As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for nostalgia and pop culture references, stepping into the House from A Christmas Story was like stumbling upon a hidden level in my favorite retro video game. The meticulous attention to detail, the immersive environment, and the warm, inviting atmosphere were reminiscent of the pixelated worlds I used to explore back in the day.
On a gloomy, rainy Monday evening in December, as you leisurely navigate an inclined street heading northwest, a vibrant mustard-colored house at the corner gradually emerges. The porch is adorned with festive holiday lights, and the upper stories are bathed in a comforting yellow-orange radiance. Upon approaching, the main attraction of the house becomes noticeable through the green-framed front window: a graceful leg lamp, boasting a prestigious award. An electric sex, gleaming brightly inside the window.
This particular setting isn’t found on Cleveland Street during the era before World War II; instead, it’s situated on West 11th Street within the vibrant, historical district of Tremont, Cleveland, Ohio, in the present day. Interestingly, the house adorned with a leg lamp clad in fishnet is none other than the residence where the Parker family, led by spectacled Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), resided in the 1983 movie “A Christmas Story.” This cherished holiday classic chronicles Ralphie’s journey as he navigates schoolyard bullies, poor grades, grumpy elves, and a whiny sibling to finally achieve his Christmas dream: a Red Ryder BB gun.
The house isn’t just some old antique, though. In 2004, a Navy veteran named Brian Jones purchased it without even seeing it on eBay for $150,000. After two years of extensive renovation that brought back many details from the movie, the house featured in “A Christmas Story” was opened to the public for tours in 2006.
Since 2023, the house serves as the centerpiece of a block dedicated to celebrating the film. Adjacent to it is famously known as the Bumpus house, named after the canine-loving characters from the movie; on the opposite side stands a museum filled with film memorabilia and contemporary American artifacts, along with a thriving gift shop. Enthusiasts have the opportunity to spend a night in either an upstairs or downstairs suite within the Bumpus house, or a loft in Ralphie’s house (except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which are already reserved at $2,495 per night). For just $10, you can rent a pink bunny costume similar to the one worn by Ralphie in the movie and explore the house while wearing it.
Jonathan Kinney, the assistant manager at the House depicted in ‘A Christmas Story’, points out that it receives over 30,000 visitors each year, and this number significantly multiplies during the festive season. Remarkably, the house also experiences a rise in visits during summer; Kinney mentions that people from Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Cincinnati frequently plan a stopover while they’re in town to watch their baseball teams play against the Cleveland Guardians.
The careful effort to maintain the classic feel of “A Christmas Story” is deeply felt. As Kinney notes, visitors often exclaim, “Wow, it’s really the house!” The charm seems to span generations, with many finding nostalgic connections. People remember watching the movie with their parents and now, as grown adults, they want to recreate that same experience for their own children.
On this rainy Monday evening, about a dozen individuals showed up for a guided tour of the house and its surroundings. The group spans various age groups, from young teenagers to senior citizens, and many are local residents who are attending the tour for the first time. One person chuckles, “I’ve watched the movie a million times!” Yet, even seasoned fans of ‘A Christmas Story’ find the tour captivating. Our experienced guide shares intriguing tales about the filming process – for instance, Jack Nicholson was nearly cast as the lovable grumpy dad instead of Darren McGavin – in a relaxed and conversational manner. Following this historical insight, the group explores the house and reenacts their own ‘A Christmas Story’ adventure.
Stepping into this place is like taking a trip back in time. The historical ambiance is palpable with old issues of the 1930s and 40s New York Times scattered around, alongside vintage comic books from the era and a radio playing an episode of Little Orphan Annie. Movie references are everywhere too, such as a school paper graded C+ with “P.S. You’ll shoot your eye out” written in red ink, reminiscent of A Christmas Story. Unlike Randy from the movie, I don’t crawl under the 1870s kitchen sink, but many visitors do. However, it seems everyone gathers around the leg lamp for a photo, as if it were a famous celebrity.
On the opposite side of the road stands an equally striking museum, filled with intriguing behind-the-scenes movie photos and memorabilia. Inside, you’ll find the Simplicity sewing pattern for the bunny suit, vintage metal toys from department store window displays, iconic costumes like Randy’s bib and puffy maroon coat, the bathrobe worn by Ralphie’s mother (Melinda Dillon), and one of the six custom Red Ryder BB guns used in the movie. Our tour guide also shares fascinating tidbits: It’s interesting to know that it didn’t snow in Cleveland during filming, so the “snow” was actually a mixture of soap suds and a now-banned carcinogenic firefighting foam.
Following a swift visit to examine the Parker family’s car, the tour concludes at a gift shop overflowing with merchandise themed around “A Christmas Story” – including coffee mugs, shot glasses, T-shirts, ties, an assortment of bright pink bunny slippers, and variously sized leg lamps. It’s no surprise that these items are in high demand. Earlier in the evening, I noticed a man carrying a lampshade on his shoulder towards a car, presumably having just bought one. As the store prepares to close, one of the tour participants is considering which size leg lamp would suit her home best. Even decades after the movie’s debut, the allure of this coveted prize – and “A Christmas Story” itself – continues to captivate people.
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2024-12-23 21:25