FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT:

Emily Vincent

Landau Public Relation

216-912-2848

evincent@landaupr.com

 

 

A Christmas Story House & Museum offers free admission to service personnel

 

CLEVELAND – Sept. 4, 2008 – A Christmas Story House & Museum salutes those who serve our communities and nation. For the month of September, A Christmas Story House & Museum is offering free admission to military personnel, police officers and firefighters. These professionals, either active or retired, can tour the Cleveland house used in the holiday classic “A Christmas Story” that has been restored to its original movie appearance at no cost.

 

Proof of service, such as a military ID or badge, must be presented to receive the complimentary admission. Additional tickets for immediate family members can be purchased at a discounted rate of $1 off the regular admission price.

 

”This is just one small way we can give back to those who serve us,” said Brian Jones, owner of A Christmas Story House & Museum who served six years in the U.S. Navy as an intelligence officer. “Throughout the year, we offer an admission discount to these local heroes, but we wanted to extend a free invitation to them for the month of September as a special thank-you.”

 

A Christmas Story House & Museum is located just five minutes from downtown Cleveland at 3159 W. 11th St. in the Tremont neighborhood. It 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 tickets are $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, $5.50 for children (ages 7 to 12) and free for children ages 6 and under. For more information or for directions, visit www.AChristmasStoryHouse.com or call 216-298-4919.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  

For more information:  www.achristmasstoryhouse.com

                                               

 

FIRST “A CHRISTMAS STORY” CONVENTION SET FOR THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

 

Two-day event to feature actors, “Chinese Turkey” dinner and unveiling

of 1937 Oldsmobile and chalkboard used in the movie;

One “Ralphie Parker” look alike to be chosen for national promotion

 

 

Cleveland, Ohio (October 30, 2007) – “A Christmas Story” House & Museum in Tremont, and the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel have announced plans for the first “A Christmas Story” Convention, set for Friday and Saturday, November 23 and 24, 2007.

 

Original actors from “A Christmas Story” will be on hand to greet fans and sign autographs, including 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).  The family car used in the film, a 1937 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan, will be debuted, and Moore will host a special unveiling of the chalkboard on which Miss Shields wrote “A ++++” in her classroom.

 

Daisy Outdoor Products is offering a special incentive for children 10 and older who enter the convention’s 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” (a sundial) 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 Petrella (“Randy”) and Schwartz (“Flick”).  Winners in all character categories will win Leg Lamps and other “major awards.”

 

Other convention events include a “Chinese Turkey Dinner” with the actors at C&Y Chinese Restaurant, tours of “A Christmas Story” House & Museum, a BB gun shooting range,

 

 

Continued on page 2…

screenings of the movie, and the Cleveland Winterfest parade and fireworks.  The Renaissance, which will host most of the convention activities, 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

 

A panel discussion will take place on Saturday afternoon with Brian Jones, owner of “A Christmas Story” House & Museum, and filmmakers Deren Abram and Tyler Schwartz.   Abram 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.”   Schwartz and Jordie Smits, 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. 

 

The Renaissance will be the site of the character look-alike contest, the chalkboard unveiling, panel discussion and two meet-and-greet sessions with the actors.  There is no admission charge for these events.  There will be fees for autographs (as determined by the actors), and tickets for the dinner at C&Y are $45 for adults and $22.50 for children.  Complete convention details, including how to purchase tickets for the dinner, are available online at www.achristmasstoryhouse.com.   Fans can also call the House Thursday-Sunday at 216-298-4919, and Wednesdays beginning November 7 for more information. 

 

  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. 7^th Str. in Tremont.   Executive Director Steve Siedlecki emphasized that parking near the House is very limited and encourages fans 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.  

 

“A Christmas Story” House is the house used as the family home in the 1983 holiday classic film, now shown annually as part of a 24-hour Christmas marathon on TBS.  Set in December 1940, the movie follows the trials and tribulations of 9-year-old Ralphie Parker who desperately wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.  Every adult he encounters, including Santa Claus, rebukes his request with the ominous warning, “You’ll shoot your eye out.”  The movie, based on stories from Jean Shepherd’s book, “In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash,” stars Peter Billingsley as Ralphie and the late Darren McGavin as the Old Man. 

