"You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!"
"You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!" Save Email Print
Posted: 3:00 PM Nov 30, 2008
Last Updated: 10:03 AM Nov 30, 2008

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Fans of the holiday classic "A Christmas Story" are celebrating the film's 25th anniversary with a convention and trips to the house where the movie was made.

The 1983 film, an adaptation of Jean Shepard's memoir of a boy in the 1940s, was set in Indiana but largely filmed in Ohio. The movie starred Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker, a young boy determined to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.

The film was a modest theatrical success, but critics loved it. It eventually joined "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street" as a Christmas cult classic.

"It's a film about being a kid and looking back," said Brian Jones, who owns the house where the movie was shot and the neighboring museum dedicated to the film.

About 4,000 fans are attending the convention at Cleveland's Renaissance Hotel, where they'll meet some of the film's actors, watch three documentaries made about the film and see the original 1938 fire truck from a famous scene in the movie involving a child's tongue stuck to a frozen pole.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Posted by: C on Dec 23, 2008 at 06:51 PM
CAT ! Don't keep me in suspense ! Didja get the leg lamp or what ?! Remember, it's a "major award" !

Posted by: C on Dec 3, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Hey, Cat ! How ya been ? So, you want a leg lamp ? Okay, just call me Santa C...go "www.achristmasstoryhouse.com", and check the gift shop...It's the site run by the guy who bought the house used in the film. They have your lamps ! Not much danger of you shooting your eye out with one, but you WILL be in danger if bad taste ever becomes illegal ! Let me know what you end up doing. Merry Christmas !

Posted by: Cat Location: Gboro on Dec 1, 2008 at 06:47 PM
C--- I want a leg lamp! Thats great!

Posted by: Local Director Location: Greenville on Dec 1, 2008 at 05:59 PM
I personally think that it was a very funny and very cute Christmas movie. I don't know if anyone noticed, but the Bumperson hounds were the running joke of the whole film. It's a great movie to watch with your family!

Posted by: C on Dec 1, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Hey, Movie Fan, good point ! Those leg lamps are actually available for purchase...but there AIN'T NO WAY my wife would ever let me bring one in the house ! Did you catch the little blooper in the movie concerning the lamp ? It was said to have been made of plastic, yet when Ralphie's mom broke it, you heard the sound of shattering glass. No matter...STILL my favorite Christmas movie ! Anyhow, Happy Holidays...........

Posted by: Leslie Location: Tarboro on Dec 1, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Ask my family what I'll be watching at Christmas and they can tell you.I watch the 24 hour marathon every year on TNT. This is one of my absolute favorites along with Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Washington,NC on Dec 1, 2008 at 12:45 PM
I LOVE this movie! It is a must see in my house. When it is on for the 24 hrs I usually watch it atleast 5 times.

Posted by: movie fan on Dec 1, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Yes, but how many of you own the leg lamp, also?? :) I agree, great movie.

Posted by: C on Dec 1, 2008 at 12:27 AM
I'm a "gun guy". I[ and just about every other lawful firearms enthusiast ] will tell you I got my start on that first BB gun. Virtually all of us did indeed hear our moms tell us we'd "shoot our eyes out". My family and I only watch this DVD in December [ about a couple dozen times ]. It really does capture the magic of childhood..and every single time we get to the scene where Ralphie finally unwraps that Red Ryder on Christmas morning, I actually get goose bumps ! Last year it was my sweet honor to give my young son his first one, but I also included a pair of safety glasses [ mom was'nt stupid ]. This movie will NEVER get old !

Posted by: Cactus Location: Strabane on Nov 30, 2008 at 06:13 PM
My G-Mother told me the same when I got my "Red Ryder". Great movie.

Posted by: Ashley Location: Washington on Nov 30, 2008 at 05:41 PM
This movie is a CLASSIC!!! I Love this movie...and im so glad it come on 24 hrs that one day..its GREAT

Posted by: Anonymous Location: greenville on Nov 30, 2008 at 05:23 PM
i watch it every year and still it brings a smile to my face? i can remember feeling the same way when i was a kid???

Posted by: Cat Location: Gboro on Nov 30, 2008 at 03:55 PM
I, for 1, LOVE that movie!

Posted by: SGB Location: Eastern NC on Nov 30, 2008 at 03:36 PM
This film is a must-see in our home for Christmas. My husband is a HUGE fan!!