I thought this was kind of funny...and cool at the same time.  Really did not know where to post it though. 

 

Amanda Garrett

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

The captain of a U.S. amphibious assault ship heading to the Middle East noticed the oddball eBay listing halfway around the world.

 

Someone in Cleveland was auctioning the Tremont house that served as a backdrop for the nostalgic holiday classic "A Christmas Story."

i love it.

I think I want one of those leg lamps.  I will admit, my wife and I live in Parma HEIGHTS (I emphasize heights), and my fellow Parma people would probably appreciate one in our front window. 

I think if I put one of those up in Shaker the city would have it forcefuly removed.  In any event this sounds like an awesome idea that has a fair amount of earning potential.  Hell, maybe this guy need some investors??

nsc, they also sell those lamps around Christmas time at Clifton Web (on Clifton at West 115th).

 

Love that movie!!!  :-D

I would shatter mine so I could super glue it together again.  The tackier the better.

What an awesome idea! Its things like this that make neighborhoods unique. It will be interesting to see the spin-off from this. What is the surrounding area like? I know that I will go at least once. I doubt anyone will come to Cleveland because of this, but if someone is in the 'burbs maybe they will travel to the city to see this museum. And the best part about this is this project is done with PRIVATE MONEY! I remember I had jury duty a few years back, and I was stationed at the county courthouse downtown, and one day for lunch I was just sitting by myself and a security guard came up to me, and he took me on a tour of the building. He said that the first scene from Air Force 1 was filmed there at the courthouse. On a side note, I think that is the most magnificent building in Cleveland.

Not that I did not think the Christams story was a good movie and all, I think it is kinda corny to turn a house in a neighborhood into a museum and think it could make money. Who knows, I hope to be proven wrong

well cleveland already has a "cleveland-style" polka museum and a hungarian museum.......why not?

how funny! evry city needs some quirky stuff like this. it's what makes for interesting places. it wouldn't be just a museum, but a bed and breakfast, so it would work. i love that movie and it has a lot of fans via the magic of cable tv. so why not what the heck?

 

does anyone in columbus remember the angel lady on high street in clintonville? she would stand in front of her weird shop dressed as an angel and wave as everyone went by. goofy stuff like this makes for memorable fun communities.

 

Here's another article on the house. Apparently, a lot of people are excited about the project.

 

Fans abuzz over plan for 'Christmas Story' house

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Amanda Garrett

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Brian Jones - who plans to turn the Tremont house used as a backdrop in "A Christmas Story" into a museum - says he has been overwhelmed by the response to his idea.

 

Since The Plain Dealer revealed his dream a week ago, nearly 150 newspapers and television stations across the country have picked up the story.

What a cool idea.

It's amazing how this thing is starting to get big. I was listening to the radio morning show Bob and Tom yesterday and they were talking about this house. Bob and Tom thought it was a good idea, and their audience is huge. I think they are syndicated on 150 stations across the nation.

I'm all for anything that will get people out and exploring Cleveland's neighborhoods.

I remember how hard it was for me to find Edisons and Bohemia back in the day (of course now I find it easy)

I hope they put up helpful signs to out of town motorists

From the 11/24/05 Akron Beacon Journal:

 

 

Museum in plans for house

Public can view home from 'A Christmas Story'

By Jim Carney

Beacon Journal staff writer

 

CLEVELAND - As Brian Jones stood in front of the house he bought on eBay, a lamp in the shape of a woman's leg shone in the front window.

 

Jones, 29, bought the home in the Tremont area of Cleveland a year ago without ever having stepped inside.

 

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/13249432.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news

 

Anyone been to Tremont lately, most of the businesses have the leg lamp in the front window

This is an amazing idea. For halloween I almost went as the kid in the movie who was standing in line to see Santa wearing the goggles, and just walk around saying "I like Santa," but I didn't think that anyone would get it.

dude!  that would have been awesome!  what did you go as?  I forget

 

^ I was one of the billion Waldo's running around. It was still fun. Everytime I saw someone taking a picture, I would try to get sneak into the background somewhere. The year before I went as a ghostbuster!

from ap & the peedee --- very cute!

ps -- even cuter is the house website linked below the article, it's kitschy holiday fun check it out:

 

 

 

 

Renovation continues on famed "Christmas Story" house

12/18/2005, 5:53 p.m. ET

The Associated Press   

 

CLEVELAND (AP) — The man who bought the house featured in the classic holiday film "A Christmas Story" said the two-story duplex near downtown is being renovated and should be ready to open as a museum next year.

 

Fans of the 1983 movie have already taken advantage of tours being offered while Brian Jones, 29, of San Diego, and his wife work on the restoration. More than 600 people visited during the Thanksgiving break, and hundreds more have come through in the last two weeks, curator Steve Siedlecki said.