 

            San Diego native Brian Jones purchased the 110-year-old house in 2004 and restored the former duplex to its “movie splendor,” both inside and out.  It opened for tours in November 2006 and has welcomed nearly 40,000 guests.  The House, with its accompanying Museum and Gift Shop, is open for tours year round Thursdays – Sundays, and Wednesdays – Sundays in November and December.  It is located at 3159 W. 11^th Street in Cleveland’s historic Tremont district.

 

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Convention schedule attached (two pages)

 

 

Convention Schedule

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2007

10 AM – 5 PM: Actors from “A Christmas Story” to meet and greet fans and sign autographs at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.

10 AM – 5 PM: “A Christmas Story” House & Museum open with BB gun range in the back yard.

2 PM: Unveiling of the Parker Family Car that caused Ralphie’s “Oh Fudge” incident. Unveiling will take place at “A Christmas Story” House. The car is a 1937 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan.

 7 PM: Chinese Turkey Dinner at C&Y Restaurant with the actors. 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2007

10 AM: “A Christmas Story” House & Museum opens with extended hours, and BB gun range in the back yard.

10 AM: First Lolly the Trolley trip departs from the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.  Trolley departs every half hour. Round trip trolley tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children.

10AM: First Lolly the Trolley shuttle departs from Clark Fields.  Round trip shuttle tickets are $1 per person.

10AM – 12 NOON: Exclusive actors meet-and-greet session.  Open to Renaissance Cleveland Hotel guests only.

12 NOON- 1 PM: Panel discussion: Brian Jones, owner of “A Christmas Story” House & Museum, and filmmakers Deren Abram and Tyler Schwartz.   Abram 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.”   Schwartz is making a documentary, “Road Trip for Ralphie” which chronicles two fans’ quest to visit all of the film’s shooting locations from Cleveland to Canada. 

1 PM – 10 PM: Actors meet-and-greet session in the Grand Ballroom of the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.  Open to the general public. 

3 PM: Unveiling of the original movie prop chalkboard from Miss Shields’ classroom by Tedde Moore, who played Miss Shields, in the Grand Ballroom of the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.

4 PM: Character look-a-like contest. Come dressed as your favorite “A Christmas Story” character for a chance to win a Leg Lamp and other prizes. Contest will be judged by “Randy” and “Flick.”  The top five children dressed as Ralphie will have their picture submitted to Daisy Outdoor Products for consideration to star as Ralphie on a Daisy Red Ryder BB-gun package for the 25th Anniversary of “A Christmas Story” in 2008. Daisy Outdoor Products will choose the winner in early January and plans a photo shoot in Cleveland in February or March.

 

 

 

5 PM: Last Lolly the Trolley trip departs from “A Christmas Story” House for the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel and Clark Fields.  Trolley departs every half hour.

6:30 PM: Winterfest tree-lighting ceremony, parade, and fireworks show. Winterfest events take place in Public Square in front of the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.

8 PM: “A Christmas Story” House & Museum close for the day.

10 PM: Actors meet-and-greet session closes.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2007

12 NOON – 5 PM: “A Christmas Story” House & Museum open.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  

                                                                                                        

 

BOB CLARK KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENT

 

“A Christmas Story” director Clark and son hit by drunk driver in Los Angeles

 

CLEVELAND – April 4, 2007 – The director of the 1983 holiday classic “A Christmas Story,” Bob Clark and his son were killed early this morning in a car accident in Los Angeles.

 

Clark, 67, and his son Ariel Hanrath-Clark, 22, of Santa Monica were killed when their car was hit head-on by an SUV driven by a 24-year-old man who was later arrested for being under the influence of alcohol.  The driver and his female passenger were both seriously injured.

 

“It’s a tragic day for all of us who knew and loved Bob Clark,” said Scott Schwartz, who played “Flick” in “A Christmas Story.”   “He was a wonderful man and I was fortunate that he chose me to be in a project that has become iconic.  I talked to him every day and will really miss him.”  Schwartz said he has spoken with fellow cast members Ian Petrella (Randy) and Yano Anaya (Grover Dill) who were all “devastated” by the news.

