25 Years of 'A Christmas Story'

Time flies when your having fun! This holiday season marks the 25th anniversary of A Christmas Story, a classic story of Americana. Seems like it was just yesterday that Ralphie was looking in that department store window and admiring that rifle. You know, an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock! To celebrate the occasion, a convention was held for fans in Cleveland this past weekend. More than 4000 fans attended to meet cast members, watch several documentaries about the making of the movie, see the original fire truck from the " I Triple Dog Dare you" scene, and tour the Parker household. Seems my invitation was lost in the mail. Happy Anniversary, anyway:)

25th Anniversary Trivia

• Ralph's school exteriors were filmed at Victoria School in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
• Jean Shepherd (writer/narrator) is the irate man waiting in the Santa line at the department store. The woman behind Jean is his wife, Leigh Brown.
  
• Parts of the movie, including the Christmas tree shopping scene, were filmed in Toronto, Ontario. One of Toronto's trademark red trolleys can be seen driving by the shot of the outside of the tree lot.
• Swede, the dim-witted neighbor, who marvels at the Leg Lamp from outside is Bob Clark, the director of the movie.
• The "major award" was based on a real lamp: an illuminated Nehi logo.
• The Radio Orphan Annie decoder pin that Ralphie receives is the 1940 "Speedomatic" model, indicating that the movie takes place in December, 1940. Different decoder badges were made each year from 1935-1940. By 1941, the decoders were made of paper.
• When the character of Scut Farkas first appears, the "Wolf" music from Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" plays in the background. The name "Farkas" is derived from the Hungarian word for "wolf".
• Inspired the creation of "The Wonder Years" television show (1988).
• In 2005, the original home used for the exterior shots of the family home was put up for auction on eBay and avid fan of the movie Brian Jones managed to purchase the home directly from the seller. See my 'byte' of that story here. Everything you wanted to know about A Christmas Story, but were afraid to ask is available at the website for the house. Check it out now!