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‘A Christmas Story’ still hits people where they live after 25 years
Kansas City Star ^ | 12/04/08 | Star news services

Posted on 12/05/2008 11:11:43 AM PST by qam1

Fans of the holiday classic “A Christmas Story” are celebrating the film’s 25th anniversary with a convention and trips to the house where the movie was made.

The 1983 film, an adaptation of Jean Shepard’s memoir of a boy in the 1940s, was set in Indiana but largely filmed in Ohio. The movie starred Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker, a young boy determined to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.

The film was a modest theatrical success, but critics loved it. It eventually joined “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street” as a Christmas classic.

“It’s a film about being a kid and looking back,” said Brian Jones, who owns the house where the movie was shot and the neighboring museum dedicated to the film.

About 4,000 fans attended the recent convention at Cleveland’s Renaissance Hotel, where they met some of the film’s actors, watched documentaries made about the film, and saw the original 1938 fire truck from a famous scene in the movie involving a child’s tongue stuck to a frozen pole.

“It is unbelievable that a movie has touched the lives of millions of families,” said Phil Gillen, son of the late actor Jeff Gillen who played the movie’s worn-out Santa Claus. He traveled from Miami with his family to attend the convention....

(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...


TOPICS: History; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: 25thanniversary; achristmasstory; anniversary; christmasstory; genx; hollywood; jeanshepherd; moviereview
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To: Dr. Zzyzx

“Intolerance”? He’s clearly tolerating it. Didn’t know “tolerance” also means you can’t say anything negative about the subject.


161 posted on 12/05/2008 1:36:30 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Technological progress cannot be legislated.)
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To: Corporate Law
"I say that line everytime..."

Haha, I do too, and then laugh like a mad fool. Most times people don't get it and looked shocked but that's okay, they rarely bother me after that.

162 posted on 12/05/2008 1:41:35 PM PST by Proud_texan (Scare people enough and they'll do anything.)
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To: andy58-in-nh

My mom always said one of the regrets of her life is not going to hear him in NYC. From what I understand he used to do readings in the Village.


163 posted on 12/05/2008 1:42:48 PM PST by I still care (A Republic - if you can keep it. - Ben Franklin)
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To: I still care

I have to put my two cents in here ... I’m 32 and can totally relate to the movie. Some aspects of the father are familiar, as are the hillbilly neighbors, getting a piece a of junk in the mail when you expected something great, and of course bullies.

I don’t know how, but I was actually offended when people were badmouthing it upthread. How can you not love this movie?


164 posted on 12/05/2008 2:05:31 PM PST by MoTiger
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To: martin_fierro
I’ve never watched this movie

Well hop to it then:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPODCrn-kPo

You will be quizzed on your knowledge of this movie later on.

:-)

165 posted on 12/05/2008 2:05:55 PM PST by lowbridge
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To: martin_fierro
"I’ve never watched this movie. Huh!"

So you are the one!

166 posted on 12/05/2008 2:14:42 PM PST by Radix (Posting cynical responses ever since...."What time is it anyhow?")
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To: qam1

bump


167 posted on 12/05/2008 2:15:48 PM PST by VOA
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To: I still care
From what I understand he used to do readings in the Village.

He had a two hour radio show broadcast live on WOR Saturday nights, from the Limelight, on Seventh Avenue. I don't know about other Village venues.
168 posted on 12/05/2008 2:24:06 PM PST by Mike Fieschko (et numquam abrogatam)
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To: qam1

Darren McGavin, who was always a favorite of mine, is PERFECT as the dad in A Christmas Story. My old man used to fight the furnace and haggle with the Christmas tree salesman just like that!

BTW, did anyone see the follow-up to A Christmas Story, “It Runs in the Family”? It wasn’t exactly a sequel, but it was about the same family and based on another of Jean Shephard’s stories.

In any case, it was a real stinker. None of the original actors, IIRC, were involved. Darren McGavin’s role was played by Charles Grodin, Mary Steenburgen played the mom, and Ralphie and his little brother were played by a couple of the Culkin brothers. Pee-YEW!