 

“Bob was a fun-lovin,’ jelly-roll kinda guy who will be sorely missed,” lamented Schwartz.

 

Steve Siedlecki, executive director of The Christmas Story House in Cleveland, where many of the exterior shots of the family home were filmed, also expressed deep sadness.  “Bob Clark was planning to come to Cleveland in August to see the house and we were all very excited about meeting him.  It’s very sad to think that that will never happen.”  Fans are invited to stop by the Gift Shop and Museum at 1103 Rowley Avenue in Tremont to sign a condolence book that will be sent to Clark’s family. 

 

“A Christmas Story House” is located at 3159 W. 11^th Street in the Tremont area of Cleveland.  The 111-year-old former duplex was purchased in 2004 by San Diego native Brian Jones, who invested nearly $250,000 to renovate and restore the home to its “movie” condition.  Over 30,000 movie fans have visited the House since its grand opening in late November 2006.   The complex, which includes a Museum and Gift Shop across the street, is open year-round on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm and Sundays from noon to 5 pm.  Tours of the house run every half hour with the last tour of the day at 4:30 pm.  For more information, visit www.achristmasstoryhouse.com, or call 216-298-4919.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             

 

“DERANGED EASTER BUNNY” TO VISIT CLEVELAND

 

Ralphie’s gift from Aunt Clara finally has a purpose

 

CLEVELAND – March 26, 2007 – Ralphie Parker’s Aunt Clara labored under the illusion that he was perpetually four years old, and a girl.   Aunt Clara’s Christmas gift to Ralphie when he was nine years old was a hand-made pink bunny suit and when he reluctantly tried it on, his father declared, “He looks like a deranged Easter Bunny!”

 

On Saturday, April 7, a deranged Easter Bunny (courtesy of a Christmas Story House associate dressed in an adult-sized version of the “pink nightmare”) will be on hand for photos while handing out Easter treats to guests. 

 

Two prize baskets filled with “A Christmas Story” merchandise, valued at $50-$75 each, will be raffled off.  Tickets will be $1 each or 6 for $5, and can only be purchased at the Gift Shop from now until April 7.  Winners need not be present and the proceeds will support the continued restoration efforts of the property, used in the filming of the 1983 movie, “A Christmas Story.” 

 

Since no holiday with the Parkers would be complete without Chinese food, C & Y Chinese Restaurant will be on hand with “Easter Egg-rolls” for $1, and to keep the family Easter dinner safe from the neighbors’ dogs, turkey-shaped dog biscuits will also be available.

 

“A Christmas Story House” is located at 3159 W. 11^th Street in Tremont.  The 111-year-old former duplex was purchased in 2004 by San Diego native Brian Jones, who invested nearly $250,000 to renovate and restore the home to its “movie” condition.  Over 30,000 movie fans have visited the House since its grand opening in late November 2006.   The complex, which includes a Museum and Gift Shop across the street, is open year-round on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm and Sundays from noon to 5 pm.  Tours of the house run every half hour with the last tour of the day at 4:30 pm.  For more information, visit www.achristmasstoryhouse.com, or call 216-298-4919.

 

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CONTACT:

                                                                                                            Emily Vincent

                                                                                                            Landau Public Relations

                                                                                                            216-912-2848

                                                                                                            evincent@landaupr.com

 

 

HOUSE FROM “A CHRISTMAS STORY” CELEBRATES ITS GRAND OPENING IN CLEVELAND

 

The home featured in 1983 holiday film officially opens its doors to guests

 

 

CLEVELAND – Nov. 25, 2006 – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Cleveland as fans from across the country today celebrated the grand opening of A Christmas Story House.

 

The home used in the 1983 film “A Christmas Story” has been renovated to its original movie appearance and was unveiled by its owner, Brian Jones, along with several actors from the film, including Ian Petrella (Randy), Scott Schwartz (Flick), Tedde Moore (Miss Shields), Zack Ward (Scut Farkus), Yano Anaya (Grover Dill), Patty Johnson (Head Elf) and Drew Hocevar (Male Elf).

