 63 posts
- Does ‘SNL’ Rhyme With ‘Deschanel’?? Learn Which SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Vet Hosts After Sexy Zooey!! -- 67 total posts 59 posts
- HANNA's Saoirse Ronan to boss around seven little people -- 60 total posts 57 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 484 total posts 49 posts
- Here's The Red Band Trailer For Drafthouse Films' THE FP! -- 69 total posts 42 posts
- Friday Brings SWEEPS DAY NINE!! Gab Here About Tonight’s FRINGE!! Plus Einstein on TIM, Wiig On PORTLANDIA, MAHER, CLONE, GIFTED, GRIMM, SPARTACUS, SUPERNATURAL, GOLD RUSH And More!! -- 120 total posts 32 posts
- SPACE 2099!! -- 183 total posts 24 posts