169 posted on 12/05/2008 2:29:20 PM PST by DemforBush (Millions of conservatives have got your back, Sarah!)
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To: N. Theknow

Ralphie’s done better for himself than the kid who played Flick (Scott Schwartz). He went on, sadly, to become an ‘actor’ in the porn industry.


170 posted on 12/05/2008 2:34:47 PM PST by DemforBush (Millions of conservatives have got your back, Sarah!)
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To: the OlLine Rebel
"Uh, I believe it was c.1940. Before the war, and Wizard of Oz was a big deal."

Yep. Wizard of Oz premiered in August 1939, and Ovaltine ceased their sponsorship of the Little Orphan Annie Radio show in January 1940, so that kind of narrows down the speculation a bit for those of us obsessed with facts.

I've been told there are some interviews with Shepherd who related that it wasn't supposed to be set in a specific year but was a compendium of childhood events and memories rather than a apecific narrative of one year's Christmas events. I'm willing to accept that; I've just never been linked to, or shown these interviews by the people who've told me they exist. Furthermore, Jean Shepherd was born in 1921, so it stands to reason his early childhood memories would have been well before 1940.

171 posted on 12/05/2008 2:48:59 PM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: qam1
Any one who has not read any of Jean Shepherd's books, e.g. "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories & Other Disasters" or "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash" has missed some of the very best stories of growing up, colored by the era of the late Depression.

I have read and re-read these stories many times and always find them good for a laugh.

172 posted on 12/05/2008 3:03:55 PM PST by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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To: weegee

See my post below. If you read his stuff, you will always laugh. Promise!


173 posted on 12/05/2008 3:05:40 PM PST by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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To: Fiji Hill

Obviously you never grew up in the northern states! That scene called back some childhood memories!


174 posted on 12/05/2008 3:08:50 PM PST by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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To: Charles Martel
"...in order to surprise Melinda Dillon and get an especially candid response."

Interesting. <Johnny carson voice> "I did not know that." </Johnny Carson voice>

I read that the same was done to Shirley MacClaine in the bar scene near the end of "The Turning Point" when Ann Bancroft tosses a drink in her face. It was never done in any rehearsals.

BTW. I evoked your namesake on This thread earlier today. I was surprised to be taken to the "A Christmas Story" thread when I clicked to read your reply. Strange coinky-dink.

175 posted on 12/05/2008 3:27:19 PM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Inspiration: The momentary cessation of stupidity.)
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To: Joe 6-pack

I once slowed down the scene and you can take a gander at the Orphan Annie Decoder pin. I think it had the year on it. Of course, such things are limited by the ability of the prop department to get the proper pin!

I always assumed the year to be 1939, the year the wizard of oz premiered. They make such a big deal about it in the movie.

Decoder pins: http://www.radioarchives.org/annie/


176 posted on 12/05/2008 3:31:56 PM PST by I still care (A Republic - if you can keep it. - Ben Franklin)
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To: qam1
I'm told that this Major Award is on permanent display at Cleveland’s Renaissance Hotel:


177 posted on 12/05/2008 3:39:31 PM PST by steelyourfaith
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To: I still care
My mom always said one of the regrets of her life is not going to hear him in NYC. From what I understand he used to do readings in the Village.

I've got recordings of a few of those, if you're interested.

178 posted on 12/05/2008 3:39:57 PM PST by andy58-in-nh (Liberty has few friends, many enemies, and no adequate substitute.)
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To: day10

Where did you get the Major Award Christmas ornament? I want one! :-)


179 posted on 12/05/2008 3:51:58 PM PST by bootless (Never Forget. Never Again. And NEVER GIVE UP!)
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To: pgkdan

“He looks like a pink nightmare!”


180 posted on 12/05/2008 3:56:42 PM PST by bootless (Never Forget. Never Again. And NEVER GIVE UP!)
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