When was Christmas first celebrated as a holiday?
This day, December 25, 336, is the first recorded celebration of Christmas. For the first three hundred years of the church's existence, birthdays were not given much emphasis--not even the birth of Christ. The day on which a saint died was considered more significant than his or her birth, as it ushered him or her into the kingdom of heaven.
What is Christmas and when did it start?
The Romans marked the winter solstice on December 25. The first recorded Christmas celebration was in Rome on December 25, AD 336. In the 3rd century, the date of the nativity was the subject of great interest. Around AD 200, Clement of Alexandria wrote:
What are 5 fun facts about Christmas?
What are 5 fun facts about Christmas? Amazing Christmas Facts for Children. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. … Christmas trees were first used by ancient Egyptians and Romans. … The term 'Xmas' simply means Christmas. … Santa Claus was known as Sinterklaas in Dutch. … Santa Claus did not always dress up in red clothes ...
When does a Christmas story take place?
When was A Christmas Story made? The film is set in the late '30s or early '40s, but it was made in the early '80s. It got lukewarm reviews at the time of its Thanksgiving 1983 release — The New York Times was particularly grinchy — and it only earned $2 million during its first weekend in theaters. Never mind that: It’s a holiday tradition now!
Is A Christmas Story based on a true story?
The film is based on the semi-autobiographical short stories by Jean Shepherd, who has a cameo in the film. In the scene where Ralphie and his brother Randy go to see Santa, Shepherd plays the man who brusquely informs them that the line to sit on Santa's lap begins about two miles back.
What year is A Christmas Story 2 set in?
1946The film takes place in 1946, six years after the events of the original film. Ralphie is now fifteen years old, and all he wants is a used 1939 Mercury Eight convertible for Christmas.
Why was Wizard of Oz in A Christmas Story?
The weird kid in line He was just an extra on set and director Bob Clark thought he was really weird, so he put the kid in the movie. The actors who played Santa, his elves, and the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz were also local extras.
What town is A Christmas Story set in?
Hohman, Indiana"A Christmas Story" Comes Home The movie was set in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana which was a disguise for Shepherd's hometown: Hammond.
Is There A Christmas Story 3?
Follows Ralphie, now adult, who returns to the house on Cleveland street to give his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had as a child, reconnecting with childhood friends, and reconci...
What is the setting of A Christmas Story?
Hohman, IndianaThe film is set in Hohman, Indiana, a fictionalized version of Shepherd's hometown of Hammond, near Chicago. The name is derived from Hohman Avenue, a major street in downtown Hammond. Local references in the film include Warren G. Harding Elementary School and Cleveland Street (where Shepherd spent his childhood).
Why is Wizard of Oz shown at Easter?
The NBC Oz telecasts began the tradition of the film's annual showings during the Easter and Passover seasons of the year as opposed to the winter showings on CBS.
How old was the dad in A Christmas Story?
The Oscar-winning Nicholson was about as A-list as it got in the early '80s. He had delivered iconic performances as Randle McMurphy in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,” Jake Gittes in “Chinatown” and Jack Torrance in “The Shining.” He also was 45 when “A Christmas Story” went into production.
What holiday is The Wizard of Oz?
Even though it has nothing to do with Thanksgiving other than its message of being thankful for what we have, The Wizard of Oz became a holiday tradition when it began broadcasting on CBS each year, a tradition that began in 1956.
Was the leg lamp a real thing?
Three leg lamps were made for the movie, but none of them exist today.
Where is the real Christmas story house?
3159 W 11th St. Cleveland, OhioA Christmas Story HouseWikimedia | © OpenStreetMapEstablished2006 (House built in 1895, though some accounts date back as early as 1870)Location3159 W 11th St. Cleveland, Ohio 44109 USAWebsiteA Christmas Story House1 more row
Who owns Christmas Story house?
Brian JonesThe path that has led 44-year-old Brian Jones from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis to “that little house on Cleveland Street” is a result of his love for his favorite movie, “A Christmas Story.” On Nov.
Although Set In Indiana, A Christmas Story Was Filmed In Cleveland And Toronto
The events of A Christmas Story all take place in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, but the movie was actually filmed in two different cities, neither of which were in the Hoosier State.
All Of The Snow In A Christmas Story Had To Be Made For The Production
Practically every exterior scene in A Christmas Story features snow-covered ground (or snow falling like in the final sequence), but there was one problem, there was no snow in the forecast in Cleveland. In his commentary track, Bob Clark revealed that the production brought in snow machines to make large quantities of fresh powder for the shoot.
Bob Clark Initially Passed On Peter Billingsley Because He Thought The Actor Was Too Obvious Of A Choice For Ralphie
It is hard to imagine anyone but Peter Billingsley taking on the role of Ralphie in A Christmas Story, but that was almost the case.
