When you think of Christmas, it’s difficult to think of a more iconic film than “A Christmas Story.”
The epic, timeless tale of a boy in the Midwest whose only wish for Christmas is a BB gun.
Ah, who are we kidding? It was a Red Ryder carbine action 200 shot range model air rifle.
Remember the sayings? “You’ll shoot your eye out,” “I triple dog dare ya” and, of course, who could forget the quote that commemorated that major Italian award?
“Fra-gee-leh,” Christopher Hall said. “It’s what everybody quotes.’
Hall remembers these sayings quite well. For this 42-year-old, “A Christmas Story” wasn’t a movie – it was a childhood.
“It’s simple,” he said. “It’s the simple way of life.”
A way of life that he is getting to experience on West 11th Street in Cleveland for the first time.
“It’s one of those Cleveland bucket list things,” he said.
“A Christmas Story” House and Museum, which is the location where certain parts of the 1983 movie were shot, is now on display for fans like Hall.
In the living room you can see the famous leg lamp, the Red Ryder BB-gun and the electrical hazard with too many plug-ins.
Upstairs you’ll find the bathroom with the Little Orphan Annie decoder ring, the Lifebuoy soap (for when you say “fudge”) and, on the hallway telephone, you can hear a personal message from Schwartz’s mother.
“It just has a lot of those pieces of growing up as a kid,” Brian Jones said.
Jones bought the house in 2004 off Ebay for $150,000. Restoring the house to movie glory took another $240,000, according to Jones. He says it was money well spent.
“It’s a business, but it’s just a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s my passion and just what I love to do is just share that joy and love for the movie,” Jones said.
The house has been open to the public for the last 10 years.
Jones says the movie fame has brought fans from all over the world including South Africa, Germany, Sweden and England.
The house is open year-round, but there are extended hours during the holidays. For days, times and prices, check out the official website for the A Christmas Story House and Museum, at www.achristmasstoryhouse.com.