 

The grand opening ceremony culminated with the lighting of the leg lamp. The infamous leg lamp, displayed prominently in the front window, serves as a beacon drawing “A Christmas Story” fans to the house. The new pop culture destination and tourist attraction is expected to receive 3,000 to 4,000 visitors in its opening weekend.

 

Jones, 30, of San Diego, purchased the home – sight unseen – in an eBay auction without ever having been to Ohio. A former Navy intelligence officer, Jones is a huge fan of “A Christmas Story” and sells leg lamps (just like the one in the movie) for a living through his online site www.RedRiderLegLamps.com.

 

Jones purchased the 111-year-old house for $150,000 on Feb. 1, 2005, and spent an additional $240,000 for the restoration work that started in January 2006 with most of the money coming from sales of his leg lamp business. He also purchased the house across the street to serve as the museum for $129,000. The museum features original props from the film, including Randy’s “I-can’t-put-my-arms-down” snowsuit.

 

The 1983 holiday film starred the late Darren McGavin as The Old Man and Peter Billingsley as Ralphie who famously pleaded for a Red Ryder BB gun, although everyone assured him he would only shoot his eye out. The film became a holiday favorite years after its theatrical release and is celebrated annually on cable with a daylong marathon.

 

A Christmas Story House is located just five minutes from downtown Cleveland at 3159 W. 11^th Street in the Tremont neighborhood. It is open year-round.   For more information or directions, visit www.AChristmasStoryHouse.com or call 216-298-4919.

 

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In addition to the house, guests can tour the accompanying museum dedicated to the film. It is located directly across the street from A Christmas Story House at 1103 Rowley Ave. and is where tickets to the house can be purchased and where all tours begin. The museum features more than 100 behind-the-scenes photos and items donated by actors from the movie.

 

The museum features items donated by actors in the movie. Ian Petrella, who portrayed younger brother Randy, has provided his “I-can’t-put-my-arms-down” snowsuit, toy zeppelin and rat from Miss Shields’ drawer. The museum also includes a gift shop where items such as leg lamps, T-shirts, painting, pictures, action figures, Ovaltine, Lifebuoy Soap, secret decoder pins and eventually pink bunny suits are available for purchase.

 

Once it opens on Nov. 25, the house’s hours will be Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. After Jan. 16, 2007, the house will be open Thursdays through Sunday. Admission to A Christmas Story House is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Group discounts are available. The price of admission includes a guided tour of the house and yard and admittance into the accompanying museum.

 

For more information on Foster Contracting, please visit the official Web site at www.fostercontracting.homestead.com, or call 216-631-2551.

 

A Christmas Story House is located just five minutes from downtown Cleveland at 3159 W. 11^th Street in the Tremont neighborhood. For more information or for directions, visit www.AChristmasStoryHouse.com or call 216-298-4919.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   CONTACT:

                                                                                                            Emily Vincent

                                                                                                            Landau Public Relations

                                                                                                            216-912-2848

                                                                                                            evincent@landaupr.com

 

END YOUR TRIP TO A CHRISTMAS STORY HOUSE JUST LIKE THE FILM

 

C&Y Chinese Restaurant partners with A Christmas Story House

for special discount offers and holiday-themed party rentals

 

CLEVELAND – Nov. 2, 2006 – To help celebrate the grand opening of A Christmas Story House, the home used in the 1983 film “A Christmas Story” that has been renovated to its original movie appearance, C&Y Chinese Restaurant has been named the official restaurant of the house. The restaurant offers a special discount as well as a holiday party opportunity for fans of this holiday classic film. Visitors to A Christmas Story House who bring their ticket stub to C&Y Chinese Restaurant will receive 20 percent off their bill, while those who bring their C&Y Chinese Restaurant receipt to A Christmas Story House will receive half off the price of admission to the house and museum.

 

In addition to the discounts, C&Y Chinese Restaurant and A Christmas Story House have partnered with Lolly the Trolley for a special Holiday Party Package for groups of 30 or more. The party package includes transportation via Lolly the Trolley to the house and museum for the tour, and then it’s off to C&Y Chinese Restaurant to enjoy a meal, just like the Parker family following the tragic Bumpus’ hounds incident. For those truly die hard fans, C&Y Chinese Restaurant does offer Roasted Pei King Duck a.k.a. “Chinese Turkey,” the family’s infamous holiday meal from the film’s finale.