 

http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com

 

 

even better than that! this is hilarious. its a christmas story in 30 seconds as acted out by animated bunnies!:

 

 

 

here's the video link:

http://www.starz.com/features/christmasstory/

 

 

 

^ That's Awesome!!!

I never knew that movie was based in Ohio.  I was watching the movie on TBS with the  24 hours of a Christmas Story.  When the movie started over, I noticed Terminal Tower.  You would think after all these years that I would have figured out that the movie was based in Ohio.

The movie itself was not based in Ohio.  It is supposed to be taking place in Hammond outside of Gary, Indiana in the 1940s. Jean Shepherd who wrote the story was from Hammond. Cleveland was used as the backdrop but if you watch it, it has several references to Indiana cities, roads and stores.  The director chose Cleveland after scouting 20 different cities.  Of course the majority of the movie was shot in Ontario.  Cleveland was only used for the Public Square scenes and the scenes outside the house.  The Tremont neighborhood has an uncanny resemblance to Hammond therefore it was chosen for the outdoor scenes at home. 

Doesn't Northern Ohio have a Warren G Harding School?  With Cleveland used as the backdrop (Terminal Tower), the house in Tremont and the school in Warren, there is no doubt that the movie was suppose to be based in Ohio. 

 

That is like filming King Kong on the Empire State Building and saying the movie is suppose to be based in LA. ;)

Cleveland was strictly used as a backdrop.  To Clevelanders, yes it is obvious that it was shot here.  But the story completely takes place in Indiana.  The book and the movie.  Also, the school scenes were not shot here.  That is a school in Toronto that is supposed to be in Indiana. ANd actually there is a Harding School in Indiana. The director named the Parkers street as Cleveland Street as an ode to the city but unless you are familar with Cleveland, there is nothing in this movie to tell you that's where it is shot.  But there are references to Terre Haute, Hammond and other Indiana points.    The Free Times had a great story about this a few weeks ago.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085334/trivia has plenty of more A Christmas Story Facts and explains better than I do about the confusion over where it was taking place.

 

I suppose the director wanted to keep the book as close to the movie as possible so that is why they didn't change its supposed location from Indiana.  It was Shepherd's home after all and the novel was based there.  And while I have never been to Hammond, Indiana, something tells me they do not have  a grand public square with a large department store building like Cleveland had, not to mention all the extras that could be used.  From the vintage car club, to the residents. 

 

How many movies are actually shot where they take place anymore???  That's really far and few in between thanks to tax abatements and the like.  Canada is practically the backdrop for every movie made today.

The only thing that I find really puzzling is the shot of the Terminal Tower.  I mean, it is our most recognizable landmark!

I was thinking about the terminal tower shot after I saw the movie again for the first time on Christmas, so I waited for the second time.  It really only showed the top of the tower, and then it cut to Higbee's ( :cry: ) So while us Clevelanders automatically know that Higbee's ( :cry:) was connected to a large skyscraper, in the movie it does not look so tall.

 

BTW, Hammond is just outside of Chicago, it is more or less on the other side of the Chicago Skyway bridge

I remember when the movie was being shot here, and the director said he chose downtown Cleveland because unlike a lot of other downtowns, it still had many older, pre-WWII buildings.

 

I also remember that, when it was filmed during the winter of 1982-83,  the director complained about the lack of snow. We were having a very mild winter that year, and some fake snow had to be brought in by the movie's crew!

Forwarded newsletter:

 

Hello Christmas Story Fans,

 

Renovation work on A Christmas Story House has been moving along smoothly over the past couple months.  The House will be finished ahead of its Grand Opening on November 26, 2006. The latest renovation pictures are now posted to the website www.achristmasstoryhouse.com. Most of the recent renovations have centered around the interior walls.  Drywall has now been put up in place of the old plaster walls that were taken down in order to install new wiring and plumbing in the house.  The house also received modern

insulation.  The drywall marks the completion of the interior setup work. The next step will be to sand the walls down, and get them primed for painting.  Once the painting is complete flooring on both stories will be installed.

 

Turning to the outside, all the new wooden windows have been put in and framing around the windows is being worked on.  The next step for the outside will be the installation of new wood siding.

 

For those of you in the Cleveland area.  We are still seeking donation of 1940's and 50's period furniture and household items for the House.  If you have any such pieces that you would like to donate please contact the House curator Steve Siedlecki at [email protected] or 216-255-6651

 

In other news Ian Petrella, who played Ralphie's kid brother Randy has loaned the museum his "I can't put my arms down!" snow suit, the toy Zeppelin he received Christmas morning, a Black Bart costume he wore in a

deleted scene, and a book signed to him by A Christmas Story author Jean Shepherd.  These items along with many others will be on display when the House and museum open this Thanksgiving.

