| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Jean Shepherd, (Writer/Narrator), is the irate man waiting in line at the department store.  Peter Billingsley (Ralphie Parker) plays an elf in the movie "Elf" (2003), directed by Jon Favreau. -Thanks to Amy RichartePeter Billingsley is also in the recent hit movie, "The Break Up", with Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston. He plays Jennifer's character's best friend's husband, Andrew. -Thanks to Amanda LuebThe scene where the "Bumpus Hounds" demolish the Parker's Christmas Turkey, is actually a spin on a story from Jean Shepherd's book "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories," only in the book it's a Ham. -Thanks to JeffScott Schwartz, who played Flick, went on to appear in several adult movies in the 90s before returning in 2000 to do mainstream films. -Thanks to RyanSinger/Songwriter Pepper Mcgowan was an extra during the mall scene. The movie was based on a city in Indiana named Hammond. Jean Shepherd is from what is called "the region" which is Northwest Indiana, namely, Hammond, Indiana. I was born in Hammond and the town he calls Hohman is actually Hammond and the main street in downtown Hammond is Hohman Avenue. The dirty, unrelenting snow was very accurate, it seemed like we had snow on the ground from the beginning of November to the end of April...and it was ugly snow...gray and full of trash. Unfortunately, downtown Hammond went under after the invention of the "mall" and probably the fact that it was surrounded by railroad tracks didn't help. I was surprised to read that Ralphie's school was filmed in Canada...as it greatly resembled the school of the same name in Hammond. I don't think they could have made the movie in Hammond as it just isn't a very attractive place. Steel mills, polution, dirt and grime everywhere. -Thanks to Kristi BaranJean Shepherd wrote another sequel to this updating what happened to Ralph and Randy. It is called "The Star-Crossed Romance of Josephine Cosnowski" (1983). This time, the setting is Thanksgiving and Ralphie falls in love. The movie is owned by WGBH and may rarely be seen on PBS. Bob Clark, the director of this wholesome film, had previously directed the low-brow comedy, "Porky's". -Thanks to intothesea13Yano Anaya, who played Scut Farkus's friend Grover Dill also played the kid version of Michael Anthony in Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher" video. -Thanks to GoldTransAMThere is a sequel to this film that appeared some time in the mid-nineties... it was called "My Summer Story" (or "It Runs in the Family"). It has the same director and narrator, I believe, from the "A Christmas Story" movie. -Thanks to Ben ServinThe director, Bob Clark also appears in the film as the neighbour who is asking Mr. Parker about the leg lamp as he is looking at it from across the street. -Thanks to SummerThe actor Zack Ward who played the school bully went on to star as the brother, Dave, in the television show 'Titus'. -Thanks to KerriPeter Billingsley, who played Ralphie is now a Director in Los Angeles, and can be seen hanging out in the Los Feliz area with comedian Ahmed Ahmed, and actor Vince Vaughn. Although in his thirties, he still looks like Ralphie. Peter first came into our homes as "Messy Marvin" in the chocolate milk commercials. -Thanks to Mark« Click here to add some Christmas Story trivia  Find much more great trivia in the filmmaker's commentary on the Christmas Story DVD.Rediscover your favorites! If you like A Christmas Story or 80's Comedy classics, then be sure to check out this list: ..... Tootsie ..... Raising Arizona ..... Good Morning, Vietnam ..... Blues Brothers ..... Heathers ..... Fast Times At Ridgemont High ..... This Is Spinal Tap ..... Naked Gun ..... Adventures In Babysitting ..... Airplane ..... License To Drive ..... Money Pit ..... Porky's ..... Risky Business ..... Twins ..... Soul Man .....[More] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Featured Movie Location: Ralphie's HouseWanna see the real life filming location used for Ralphie's House in the movie? These scenes were actually shot at A private residence, located in Cleveland, Ohio. [New! Show Google Map] Ralphie's house has been completely renovated and is now opening to visitors with a Grand Opening on November 25th 2006! Although, in fact, it appeared rather dilapidated in the film. See the link, below for more details, pics and history... [Thanks to Kevin P. Lupo] The outdoor scene in which Ralphie's family watches the Christmas parade was filmed in Public Square in dowtown Cleveland, Ohio on January 19,1983. The department store where they went to visit Santa was a real store previously named "Higbee's" in downtown Cleveland. The bricks and mortar still exist but, having changed to Dillard’s, Cleveland’s last downtown department store closed it's doors Jan. 7 2002. The stairs/slide set where Santa sat was left at the store and Higbee's used it for their Santa for several years after the movie was released. Higbee's in Cleveland was selected because the pre-production scout had been to Macy's in NYC and Strawbridge's in Philly looking for a Department story that hadn't been remodeled and still looked like it was from the 1930's. They sent him to Higbee's. He said it was perfect. Note the one quick scene of the wide wooden ribbed escalator when Raphie went to see Santa. That was the one escalator in Higbee's that was still the orginal. The Santa scenes were filmed in January (1983) after the store closed at 9pm using employees as extras. Filming would last until 3am resulting in several tired employees for a week! [Thanks to Craig Shumaker] It may have not snowed in Cleveland while they were filming the parade scene, but it was well below zero at 3:00 am! [Thanks to Marie] Ralph's school exterior and interior shots were filmed at the Victoria School in St Catharines, Ontario Canada and the flag pole scene was also done outside the Victoria School (the flag pole was just a prop that is no longer standing). [Thanks to Cathy] Another school used was Central Senior Public School, located in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada. And the post Ralphie`s friend sticks his tongue to is part of the dividing post between Central and LCVI (a high school). [Thanks to Alex] The elementary school used in the movie was actually closed at the time and is still standing, yet closed, today. It's located on Fulton Ave. I believe it was called Fulton elementary. The flagpole that flick gets his tongue stuck to is still standing as well. [Thanks to John W. Evans III] Buying the Christmas tree. This had to be shot in Toronto ON as Toronto was the only city in North America with red and cream PCC type streetcars in 1983. One of these street cars can be seen in the background going along the street. [Thanks to R. Collins] Much of it is filmed in Toronto. Look closely when the old man is bargaining for the Christmas tree and you'll see a Red Rocket pass by in the background. The famous "fudge" scene is filmed at the foot of Cherry Street. Look close and you'll probably see the boathouse in the background. And, that's sand, not snow... Ralphie beating up on Farkas? Filmed in Toronto, down near Queen and Carlaw. [Thanks to Owhatabs] Jean Sheppard is from what is called "the region" which is Northwest Indiana, namely, Hammond, Indiana. I was born in Hammond and the town he calls Hohman is actually Hammond and the main street in downtown Hammond is Hohman Avenue. The large department store he is talking about in the movie is actually Goldblatts Department Store. We did not have a "square" in downtown Hammond so that part wasn't accurate. But the dirty, unrelenting snow was very accurate! It seemed like we had snow on the ground from the beginning of November to the end of April... and it was ugly snow... gray and full of trash. Unfortunately downtown Hammond went under after the invention of the "mall" and probably the fact that it was surrounded by railroad tracks didn't help. You never got in or out of downtown Hammond without waiting for at least one train - usually more than one. I had cousins that lived in Griffith which seemed like it was on the other side of the world when you were driving home in the dark with the snow coming down. I don't think they could have made the movie in Hammond as it just isn't a very attractive place. Steel mills, polution, dirt and grime everywhere. [Thanks to Kristi Baran]
Can you help? Do you know any of the Cleveland, Ohio (or any other) filming locations used for A Christmas Story? [Please send them in] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Includes songs like: "The Hut-Sut Song (A Swedish Serenade)" Performed by Sammy Kaye and his Orchesta "Jingle Bells" Performed by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" Performed by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters "Go Tell It on the Mountain" This soundtrack is out of print, but you'll find it by using our search feauture. « Click here to add new music trivia for Christmas Story Soundtrack Available: Used On CD | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
If
you enjoy this site, please help to support us and keep us
POP UP & SPAM FREE by ordering your stuff through our services.
As you probably already know, we
are not a corporation, but just 80's fans like you... | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 March 3, 2008: Commando USA / UK Blu-ray Coming Soon. February 28, 2008: Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Soundtrack Update. 
Previous
additionsWe're always updating and improving, so please and check back with us regularly...
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
![[16:9 -Widescreen Enhanced]](16_9.gif){kind=small}
![[5.1 CH SURROUND]](dd5.gif){kind=small}
"Peace. Harmony. Comfort and Joy... Maybe Next Year."
|
Page
Updated: 5/04/2008 |  | v0.927 |