 

Trolley Tours is also offering evening tours to A Christmas Story House for groups and individuals without the restaurant stop. For reservations or additional information, contact Lolly the Trolley at info@lollytrolley.com or 216-771-4484 or 800-848-0173.

 

C&Y Chinese Restaurant is located at 2222 St. Clair Ave. Bearing a striking resemblance to the restaurant from the film, the restaurant offers a wide range of Chinese cuisine with a full bar and banquet room. For restaurant reservations, call 216-566-1188.

 

Once it opens on Nov. 25, A Christmas Story House will be open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. After Jan. 16, 2007, the house will be open Thursdays through Sunday. Admission to A Christmas Story House is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Group discounts are available. The price of admission includes a guided tour of the house and yard and admittance into the accompanying museum.

 

A Christmas Story House is located just five minutes from downtown Cleveland at 3159 W. 11^th Street in the Tremont neighborhood. For more information or for directions, visit www.AChristmasStoryHouse.com or call 216-298-4919.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        CONTACT:

                                                                                                            Emily Vincent

                                                                                                            Landau Public Relations

                                                                                                            216-912-2848

                                                                                                            evincent@landaupr.com

 

 

HO-HO-HO! HOUSE FROM “A CHRISTMAS STORY” MOVIE OPENS IN CLEVELAND

 

The home featured in the 1983 holiday film welcomes visitors

to relive moments from the nostalgic classic

 

CLEVELAND – Oct. 30, 2006 – Since the 1983 release of the hilarious holiday classic “A Christmas Story,” fans have driven past or stopped to see the house that was home to Ralphie Parker and his 1940s family. Some snap a quick picture of the Parker house. Others walk down the driveway to the backyard to see the shed and where Ralphie nearly “shot his eye out” with his treasured Red Ryder BB gun.

 

Starting Nov. 25, 2006, fans of the film will be able to tour the inside and outside of A Christmas Story House when it opens Thanksgiving weekend as the latest pop culture destination and tourist attraction in Cleveland. Located at 3159 W. 11^th Street in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, the house pays tribute to the film and its fictional residents – The Old Man, Mrs. Parker, Ralphie and younger brother Randy.

 

“The house’s grand opening coincides with Cleveland’s annual Winterfest celebration, kicking off the holiday season,” said Brian Jones, owner of A Christmas Story House. “I can’t think of a more appropriate time of the year to open the house and get into the holiday spirit. Actors from the movie including Ian Petrella (Randy), Scott Schwartz (Flick), Tedde Moore (Miss Shields), Zack Ward (Scut Farkus), Yano Anaya (Grover Dill), Patty Johnson (Head Elf) and Drew Hocevar (Male Elf) will reunite and help us officially open A Christmas Story House to fans of this popular family Christmas film.”

 

Visitors to A Christmas Story House will feel that they have just stepped into the 1940s, taking a nostalgic trip through the Parker home. Though most of the interior shots seen in the movie were done in a studio in Canada, the house has been renovated to look like it did in the movie. The beacon that will draw “A Christmas Story” fans to the house is the infamous leg lamp displayed prominently in the front living room window (after all, it’s a major award of which The Old Man is very proud). Several pieces of furniture were donated by fans of the movie who wanted to help with the restoration of A Christmas Story House.

 

In addition to the house, guests can tour the accompanying museum dedicated to the film. It is located directly across the street from A Christmas Story House at 1103 Rowley Ave. and is where tickets to the house can be purchased and where all tours begin. The museum features more than 100 behind-the-scenes photos and items donated by actors from the movie. For instance, Ian Petrella who portrayed Randy has donated his “I can’t put my arms down” snowsuit, toy zeppelin and rat from Miss Shields’ drawer to be on display. The museum also includes a gift shop where items such as leg lamps, T-shirts, painting, pictures, action figures, Ovaltine, Lifebuoy Soap, secret decoder pins and pink bunny suits are available for purchase.

