For those of who did grow up in the 50s, this movie is just so familiar...and it takes place in the midwest, Indiana, I think...I grew up in Chicago...so all the snow, all the snowsuits, and hats, and galoshes, and scarves and mittens were normal outdoor gear for us during the long cold midwestern winters...
When I see that house where Ralphie lived, I think to myself, I could have lived in that house, it was so familiar looking...
I attended a school that was identical to Ralphie's. We had neighbors who had goats and donkeys that would get loose and wander through our yard (this less than 3 miles from the center of Indianapolis). Our tree looked just like Ralphie's. The downtown Santa land was very similar to the one in the movie. I could go on and on, but the Darren McGavin's father role reminded me so much of my dad (who also did 5 years in the army during WWII and taught me MANY interesting turns of phrase...LOL).
Me too. I believe this is based in Hammond or something similar, on the Indiana side of Chicago (I forget the exact name of the town). I grew up about 50 miles from there and know exactly what you mean about the house, the snow, snowsuits, etc., etc. We watch it every Christmas. I think my favorite line is, "It... was... the... SOAP!"
The movie takes place in the fictional "Hohman, Indiana" which represented Jean Shepherd's hometown of Hammond, Indiana. There's actually a Warren G. Harding school there. It's not actually far from Chicago, and Shepherd many times referred to living in South Chicago.
Funny thing. When I lived in Iowa, it looked like the kind of place I grew up in.
One thing about Iowa winters. Some how, the house was always warm, even though we were living in poverty. Now, my wife and I make $100K, living in DC, and we have to keep the heat set at 60 so we can afford it.