Trivia for the move – A Christmas Story
Memorable Movie Quotes
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Oh, life is like that. Sometimes, at the height of our revelries, when our joy is at it’s zenith, when all is most right with the world, the most unthinkable disasters descend upon us.
Ralphie: [Reading it] Be sure to drink your Ovaltine. Ovaltine? A crummy commercial? Son of a bitch!
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Getting ready to go to school was like getting ready for extended deep-sea diving.
Trivia
In 2005 the original home used for the exterior shots of the family home was put up for auction on eBay, and avid fan of the movie Brian Jones purchased it directly from the seller for $150,000. Jones then spent the following year restoring the home to the way it looked on screen. The exterior was completely restored and the interior was renovated to match the interior of the home shown in the movie (parts of the interior were actually filmed in a Toronto studio). On November 25, 2006, the home finally opened its doors as a tourist attraction. Jones spent close to $500,000 in preparation for this grand opening. In addition, he also purchased the house next door and converted it to a gift shop and museum dedicated to the film and the house.
Bob Clark’s success with the teen-sex comedy Porky’s (1982) allowed him the ability to make a movie he wanted to make. Without “Porky’s” there would have been no “Christmas Story”.
Ralphie says that he wanted the “Red Ryder BB Gun” 28 times.
There is a debate about when the film takes place. Evidence seems to point to 1939 because of The Wizard of Oz (1939) references. The decoder ring points to 1940. However, if you look at the calender on the wall (during the first dinner sequence), you can clearly see the first of December falls on a Friday. December 1st fell on a Friday in 1939, not 1940 as was previously accepted.
According to director Bob Clark, Jack Nicholson was given the script and was very much interested in the role of Mr. Parker, “The Old Man”. However, Clark didn’t learn of this until later and the studio didn’t want to pay Nicholson’s fee anyway, which would have doubled the budget. Regardless, Clark said that Darren McGavin was still the better choice and was born to play the role.
The film was released just before Thanksgiving and became a surprise hit. By the time Christmas rolled around, the movie had already been pulled from most theaters because it had been “played out”. After complaints were lodged at the theater owners and the studio, the film played on select screens until after the first of the year 1984.
Inspired the creation of The Wonder Years (1988).
The people of Cleveland were incredibly cooperative during filming, donating antique vehicles from every corner of the city. These vintage vehicles helped to enhance the authenticity of the production design.
The piece of music that plays after Ralphie says “fudge”, and after the lamp breaks for the second time, is the opening of “Hamlet” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
The department store featured in the Santa scene is really Higbee’s in downtown Cleveland. There is no Higbee’s in Hammond.
The real house used during filming can be found at 3159 W 11th Street in Cleveland, Ohio. Pictures and a “Street View” of the house can be seen on Google Maps. A nearby street that intersects with W. 11th St is Rowley Avenue, one block south of the location shown on Google Maps.
Wil Wheaton auditioned for the role of Ralphie.
The Parker’s Oldsmobile is a 1937 Model 6, four-door sedan with Indiana license plate 56 498.
Although he occupies the most screen time in the film Peter Billingsley only has about ninety-three lines of dialogue.
The Chinese restaurant is named Bo Ling’s. There is a neon sign across the top of the storefront that reads “Bowling”, except the “a” is not lit.
Goofs
There are three Black children in Ralphie’s class, however Indiana schools were not integrated until 1949.
A kid in a classroom scene has The Dukes of Hazzard (1979) digital watch.
A 1980s math book is sitting on Miss Shields’ desk.
On Christmas morning (of what is supposed to be 1939 or 1940), the family is listening to Bing Crosby’s “Merry Christmas” album while they open presents. That album was not released until 1945 (and reissued in 1947).
The toy wagons in the window of Higbee’s Department Store have the 1980s “Radio Flyer” trademark.
When Scut is laughing at Ralphie, there is a close up showing the braces on his teeth. The braces are the type that attach to the front of the tooth with adhesive, which were not invented until many years later. Braces at that time would have been the type with a metal band going around the tooth.
Box Office Info In USA
Budget $4,000,000
Opening Weekend $2,072,473
Gross $16,743,818
Filming Dates: January 14, 1983 – March 24, 1983
Filming Locations
744 Gerrard Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Chop Suey Palace)
3159 W. 11th Street, Cleveland, Ohio, USA (Ralphie’s house)
Higbee’s Department Store – 200 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Victoria School, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada (Ralphie’s school)
Central Senior Public School, Lindsay, Ontario, Canada (Ralphie’s school)
Cherry Street Bridge, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Magder Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (studio)
Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio, USA (christmas parade scene)
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Tremont, Cleveland, Ohio, USA