Greetings, fellow fans of “A Christmas Story!”
Our first ever “A Christmas Story” Convention is just three weeks away! If you haven’t already, it’s time to book your trip for the big two-day extravaganza, set for Friday and Saturday, November 23 and 24, 2007 here in Cleveland.
Come meet the actors and be here for the unveiling of the family care used in the film, a 1937 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan, and the chalkboard on which Miss Shields wrote “A+++++++.” While you’re here, you will have the chance to meet Ian Petrella (Randy), Scott Schwartz (Flick), Zack Ward (Scut Farkus), Yano Anaya (Grover Dill), Tedde Moore (Miss Shields), and Patty Johnson and Drew Hocevar (the two evil elves).
There will also be a character look-alike contest, screenings of the movie, tours of “A Christmas Story” House & Museum, a BB gun shooting range, and the Cleveland Winterfest parade and fireworks. Plus, you can purchase tickets to join the actors for a special “Chinese Turkey” dinner at C&Y Chinese Restaurant. Tickets are $45 for adults and $22.50 for children. There will be fees for autographs (as determined by the actors),
Complete convention details, including how to purchase tickets for the Chinese Turkey dinner, are on our website, and you can call the House Thursday-Sunday at 216-298-4919, and Wednesdays beginning next week for more information.
Our partner The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel is offering packages that include deluxe accommodations and buffet breakfast for two, complimentary parking, tickets to “A Christmas Story” House & Museum with free roundtrip trolley transportation, and in-room screenings of the movie. A similar weekend package is available after the Convention through February 3. For more information on the packages, call the Renaissance at 1-800-228-9290 and ask for promotional code H09, or use this link xxxxx. Many of the Convention activities will take place at the Renaissance and are free of charge.
Calling all Ralphie look alikes!
Daisy Outdoor Products is offering a special incentive for children 10 and older who enter the character look-alike contest dressed as Ralphie Parker. The makers of the Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun, based in Rogers, Arkansas will choose one winner from the top five “Ralphies” to appear on the packaging of a special edition BB gun, with “a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time” in honor of the “A Christmas Dream” Red Ryder BB gun which was produced in 1983 and used in the movie. Along with the prestige of posing as Ralphie, the winner will receive $100, their very own Red Ryder Range Model Air Rifle and a Leg Lamp. Daisy officials anticipate choosing the winner by early January and conducting the photo shoot in Cleveland in February or March.
The character look-alike contest will be judged by “Randy” and “Flick”. Winners in all character categories will win Leg Lamps and other “major awards!”
A panel discussion will take place on Saturday afternoon with our owner, Brian Jones, and filmmakers Deren Abram and Tyler Schwartz. Deren is the producer of ClarkWORLD, a documentary about his long-time friend and mentor, the late Bob Clark, who co-wrote and directed “A Christmas Story.” Tyler, along with Jordie Smits, both natives of St. Catharines, Ontario, are making a documentary, “Road Trip for Ralphie” which chronicles their quest to visit all of the film’s shooting locations from Cleveland to Canada, including the Victoria School in St. Catharines. A key scene involves the two fans salvaging the chalkboard from Miss Shields’ classroom on the day the building was gutted for remodeling. There will be a special sneak peak at their film during the Convention.
Parking at the House can be challenging to say the least, so Lolly the Trolley is offering round-trip transportation from the Renaissance and Tremont’s Clark Fields to the House on Friday, Nov. 23 and Saturday, Nov. 24. Trips depart every half hour and round-trip tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children from the Hotel, and $1 (adults and children) from Clark Fields near Clark and W. 7th Str. in Tremont. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the ample parking downtown and at Clark Fields and travel by Trolley.
“A Christmas Story” House & Museum will be open from 10 am to 5 pm on Friday, Nov. 23, 10 am to 8 pm on Saturday, Nov. 24 and noon to 5 pm on Sunday, Nov. 25. Regular admission rates of $7 for adults, $6 for seniors (ages 60+), and $5 for children (ages 7-12) will apply. Children ages 6 and under are admitted for free.
Steve Siedlecki
Executive Director, A Christmas Story House