The Hilarious Flagpole Scene Was Pulled Off Thanks To A Hole And A Vacuum Tube
The triple-dog dare flagpole scene is not only one of the most memorable scenes from A Christmas Story, it’s also one of the most iconic moments in the history of cinema.
Peter Billingsley Was Given Chewing Tobacco For The Cowboy Sequence
Although A Christmas Story is a series of vignettes, there is a narrative thread running throughout it, and that is Ralphie’s quest to get a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle for Christmas.
Multiple Fantasy Sequences Were Cut From A Christmas Story Before Its Release
There are multiple fantasy sequences throughout A Christmas Story, but there were initially going to be more than what made into the final film.
When was Christmas Story sold?
The rights to the movie were sold in 1986 to Warner Bros. by MGM as part of a 50-movie package deal.
Where was Ralphie's Christmas tree filmed?
The Christmas tree shopping scene and many of the inside shots of the house, were filmed in Toronto, Ontario . One of Toronto’s trademark red trolleys can be seen driving by the shot of the outside of the tree lot. Ralphie’s school exteriors were filmed at Victoria School in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
Why did MGM give away Christmas Story?
In fact, MGM practically gave the movie away when it tossed A Christmas Story into the deal in order to simply meet the 50-movie quota agreed to. The cable network TNT first aired its 12 showing, 24-hour marathon as a stunt in 1988, but popular demand turned stunt into tradition.
Where was the movie Sheperd filmed?
Harding Elementary School. Just like Ralphie. The movie was actually filmed in Cleveland, Ohio and Toronto, Ontario. The house from the movie is located just outside of downtown Cleveland and the Higbee building still stands in downtown Cleveland.
Where was Ralphie's school filmed?
Ralphie’s school exteriors were filmed at Victoria School in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. To find an American city resembling an Indiana town of the 1940s, director Clark sent his location scouts to twenty cities before selecting Cleveland, Ohio, as the site for filming.
When did the movie "The Last Jedi" come out?
The modestly budgeted little comedy opened in 1983 the week before Thanksgiving on fewer than 900 screens. The film took in about $2 million its first weekend and double that Thanksgiving weekend – solid business for the time. The movie was getting strong word-of-mouth support.
Who created the leg lamp for Christmas?
The style of the leg lamp for A Christmas Story was created by production designer Reuben Freed who had never before seen or heard of a leg lamp.
What year was A Christmas Story set?
Though the exact year of A Christmas Story’ s setting is never stated, many of its context clues—including the makes and models of the cars we see and the popularity of The Wizard of Oz and Little Orphan Annie—put its year around 1939 or 1940.
When was A Christmas Story released?
By the time A Christmas Story was released in 1983, racial segregation in Indiana public schools was a thing 34 years in the past. But if Ralphie’s story takes place any time before 1949, he would not have had any African American classmates, as he does in the film.
What was Ralphie's first message?
Ralphie felt understandably ripped off when, after weeks of waiting for his Little Orphan Annie decoder ring, the first message he decoded was simply an advertisement for Ovaltine. But he’s lucky he could decipher the message at all, because a few of the numbers that he wrote down don’t match the numbers that announcer Pierre Andre broadcast, most notably the last one; Pierre said 25, Ralphie wrote 11.
What is Ralphie's dad's name in A Christmas Story?
This is because they believed that in the brief exchange between the two neighbors, Swede asks of the leg lamp, “Damn Hal, you say you won it?” But a quick confer with the film’s original screenplay confirms that Swede’s actual query is, “Damn, hell, you say you won it?”
When was Bing Crosby's Merry Christmas released?
As cherished a tradition as that may be, the album wasn’t released until 1945 .
Does Ralphie know how to spell Christmas?
1. Ralphie doesn’t know how to spell “Christmas.”. Warner Home Video. At least it doesn’t appear that way when he gets his Christmas theme—or shall we call it a Chistmas theme—back from Mrs. Shields, who also didn’t notice that the “R” is missing from the word. 2. Jean Shepherd makes an on-screen appearance.
14 The house is now a museum in Cleveland
In 2004, Brian Jones, an entrepreneur from San Diego, bought the original house for $150,000 on eBay. Jones restored the house inside and out to match the original set design of the film. The exhibit is open year round for both tours and overnight stays.
13 Jack Nicholson almost played Ralphie's father
Unbeknownst to many, Jack Nicholson was interested in taking the role of The Old Man. Due to the fact that Nicholson's fee would have doubled the budget, Darren McGavin was cast instead. Needless to say, it would have been a very different movie if Nicholson got the part.
12 Jean Shepherd and Bob Clark have cameos
Screenwriter and creator Jean Shepherd can be seen as the man in the department store who points Ralphie and Randy to the back of the line to see Santa. You may also recognize his voice as the Narrator.
11 Ralphie went on to be a successful producer
Although you may have seen Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) pop up in some other films, most of his time now is spent behind the camera. He is a very successful director and producer, frequently collaborating with Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau. His producer credits include The Break-Up, Iron Man, and Four Christmases.
10 Originally, no major studios wanted to make the film
According to Peter Billingsley, there was little to no interest by any major studio to make the film. They didn't think that a story of a boy wanting a BB gun for Christmas would bring in the crowds. They were certainly wrong. Luckily, the studio agreed to produce the film if Bob Clark signed on to make a horror movie.
9 There are sequels
Screenwriter Jean Shepherd wrote two sequels that were produced: 1988's TV movie Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss and 1994's My Summer Story. Both follow the Parker family, though with entirely different casts. Most will agree that they fail to compete with the original classic. Warner Bros.
8 The actors' reactions to the Chinese restaurant singers were real
You may have noticed that during the Christmas dinner at the Chinese restaurant, the characters' reactions to the singing waiters were a little too genuine. That's because they had no idea that the waiters would be singing Christmas carols in such a stereotypical way.
When was A Christmas Story released?
A Christmas Story is undeniably one of the greatest holiday movies of all time. Released back in 1983, the movie was only a moderate success at the box office, grossing nearly $21 million on a $3 million budget. However, the movie's stature quickly grew thanks to home viewing and repeated TV airings, eventually leading to its status as ...
What is the name of the casino in A Christmas Story?
It's probably the most iconic scene in the whole movie. Unfortunately, Higbee's went defunct in 1992 and was converted to Dillard's, and, in 2011, it underwent significant remodeling and reopened as the Horseshoe Casino. It is now known as the Jack Cleveland Casino after a change in management.
What is the most famous holiday movie?
A Christmas Story is one of the most iconic holiday films of all time, and we're here to dig up some details about the film's famous locations. A Christmas Story is undeniably one of the greatest holiday movies of all time.
Where is the parade in the movie "Higbee's"?
In the movie, Ralphie and his family watch a parade just outside Higbee's. This parade goes through Cleveland Public Square, which was shot on location at 3:00 in the morning!
Is the Christmas Story house still standing?
Luckily for all you Christmas Story fans, the house is still standing. Not only is it still standing, but it has been renovated both inside and out to look exactly like it did in the movie, and you can visit the house and surrounding complex for a full tour year-round.
Overview
Production
The screenplay for A Christmas Story is based on material from author Jean Shepherd's collection of short stories, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. Three of the semi-autobiographical short stories on which the film is based were originally published in Playboy magazine between 1964 and 1966. Shepherd later read "Duel in the Snow, or Red Ryder nails the Cleveland Street Kid" and told the otherwise unpublished story "Flick's Tongue" on his WOR Radio talk show, as can be heard in …
Plot
The film is presented in a series of vignettes, with narration provided by the adult Ralphie Parker reminiscing on one particular Christmas when he was nine years old. Ralphie wanted only one thing that Christmas: a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Ralphie's desire is rejected by his mother, his teacher Miss Shields, and even a Santa Claus at Higbee's department store, all …
Cast
• Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker
• Jean Shepherd as adult Ralphie (voice) / man standing in the Santa Claus line at Higbee's
• Ian Petrella as Randy Parker
• Melinda Dillon as Mrs Parker
Release and reception
Initially overlooked as a sleeper film, A Christmas Story was released a week before Thanksgiving 1983 to moderate success, earning about $2 million in its first weekend. Roger Ebert, who gave the film four stars out of four and added the film to his "Great Movies" list, suggested the film had only modest success because holiday-themed films were not popular at the time. Vincent Canby's mostly negative The New York Times review complained that "the movie's big comic pieces tend …
Broadcasting and home media release
The film first aired on television on premium networks The Movie Channel, HBO, and Showtime as early as December 1985, and quickly attracted a growing following. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the film began airing quietly on SuperStation WTBS and Superstation WGN. In 1988, the film started airing on local television stations. In 1989 and 1990, TBS showed it Thanksgiving night, while in 1991 and 1992, they aired it the night after.
Sequel
A sequel of the film is in production, named A Christmas Story Christmas. The movie will be directed by The Christmas Chronicles director Clay Kaytis and written by The Mule writer Nick Schenck. Peter Billingsley, the main character of the original movie will star in and produce the film with Vince Vaughn via Wild West Picture Show Productions. Production has begun in Hungary in February. The film will be released exclusively on HBO Max. The film will take place in the 197…
See also
• List of Christmas films