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I was a Jean Shepard fan for many years. Unfortunately, about a year before he died, Shepard did an interview with he Chicago Tribune where he revealed that he really disliked his childhood in NW Indiana, and never really cared about the childhood characters (Flick, Swartz, Bruner) he developed and used in his stories. It was a kick in the teeth for me and I can never look at his work the same again

I've read most of his stories several times over or the better ones anyway. My dad had me read them in my late teens.

The dad in the movie was not even close to being like the dad in the written stories LOL. I live in East Tennessee. But my uncle lived and grew up close to Gary, Indiana. Yea he was like The Old Man in the stories even down to the Lucky in his mouth and scalding hot black coffee and that stare in the mornings. LOL.

Although the cars we had in my your were 1950's vintage mainly I can relate to jumping on the bumper to get the solenoid to engage on our old 59 Rambler wagon that acquired a taste for them.

My ad wasn't the old man in the stories though. :>} He just taught me such things like cars as I grew.

Ollie Hopnoodles Haven of Bliss was my favorite of his written stories. "I wanna peanut butter and jelly sandwich" LOL

Let me correct that post. I hate HP wireless keyboards.

I've read most of his stories several times over or the better ones anyway. My dad had me read them in my late teens.

The dad in the movie was not even close to being like the dad in the written stories LOL. I live in East Tennessee. But my uncle lived and grew up close to Gary, Indiana. Yea he was like The Old Man in the stories even down to the Lucky in his mouth and scalding hot black coffee and that stare in the mornings. LOL.

Although the cars we had in my youth were 1950's vintage mainly, I can relate to jumping on the bumper to get the solenoid to engage on our old 59 Rambler wagon that acquired a taste for them. My dad wasn't like the old man in the stories though. :>} He just taught me such things like cars as I grew. Ollie Hopnoodles Haven of Bliss was my favorite of his written stories. "I wanna peanut butter and jelly sandwich" LOL

As is often the case, the book is better than the movie.

As I watched it the first time, being very familiar with the written stories, I kept waiting for my favorite moments, many of which never came. I was very disappointed.

Example:

When Ralphie was sitting on Santa’s lap, he observed:

“Santa smoked Camels, like my Uncle Charles.”