 

Jones, 30, of San Diego, purchased the home – sight unseen – in an eBay auction without ever having been to Cleveland or Ohio. A former Navy intelligence officer, Jones is a huge fan of “A Christmas Story” and sells leg lamps (just like the one in the movie) for a living through his online site www.RedRiderLegLamps.com. Since 2003, he has sold more than 6,500 leg lamps to movie fans across the country and throughout the world.

 

He learned that the original house from “A Christmas Story” was for sale from his wife, Beverly, who was serving on the USS Bonhomme Richard, a U.S. amphibious assault ship, heading to the Middle East. Beverly’s captain had one of Jones’ leg lamps and told Beverly about the online auction. A few days later, Beverly e-mailed her husband about the house, and less than 24 hours later, he informed her that he purchased the house. “She wasn’t sure if she should laugh or cry,” Jones said.

 

Jones purchased the 111-year-old house for $150,000 on Feb. 1, 2005, and estimates he will spend an additional $200,000 for the restoration work that started January 2006 with most of the money coming from sales of his leg lamp business. He also purchased the house across the street to serve as the museum for $129,000.

 

Since the filming of the movie 23 years ago, the house has been renovated several times by various homeowners. When Jones came to Cleveland to see the house for the first time, he saw that vinyl siding had been installed over the original yellow paint with green trim. The house also was re-roofed and had new windows installed. The house also was turned into a duplex, and much work would need to be done to change it back into a single-family home and update all of the electrical wiring and plumbing.

 

“I thought that the house from ‘A Christmas Story’ would be a cool place to visit,” Jones said. “When I saw it with the gray siding and the updates that had been made to it over the years, I didn’t want the house to fade away and become unrecognizable. I wanted to bring it back to its original movie appearance. Borrowing from another movie that has thousands of visitors to its movie site, I thought that if I build it, they [“A Christmas Story” fans] will come.”

 

To help Jones with this venture is Cleveland-native Steven Siedlecki who worked previously at the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland. Siedlecki serves as curator and director of A Christmas Story House and has overseen the renovation work. Siedlecki is a big fan of the movie, too, and has driven past the house numerous times since childhood, visiting relatives in that neighborhood. Once he learned that Jones was going to restore the house and create a museum, Siedlecki knew he had to be a part of it.

 

Beginning Nov. 25, A Christmas Story House is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. After Jan. 16, 2007, the house will be open Thursdays through Sundays only. Admission to A Christmas Story House is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Group discounts are available. The price of admission includes a guided tour of the house and yard and admittance into the museum.

 

A Christmas Story House is located just five minutes from downtown Cleveland at 3159 W. 11^th Street in the Tremont neighborhood. For more information or for directions, visit www.AChristmasStoryHouse.com or call 216-298-4919.

 

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Coincidentally, the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel is the same hotel that cast and crew members stayed in during filming in 1983. At that point, the establishment was called Stouffer’s Inn on the Square; however its location, directly across from the Higbee’s department store that was featured in the film, is special to the history of the film in this area and is one of the reasons that it has been named the official hotel of A Christmas Story House.

“We are thrilled to be the official hotel of A Christmas Story House,” said John Zangas, director of sales and marketing of the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. “The film has a special place in the history of Cleveland and our building, and we are very happy to bring these offers to fans of the film.”

 

The grand opening Extravaganza Package will cost $169 plus tax, and the Weekend Package will cost $155 plus tax. Those interested in either package should contact the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel at 216-696-5600 or toll-free at 1-800-468-3571 or visit www.renaissancecleveland.com and click on the “Hotel Specials and Packages” link.

 

Once it opens on Nov. 25, A Christmas Story House will be open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. After Jan. 16, 2007, the house will be open Thursdays through Sunday. Admission to A Christmas Story House is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Group discounts are available. The price of admission includes a guided tour of the house and yard and admittance into the accompanying museum.

 

A Christmas Story House is located just five minutes from downtown Cleveland at 3159 W. 11^th Street in the Tremont neighborhood. For more information or for directions, visit www.AChristmasStoryHouse.com or call 216-298-4919.

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