'A Christmas Story' fan buys house where film family lived

Akron Beacon Journal ^ | April 3, 2005 | associated Press

[6SJ7]

CLEVELAND - Brian Jones' purchase of a house in Cleveland has linked the California man's future to "A Christmas Story," the nostalgic holiday film he loves.

He wants to create a museum in the home where the film family lived and the main character, a boy named Ralphie, daydreamed of shooting bad guys with the BB gun he hoped his parents would buy him for Christmas.

"I'm getting overwhelmingly positive feedback," Jones, 29, of San Diego, said of owning the house. "People who are fans (of the film) think it's the greatest idea ever."

The former Navy man with a degree in aerospace engineering could not resist when his wife, who is serving on a Navy ship, informed him by e-mail that the house used in "A Christmas Story" was for sale on eBay. The starting bid for the four-bedroom house was $99,999.

[MacDorcha]

14? you heavy hitter. I get 8 on average.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Do you know that actor Peter Billingsley look exactly the same now as he does then?

[wtc911]

Flick Lives!

Excelsior! You fathead.

[roylene]

My son-in-law bought me one for my birthday a couple of years ago - it was the greatest present ever! The lamp comes with a certificate that proclaims it a major award.
It sits so everyone coming into the house sees it first thing. When my husband and I move we will be looking for a house with the proper front window to make the lamp visible from the street.

[curmudgeonII]

I think he's a state too far East. Gene Shepard, who wrote the story [which I understand hasd a lot of autobiograhical experience] grew up in Northwestern Indiana.

[iconoclast]

I'm very surprised by the appearance of the house and surroundings.

Is this an ethnic neighborhood?

[wildbill]

I've never identified with a film like I did with A Christmas Story.

I grew up in the 40s, went to a red brick school where kids dared you to lick the flag pole in freezing weather, looked a lot like Ralphie (without the glasses)and wanted a Red Ryder BB gun more than anything. Our dogs even ate the Christmas turkey once--but instead of going out for Chinese, we had a meatless feast of all the trimmings. I could go on, but damn it is a wonderful movie that captured that time so well.

[Kenton]

Thanks. Is that on the edge of the Ohio City area? Lot of gentrification going on around there.

[wizardoz]

"Jingre Bears, Jingre Bears..."

[workerbee]

My father wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan.