Greetings, A Christmas Story Fans!

In Cleveland, it’s summer, but at A Christmas Story House & Museum, it’s always Christmas! Next month, we celebrate Christmas in July by having a variety of activities planned for our patrons.

There will be some additions to the A Christmas Story House & Museum in July, and I’m sure you will all want a sneak peek. Join us on July 5-6, for a special unveiling. You’ll be one of the first to see recently acquired movie costumes and a whole new set of exhibits! We will host a food drive July 18-19 to benefit the Cleveland Food Bank. Receive $1 off admission for every non-perishable item you bring, up to $3 per person. Plus there will be games throughout the month (don’t “shoot your eye out” when we go to the shooting range!). To end the month with a bang, be sure to visit Tremont on July 27 when we’ll join the Tremont neighborhood in The Taste of Tremont. Come visit the House, and then go out and enjoy all that Tremont has to offer.

If there is anyone on your Christmas in July list that hasn’t gotten a Leg Lamp yet, now is the time to buy! Our website is holding an online-only special… the 45” Full Size Leg Lamp is only $99.99 for a limited time!

The new gift shop warehouse is settling into its new home in North Olmsted, Ohio. It is being run with great efficiency by Josh Dickerson, the new director of warehouse logistics, who has stepped up to the challenge of heading up the combined inventory of our Cleveland and California warehouses.

We were saddened to learn about the sudden closing of our partner C&Y Chinese Restaurant. We will miss the food, the laughs and the singing! We wish the staff and owners of C&Y the best of everything. We are searching for a new partner, so keep your eyes and taste buds open for the next Chinese Turkey restaurant.

For those of us who have been fans of the movie for years, I’m sure the excitement must be building in anticipation of the “A Christmas Story” 25th Anniversary Celebration & Convention that will take place Thanksgiving weekend 2008 in Cleveland. For further details about this year’s convention, visit www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/index.php/convention.

A Christmas Story House & Museum is open year-round on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Tours of the house run every 30 minutes. Regular admission is $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, $5.50 for children (ages 7-12) and free for children ages 6 and under. For more information, visit www.achristmasstoryhouse.com or call 216-298-4919.

Steve Siedlecki
Executive Director, A Christmas Story House

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Hello “A Christmas Story” fans,

2008 marks the 25th anniversary of everyone’s favorite holiday film. A Christmas Story House & Museum is planning its fourth annual event to mark the occasion: “A Christmas Story” 25th Anniversary Celebration & Convention. The convention will feature appearances by seven original cast members, the premiere of three documentaries about the movie, rides in the original movie fire truck, a BB gun range in the back yard of A Christmas Story House, special exhibits of original props used in the movie, and a speakers series featuring members of the original production crew.

The celebration will take place Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 28-30) at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel and coincide with Cleveland’s Winterfest. The schedule and details for the events are currently being formulated and will be available on our website in the coming months.

For fans located in the Toronto area who wish to attend the events, a tour bus is being arranged to make the trip to Cleveland. Further details to come.

Also, we’re looking for a corporate sponsor for “A Christmas Story” 25th Anniversary Celebration & Convention. If you know any potential sponsors who may be interested, please contact us.

Although the holidays have passed, we’re keeping busy. We are currently renovating our museum to improve the displays and the overall experience for visitors as well as redesigning our website to feature more content and pictures for fans to enjoy. Remember, we’re open throughout the year, so be sure to visit us any time of the year – either in person at the house or virtually at www.achristmasstoryhouse.com.

A Christmas Story House & Museum is open year-round on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Tours of the house run every 30 minutes. Regular admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for children (ages 7-12) and free for children ages 6 and under. For more information, visit www.achristmasstoryhouse.com or call 216-298-4919.

Steve Siedlecki
Executive Director, A Christmas Story House

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Greetings, fellow Ralphies!!

Our First Annual “A Christmas Story” Convention in November was a huge success.  About 3,000 of you visited us in Cleveland, met the actors, saw the debut of the 1937 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan, witnessed the unveiling of the chalkboard from Miss Shields’ classroom, got a sneak peek of the documentary “Road Trip for Ralphie” and enjoyed the Cleveland Winterfest parade and fireworks.   Click here to see the video of a newscast on the convention. http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=78564

Plans are in the works for the Second Annual Convention in 2008, which will also be the 25^th anniversary of the film’s release.  Once again, it will be held the Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend so mark your calendar and plan to be with us.

NBC’s “Today Show” Visits “A Christmas Story House”

Be sure to tune in to the “Today Show” on Sunday, December 16 to see Lester Holt’s segment filmed at the House.  Each “Today Show” host is doing a story about his or her favorite holiday tradition, and Lester’s family always watches “A Christmas Story” together.   Use this link to read an article from the Akron Beacon Journal about his visit to Cleveland.  http://www.ohio.com/entertainment/11513611.html

For those of you in the Cleveland area, be sure to watch “That’s Life” with Robin Swoboda on Fox8 on Monday, December 10 and again on Christmas Eve day to see a special show on the House, Museum and Gift Shop.

A BB Gun Wedding

Congratulations to the Erin and Jeff DuBois of Ft. Wayne, Indiana who were married by the fireplace at “A Christmas Story” House on Saturday, December 1.  Erin wore a stunning vintage ivory silk suit with red accents, red peep-toe shoes and a red hat.  Jeff looked dashing in a vintage suit and fedora.  Following the ceremony, they enjoyed a chauffeured ride in the 1937 Oldsmobile with a sign on the back that read, “Wow Whoopee Just Married!”  To watch a video of the event, visit http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=79081.

Our new gift shop is open!

New this year!  Our gift shop is now in its own house at 3166 W. 11^th Street, across the street from the House, and next door to the driveway of the Museum (which also used to house the gift shop).  In addition to the expanded space, we have some terrific new merchandise, including hats, sweatshirts, coffee mugs and action figures.  A large window provides a view of the 1937 Oldsmobile keeping warm and safe in the attached garage.  Your admission ticket is good for the both the House and Museum, and there is no charge to enter the gift shop.  (But we triple dog dare you to just try and leave without spending anything!)

Hey, Ellen!  Come to Cleveland!

TV talk show host Ellen DeGeneres is picking one city to visit and we think she should come to Cleveland.  With the help of our friends in St. Catharines, Tyler Schwartz and Jordie Smits and the good folks at Positively Cleveland, this video was sent to her:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPRnxYPQ_uI

Thanks for making us Number 1!

Thanks to your votes, “A Christmas Story” Museum was voted “Best Museum” in the My Fox Cleveland Hot List.  We’ve enjoyed the accolades as well as the many honors and benefits.  You can check out the complete list of winners at http://myfoxcleveland.cityvoter.com/Winners/PopWinner.aspx?contest=85.  (Note: Art gallery winner Brian Jones is not OUR Brian Jones – just an amazing coincidence!)

Brian on the Road

OUR Brian Jones made a regional media tour in November with stops in Ft. Wayne, Toledo, Erie, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Columbus and Cincinnati, and a special stop in Rhode Island.  Thank you to everyone who turned out to see him and show your support, and who then came to see us in Cleveland.  We’ve enjoyed meeting all of our new Ralphies!

A Christmas Story House & Museum is open year-round on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Tours of the house run every 30 minutes. Regular admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for children (ages 7-12) and free for children ages 6 and under. For more information, visit www.achristmasstoryhouse.com or call 216-298-4919.

Steve Siedlecki

Executive Director, A Christmas Story House