 

All the Best--

 

Brian Jones

 

A Christmas Story House

www.achristmasstoryhouse.com

 

 

Red Rider Leg Lamps

www.redriderleglamps.com

GRAND OPENING OF A CHRISTMAS STORY HOUSE

SET FOR SATURDAY, NOV. 25

 

The Grand Opening of A Christmas Story House, now restored to its movie glory, will take place on Saturday, Nov. 25. Also opening directly across the street from the house is the official A Christmas Story House Museum, which will feature original props and memorabilia from the film, as well as rare behind-the-scenes photos. Actors from “A Christmas Story” who played Randy, Flick, Scut Farkus, Grover Dill and Miss Shields will officiate the opening ceremonies ...

 

... More at www.achristmasstoryhouse.com

Cool! And glad to see they show how to get there by public transit!  :-P

Hmm, they need to do some spiffying up of Rowley and West 11th before that happens.

The museum is getting national attention in time for the holidays:

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061122/ap_on_en_mo/film_christmas_story_house

I also remember that, when it was filmed during the winter of 1982-83,  the director complained about the lack of snow. We were having a very mild winter that year, and some fake snow had to be brought in by the movie's crew!

 

I also remember it being unseasonably warm on Public Square for the holiday lighting ceremony that year. If memory serves me correctly, the top floor of Higbee's was called Twigbee's at Higbee's as portrayed in the film.

'A Christmas Story' lights up Cleveland again

Tremont house in 1983 movie opens Saturday

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Julie E. Washington

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Switch on your leg lamp and warm up the Ovaltine. The Christmas Story House and Museum will be ready for visitors starting Saturday.

 

Imagine being inside Ralphie Parker's 1940s home on Christmas Day. Stand on the staircase where Ralphie modeled his hated bunny suit. See the table where Ralphie's dad wanted to display his tacky leg lamp. Gaze out a back window at the shed where Black Bart hid out.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/holidays/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1164276637116100.xml&coll=2

hey you guys saw the cingular 'a christmas story' parody tv commercial didnt ya?

 

if no, here it is:

 

This was on CNN's front page today (Sunday November 22, 2006)

 

Fan Brings 'Christmas Story' House to Life

POSTED: 2:38 a.m. EST, November 26, 2006

 

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) -- Ralphie Parker and Brian Jones know what it's like to want something.

 

For Ralphie, the object of desire was an official Red Ryder, carbine-action, 200-shot, range model air rifle. (Go ahead, say it, "You'll shoot your eye out, kid.")

 

For Jones, the gotta-have-it item was Ralphie's house -- the one in "A Christmas Story," the quirky film that's found a niche alongside holiday classics like "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street."

I heard multiple stories on NPR this weekend and sat through the entire film for the first time in years... gotta love it!

 

Great job Brian Jones, but what goes on in this house during the off-peak seasons?

I also saw the CNN story on TV. Cool to see some CLE stuff on CNN.

I also saw the CNN story on TV. Cool to see some CLE stuff on CNN.

 

You're welcome!  :wink:

That movie is a classic.  My dad literally keeps the television on TBS all day Christmas Day so we won't miss a minute of the "A Christmas Story" marathon :D.

 

 

And, by the way, who doesn't love that leg lamp?! :)

Best thing to happen in Cleveland since....ummmm.... OK-since Lola opened.  We need more things such as this to bring the suburbanites back to the city.  Thank you!!!!!

Three of the four local DC TV stations ran a bit on the Christmas Story museum. Good press.

That movie is a classic.  My dad literally keeps the television on TBS all day Christmas Day so we won't miss a minute of the "A Christmas Story" marathon :D.

 

 

And, by the way, who doesn't love that leg lamp?! :)

 

I LOVE your dad!

 

Best thing to happen in Cleveland since....ummmm.... OK-since Lola opened.  We need more things such as this to bring the suburbanites back to the city.  Thank you!!!!!

 

No love we dont! I "think" I understand what you're saying but that , "make the city a place for suburbanites" canned response, aint the answer!  :wink:

 

 

In today's NY Times!

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/06/us/06cleveland.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

i saw just that....but come on now mgd, just a link?  :laugh:

the c&y restaurant part at the very end is a real hoot!

 

 

Recreating ‘A Christmas Story’ for Tourists in Cleveland

David Maxwell for The New York Times

 

The Radigan family took a picture with the leg lamp.

 

 

Mr. Jones has now opened the house to tours.

 

Brian Jones, with a Red Ryder air rifle, started a business that sold the leg lamp made famous in “A Christmas Story.”

