Love, the Miceli family of New Jersey

Stacy Rusher

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A special guest has moved into the house on West 11th Street that was made famous by the movie “A Christmas Story.”

“You can’t explain it. It’s a surreal moment right now,” said Billy Jeffrey.

Billy is a self-proclaimed obsessed fan of the 1983 movie who spent $4,200 in an online auction for a few nights in the Cleveland landmark.

“I get now to re-live ‘A Christmas Story’ for the next 48 hours and I’m pretty excited about that,” said Jeffrey.

This is the first time in Cleveland for the Chippendales dancer who usually spends his time on stage as a member of the all-male revue in Las Vegas.

“Everybody knows ‘A Christmas Story’ house. Everybody knows Chippendales. Put ‘em together, and here we are!”

The money from Billy’s experience helps educate northeast Ohioans through the Cleveland Scholarship Program.

“That it goes to the charity and it stays right here in Cleveland, it’s great,” said Jeffrey. “To be able to give back to a city that I’ve never been to, but I’ve been here now a couple days and I’m falling in love with, is a good feeling.”

This is the second time this fundraiser has been held at the “A Christmas Story” house. You can find out more about the house which is open year-round, by going to http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/.

The official Web site for Billy Jeffrey is http://www.billyjeffrey.com/.

Fox 8 News Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Billy Jeffrey paid more than $4,000 in an eBay auction to dress up in a bunny suit at The Christmas Story House.

But he also gained something priceless — a Christmas experience with his sister and brother-in-law, whom he wouldn’t have seen if not for his winning bid.

Jeffrey — a Lewiston, Idaho, businessman, reality television star and Chippendales performer — spent two nights this week living like Ralphie in the Tremont house used for exterior shots in the 1983 movie “A Christmas Story.”

Jeffrey, his sister Rachel Pierce and brother-in-law Sennett Pierce shot BB guns in the back yard, set a leg lamp in the window and crawled under the sink just like the kids in the movie.

Jeffrey even washed his mouth with Lifebuoy soap, the same way that little Ralphie is punished for cursing in the movie. How did it taste? Absolutely awful, Jeffrey reported.

The Christmas cult classic film stars Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker, a young boy determined to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.

Jeffrey, who declined to give his age, bid $4,200 in an online charity auction to benefit the Cleveland Scholarship Programs, which promotes educational awareness.

About 50 bidders entered the auction, said A Christmas Story House executive director Steve Siedlecki. The House, 3159 West 11th St., is open Wednesday and Christmas Eve but closed Christmas Day.

Jeffrey entered a similar Christmas Story House auction last year but was so busy working at a vitamin store he runs that the auction ended before he could increase his bid. “I was pretty bummed,” he said.

When this year’s auction was announced, he noticed that the Cleveland visit was scheduled to take place before Christmas. He knew that the Pierces, who work at a St. Louis hospital, could not take time off on Christmas. But Rachel Pierce, who loves “A Christmas Story,” too, said she and her husband could meet him in Cleveland if he won.

When the auction ticked down to close about 10 days ago, Jeffrey was touring Germany with the Chippendales exotic dance troupe. He clutched his BlackBerry and let out a whoop when he saw the words, “auction ended — you won!”

“All the guys were pumped. They all wanted to go,” he said. “I told them I needed to pick family.”

Jeffrey and the Pierces flew in Sunday night and took advantage of their free night at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. Their other prizes include a Chinese turkey dinner, a guest appearance on WGAR FM/99.5’s Lanigan and Malone morning show and tickets to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Jeffrey has been a “Christmas Story” fan since the first time he saw the movie as a boy in Idaho. He was a cast member on Fox’s “The Sexiest Bachelor in America” and the ABC reality TV series “True Beauty.”

Jeffrey and his family spent Monday night watching a DVD of “A Christmas Story,” then slept in the Christmas Story House. Wednesday called for Jeffrey posing for pictures on the staircase in that bunny suit.

The best part of the whole experience? Getting to spend it with family, he said.

The experience is a “major award” for Billy Jeffrey, who says he’s obsessed with the 1983 film. He bid $4,200 in an online charity auction and was scheduled to make his sleepovers Monday and Tuesday nights.

The house in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood is now a tourist attraction.

The Christmas cult classic film stars Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker, a young boy determined to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.

High bidder Jeffrey was a cast member on the ABC reality TV series “True Beauty” last winter and has toured as a Chippendales exotic dancer. He said Monday it was his first visit to Cleveland.

On the Net:
http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/

The Associated Press.

“This is by-far my favorite Christmas movie,” says Jeffrey. “I have the leg lamp and I get tons of compliments on it each year when I put it out!” Jeffrey, who will bring along his younger sister and her husband, is excited to re-live all of the classic scenes from his favorite movie in the actual house. In addition, they plan on making this visit their Christmas celebration because work schedules have them apart over the holiday.

All of the proceeds from this ten-day eBay auction, which started at $1.00 and ended with a winning bid of $4,200, are going to the Cleveland Scholarship Programs (CSP). The CSP helps families, children and adults in the Northeast Ohio region return to college by providing access to postsecondary education through scholarships and academic advising. During the 2008-2009 school year the CSP assisted 19,763 students through their advisory services.

WHAT: The winning bidder received:

· 1 Day, 1 Night stay for four (4) in a suite at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel

· 2 Day, 2 Night accommodations for four (4) at A Christmas Story House

· Chinese Turkey dinner for four (4)

· Dinner for four (4) at John Q’s Steakhouse

· Guest Appearance on the Lanigan and Malone Show

· Admission for four (4) to “Holly”wood Christmas Movieland

· Admission for four (4) to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

· Admission for four (4) to The Cleveland Bontanical Garden

· $200 shopping spree in A Christmas Story House Gift Shop

WHEN: Please contact Jodi O’Neill or Jill Wallenstein to schedule media interviews. Billy Jeffrey will be in   town from Sunday, December 21^st – Wednesday, December 23^rd, 2009.

WHERE: Interviews to take place at A Christmas Story House & Museum 3159 W 11th Street Cleveland, OH 44109

CONTACT: Jodi O’Neill

Landau Public Relations

216.912.2855

joneill@landaupr.com

Jill Wallenstein

Landau Public Relations

216.912.2847

jwallenstein@landaupr.com