Cleveland, OH — A Holiday Mecca?

Like many other people, my favorite Christmas movie is “A Christmas Story,” the tale of a young boy named Ralphie and his wish for a Red Rider BB Gun for Christmas. Thirty-year-old Brian Jones, now out of the Navy, has bought the house used in the movie and has restored it to its 1940s appearance in the film. The result is the "A Christmas Story House" museum. NPR’s report on this story included another surprise — Jones also runs a company called Red Rider Leg Lamps which manufactures replicas of the gaudy lamp that so embarrassed Ralphie’s mother. Jones has also provided information on the official Christmas Story House web page including links to locations around Cleveland that were featured in the film. The parade site, the Chinese restaurant (that does indeed serve Peking Duck), and yes, Higbees department store. The website also describes the major renovations that Jones undertook to prepare the house for this holiday season, returning the house to its appearance in the film. Major work was done both inside and out, including replacing vinyl siding that had been put on the house after the movie was made, and building a new front stairwell to replicate that in the movie set. Jones has orchestrated a complete holiday package, with actors from the movie, and hotel accommodations for visitors. It appears his hard work is paying off: In the NPR audio report, Jones said that the line to get into the house was two blocks long, and the wait about two hours. On the web: A Christmas Story House