 

By CHRISTOPHER MAAG

Published: December 6, 2006

 

CLEVELAND, Dec. 4 — If Denny Renz were a boy again, he said, he would love nothing more than to re-enact Ralphie Parker’s childhood.

 

He would crawl under the kitchen sink the way Ralphie’s brother, Randy, did to hide from Mr. Parker, their father in the 1983 movie “A Christmas Story.” He would swing from the tree in the backyard, he said, dodging imaginary BBs fired from Ralphie’s coveted “official Red Ryder 200-shot carbine action range model air rifle.”

 

“I’ve never seen this house before, but it’s like I grew up here,” said Mr. Renz, 62, who drove 103 miles from Fairview, Pa., to see the home here where exterior shots of “A Christmas Story” were filmed.

 

Though originally panned by critics as a dark depiction of the holidays, “A Christmas Story” has earned status as a movie classic, rivaling long-time seasonal favorites like “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Now fans from as far away as Los Angeles and Phoenix are flocking to a gritty Cleveland street overlooking a steel factory to visit the Parker family house restored to its movie glory.

 

A San Diego entrepreneur, Brian Jones, bought the house sight unseen on e-Bay for $150,000 in December 2004. He grew up watching “A Christmas Story” every year with his family. After Mr. Jones failed the vision test required to become a Navy pilot, his father tried cheering him up by building him a lamp with a woman’s leg as the base, similar to the one that enchanted Ralphie’s father in the movie.

 

Mr. Jones loved the gift so much that he started manufacturing copies of the lamps himself. Complete with fishnet stocking and a black high-heeled shoe, most lamps sell for $139 each; more than 7,500 have sold. Mr. Jones used the proceeds to cover the down payment on the house.

 

“When I first saw the house, there was snow on the ground, and I started running around the backyard,” said Mr. Jones, 30. “It felt like I was a little kid again.”

 

Unlike the Parkers’ single-family home in the movie, the Cleveland house was a duplex. (All the movie’s interior scenes were filmed on a sound stage in Toronto, Mr. Jones said.) Previous owners had installed modern windows, and covered the original wood siding with blue vinyl.

 

Watching the movie frame by frame, Mr. Jones drew plans of the Parker home. He spent $240,000 to gut the interior and transform the house into a near-exact copy of the movie set. (Darryl Haase, a tour guide, apologizes that the new stairwell is a few inches narrower than the one where Ralphie modeled his pink bunny pajamas.)

 

“Now I watch the movie and I catch myself looking at the background for anything we’re missing in the house,” Mr. Jones said.

 

To make the home feel more authentic, Mr. Jones hopes to install a stereo that recreates the sounds of Mr. Parker in the basement, swearing at the furnace. He briefly considered a Cleveland businessman’s offer to blow artificial smells of food, including Mrs. Parker’s cooked cabbage, through the house’s heat ducts.

 

Mr. Jones borrowed $129,000 to turn the house across the street into a museum and gift shop. Displays include the comically immobilizing snowsuit worn by little Randy, who famously cried, “I can’t put my arms down!”

 

Fans can buy a copy of the movie script for $40. Chunks of the house’s original wood siding cost $60.

 

About 4,300 people toured the house on opening weekend in November, Mr. Jones said. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under. He has no official attendance projections, but expects at least 50,000 visitors a year.

 

In a city starved for jobs and tourist dollars — the Census Bureau ranked Cleveland as America’s poorest big city in 2006 — the house has sparked a miniature tourism boom. For $159 the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel offers “Christmas Story” packages, which include overnight accommodations for two, tickets to the house and the movie playing continuously on the room television set.

 

Patty LaFountaine-Johnson, an actor from Cleveland, sews red-and-green felt hats like the one she wore as an elf in the movie. Autographed, they sell in the gift shop for $35 each. “A veritable steal, made personally by the elf from hell herself,” Ms. LaFountaine-Johnson said.

 

At C&Y Chinese Restaurant, the official restaurant of the “Christmas Story” house, waiters copy the movie’s Christmas turkey scene by taking a roasted duck to customer’s tables, where they chop its head off with a giant cleaver. The promotion has doubled the restaurant’s weekend sales to over 1,000 people a day, said Jimmy Fong, the manager.

 

“Before last month, I never heard of this movie,” Mr. Fong said. “Now I’ve seen it over 100 times. I like it very much.”

 

 

it's the no. 1 most emailed story on nyt.com :)

Cool. I hope that translates into good attendance figures, solid gift-shop sales and more hotel/restaurant revenues. Who knows, maybe some of those out-of-town visitors will be sufficiently attracted to the vibrancy of places like Tremont and Ohio City to relocate here. How could they not be!  :wink2: