A CHRISTMAS STORY ( House & Museum )
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This past weekend I had a blast! A group of us went to Cleveland Ohio for a Billy Joel concert that was out of this world! We also took in the Hard Rock Cafe and The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. The Rock Hall had a fantastic travelling Caricature display on the 6th floor drawn by Rolling Stone Magazine's artist Philip Burke http://feastofcrumbs.com/archives/burke/main.html
But the one stop we made in Cleveland, brought back a lot of childhood memories. Fun and funny memories. We stopped off at the actual house from the movie A CHRISTMAS STORY. I was with 3 young ladies, who were very kind to me with my childlike excitement, but the house and museum was definitely a 'guy thing'. Those of you who are fans of the 1983 cult Christmas classic, will love this short stop while in the land of the Indians and Browns. http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/
The story is pretty good. A guy from San Diego made a bid on EBAY and got the house for $150 thousand. His wife, stationed in SD with the Navy, thought he was crazy. Then he put another $200 thousand + into the house. Makes a mint on selling Leg Lamps and within the six months they've been opened have had over 32, 000 visitors. Now, the interior was actually shot in Toronto, but they tried to make the inside of the house look as close to the movie as possible. I also discovered there was a sequel to the movie 10 years later called MY SUMMER STORY, with Charles Grodin and Mary Steenbergen and it was a total flop. Enjoy the photos.
THE OLD MAN AND OLD LADY PHOTOS ABOVE FIREPLACE
LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE RADIO SHOW WAS PLAYING OVER THE AIRWAVES
OUR TOUR GUIDE HAD A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR
THE INFAMOUS TURKEY DINNER
WHERE RALPHIE HAD TO WASH HIS MOUTH OUT WITH SOAP, DECODER ON WICKER BASKET
ANDREA, CORY, LEG LAMP, JEN AND BERNICE ( only lamp was in the actual movie, we were not )
MUST BE FROM ITALY, IT SAYS "FRAGILLY"
WHERE RALPHIE SHOT HIS EYE OUT
BELOW IS NOT THE ACTUAL NOTEBOOK PAPER BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT SIDE BINDING 'favorite websites'
The staff was great, the relics and souvenirs were a real treat. Hope you get to see it.
Here's a 10 minute news clip about the man who bought the house.
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Thanks for your comments
To answer some questions and just to comment; Jess, no one lives there. there's the house, then across the street is a gift shop and a museum,. Jack, funny comment, I laughed. Heidi and Randy, It was a quick drive by to Cleveland, had 6 people with me, and with a house full of kids, you wouldn't have wanted us as company. Erin, great blog!
" I hate a dirty joke, I do. Unless it's told by someone who, knows how to tell it. " Groucho Marx as Captain Spalding
So jealous!
When I heard about that concert on the local news,I thought how fun it would be to go! Glad you had a great time! AJ is sure going to be mad that Uncle Cory didn't come see her though!!!! :)
Good Pictures
Thanks for sharing the story. Makes me want to visit the house but not sure I want to buy a leg lamp.
I watch this movie every Christmas during the 24 hour marathon. So why is this movie such a cult wonder? Once again I believe it has to do with the everyday stories of American's. The movie is so lovable because people can identify with the characters. They can see their own Christmas Stories in the place, the characters, and the blot. How many Christmas Tree stories do you have in your family? One of mine involved a small red truck, a horse pulled wagon, and a race to find the best tree.
The movie does a great job at Christmas past but what about Christmas Future. Will we be allowed to call it Christmas or will it become WinterFest? Will your children remember getting a Christmas tree at the tree farm or will their memories focus on pulling the tree out of the attic? What will be the stories of our children's children? Only you can decide how those memories, correction, how those stories will be told in the future.
Now I am ready to sit down with my son Ethan, grab the remote and turn on "A Chistmas Story". Together we can wonder if Ralphie will get his official red rider bb gun, if his Dad will fix the coal furnace, if mom can keep Dad from eating the turkey, and if Ralphie's younger brother will eat like the piggies eat?
Clay hardens by immobility – men's minds by standing pat. Both lose the power to take new impressions. (Pinchot 1910: 138)
your own version
You just need to make sure that Ethan doesn't 'eat like the piggies do'
I for one will always have christmas. And I try to keep it all year too!
Americana Pie
wow what a total diamond in the rough that is! thanks for sharing the pics -- it's pretty authentic! do they actually LIVE there???
Mistake by the Lake
I like Cleveland and I really enjoyed your blog and photos. Did you happen to have a run-in with the Bumpuses' dogs!
Nice one!
Nice one Cory! 1 hour north of us, and you don't even let Weider & I know! the kids will be ticked at you when they find out "Uncle Cory" was that close, and not so much as a drawing!