Suburban Guerrilla

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Tourist Destination

Nov 26th, 2006 at 11:02 am by Susie

A fan of “A Christmas Story” bought and faithfully reproduced the house used in the movie and opened it to the public. On the first day, 3000 people showed up…

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4 Responses to “Tourist Destination”

on 26 Nov 2006 at 1:59 pm1The Fat Lady Sings

I read about that! He’s the guy who founded that company selling replicas of the leg lamp. I’m glad he did it. That film is one of my favorites. Itâ€™s definitely on our Christmas film list - along with ‘White Christmas’, ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’, The Bishop’s Wife’ and ‘Christmas in Connecticut’. My hubby and I can quote Ralphieâ€™s lines verbatim. I understand the restored house has been turned into a museum. Well more power to the guy that did it! I hope his investment pays back in spades. With all thatâ€™s wrong with America these days - itâ€™s nice to have some things that speak to hope and recovery. ‘A Christmas Story’ may only be a quirky movie about a borderline dysfunctional family by the director who wrote ‘Porkys’; but it speaks to the kind of wishes and fantasies we all had growing up in this schizophrenic culture. Those themes are especially important when times are bad. I think the guy who bought that house and sells those wonderfully cheesy lamps understands that.
on 26 Nov 2006 at 4:07 pm2Ebon Kreig

Wow, am I missing something here? Why are 3,000 people lining up? Is this some kind of “pet rock” thing? Isn’t a one legged lamp kind of morbid?
on 26 Nov 2006 at 4:43 pm3Bob Stein

Reply to Ebon:

Two things are probably going on here:

1. This may be one of the most popular films for reasons as mentioned by “The Fat Lady Sings”.

2. The original story that the movie was based on was written by Jean Shepherd. Jean Shepherd was one of the most iconoclastic and thoughtful, uh, “commentators” (hard to classify what he did, exactly) in the mid to late 20th century. If any of you reading this remember listening to him on his weeknight radio show on WOR during the 60s and 70s, you can attest to his unique position in the cultural milieu. Check out the story..it’s a great piece on Depression era working class families, their hopes, dreams, and (as the fat lady said) “dysfunctions.”
on 27 Nov 2006 at 8:10 am4misfit

For many of us, “A Christmas Story” is a wonderful trip back in time… From the big, old tree lights and real metal tinsel, to the chenille bedspreads. Plus, Darren McGavin should have won an Oscar for his performance.