mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
by - December 11, 2008 - 10:02 AM
Which Oscar-winning star wanted to play Ralphie’s dad? Which actor went on to a seedy career in the adult film industry? Can you really get your tongue stuck to a metal pole? Here are a few tidbits to tide you over until the 24-hour Christmas Eve marathon on TBS.
1. Jack Nicholson was very interested in playing Ralphie’s dad. But casting (and paying) Jack would have meant doubling the budget, so he was removed from consideration. Director Bob Clark – who didn’t know Nicholson was interested at the time – says Darrin McGavin was the perfect choice, and I’d have to agree. I think Jack would have been too much of a scene-stealer.
2. What does Porky’s, the raunchy ’80s teen sex movie, have to do with a wholesome film like A Christmas Story? Bob Clark directed both – Porky’s in 1982 and A Christmas Story in 1983. If Porky’s hadn’t given him the professional and financial success he needed, he wouldn’t have been able to bring A Christmas Story to the big screen.
3. For anyone keeping count, Ralphie says he wants the Red Ryder BB Gun 28 times throughout the course of the movie. That’s approximately once every three minutes and 20 seconds.
4. Peter Billingsley, AKA Ralphie, has been good friends with Vince Vaughn since they both appeared in the CBS Schoolbreak Special (their version of the after-school special) in the early ’90s. He doesn’t do much acting these days, but he did make a surprise appearance on the “Vince Vaughn Wild West Comedy Show” in Memphis, Tenn., in 2005. Peter’s doing quite well for himself, though. He was the executive producer of Iron Man and had a brief bit as William Ginter Riva – I’ve seen Iron Man twice, but I can’t place his character. I’ll have to go back and look. Peter also executive produced Vince’s latest movie, Four Christmases (which he also had a cameo in), as well as 2006’s The Break-Up.
5. Mythbusters tested whether it was possible to get your tongue truly stuck on a piece of cold metal. Guess what? It is. So don’t triple dog dare your best friend to try it.
6. Scott Schwartz, who played Flick (who stuck his tongue to the frozen flagpole), was submerged in the adult film industry for a number of years. He got out in 2000 to try to become a mainstream actor again, but I can’t say he’s done much of note: Community College (“A love story between four dudes and their ability to get free drinks”) and Skinwalker, which starred ex-MTV veejay Jesse Camp, if that tells you anything. Joey Buttafuoco is in it, too, and gets billing over our poor Flick. Sad.
7. Next time you’re in Cleveland, you can visit the original house from the movie for only $7.50. It was sold on eBay in 2004 for $150,000. Collector Brian Jones bought the house and restored it to its movie glory and stocked it up with some of the original props from the film, including Randy’s snowsuit.
8. Director Bob Clark got the idea for the movie when he was driving in the car with a date. He heard Jean Shepherd on the radio doing a reading of his short story collection, “In God We Trust… All Others Pay Cash,” which included some bits that eventually ended up in A Christmas Story. Clark said he drove around the block for an hour until the program ended, which his date was not too happy about.
9. The Wonder Years was inspired by A Christmas Story. In fact, in one of the last few episodes, Peter Billingsley appeared as one of Kevin Arnold’s roommates.
10. The real Red Ryder BB Gun was first made in 1938 and was named after a comic strip cowboy. You can still buy it today for the low, low price of $44.99. But the original wasn’t quite the same as the one in the movie – it lacked the compass and sundial that both the Jean Shepard story and the movie call for. Special versions had to be made just for A Christmas Story.
11. While we’re talking shopping – you know you want the leg lamp. Put it in your window! Be the envy of your neighbors! It’s a Major Award! You can buy it here, but if you’re not feeling quite so flamboyant you can get a replica that serves as a nightlight for $14.99. The people who own the house also run a gift shop, and they sell pretty much everything you could possibly want from the movie – the decoder pin ($7.99), Lifebuoy soap ($3.99), the leg lamp variants mentioned above, and even pieces of the original house.
12. There are two little-talked about sequels. The first one was a 1988 made-for-TV movie, Ollie Hopnoodle’s Haven of Bliss. Jerry O’Connell played 14-year-old Ralphie, who is excited about his first job – a furniture mover. Of course, it ends up being awful, and it might make him miss the annual family vacation at Mr. Hopnoodle’s lakeside cabins.
My Summer Story, AKA It Runs in the Family, debuted on the big screen in 1994. Kieran Culkin plays Ralphie, Mary Steenburgen is his mom, and Charles Grodin is his dad. I’m not sure if it’s because of this movie or A Christmas Story, but whenever our trio of dogs are running around in a pack, my husband always yells, “It’s the Bumpus Hounds!”
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Don’t shoot your eye out (kid).
See Also…
10 iPhone Apps to Help You Survive the Holidays
*
5 Dangerously Popular Holiday Toys
*
What the Financial Crisis Means for Spam, Psychics, Hosiery & More
*
Quiz: Good Actresses in Bad Horror Movies
*
Quiz: Sitcom Settings
Comments (44)
Comment
- Follow mental_floss
Actually there is an actual sequel. Its about Ralph and fam going on summer vaction, called “Ollie Hopnoodle’s Haven of Bliss.” I personally have never seen it, but I remember my sixth grade teacher saying it was great. (its on IMDB, check it out)
Oh, and Hallmark has a Leg Lamp Christmas ornament available this year… my wife won’t let me get it :(
posted by Justin L on 12-11-2008 at 10:20 am
So, I totally went to the link and bought the leg lamp night light for my husband just now :)
posted by Pink Coat on 12-11-2008 at 10:33 am
Great post! Growing up, I always thought my family was the wierd one, since we absolutely loved A Christmas Story, and watched it all the time during the Holidays! In all honesty, we watched it throughout the year…just because! We still quote the movie at odd times. I was a little suprised when I grew up, to learn that the movie was that popular. Our childhood friends didn’t know much about it, so we just kept it to ourselves. We also love love love Home for the Holidays! Another worn out DVD movie at our house!
posted by Milena on 12-11-2008 at 10:35 am
Billingsley is also an elf in Elf. He’s the one who asks another elf to pick up the slack for Buddy.
posted by scott on 12-11-2008 at 10:55 am
I’m so glad the movie has finally become mainstream of the last few years. heck, even Hallmark now makes ornaments for it every year! Ralphie also had a small part as a head elf in the toy factory in Will Ferrell’s ‘Elf.’ I noticed that the 25th anniversary DVD tin also has cookie cutters inspired by the movie – including a leg lamp one!!
Thanks for sharing all of this with us!
posted by Michael C on 12-11-2008 at 11:00 am
I loved Ollie Hopnoodle’s Haven of Bliss! I have it on VHS. I think I’ll dig it out and watch it this weekend.
posted by Mama9cats on 12-11-2008 at 11:17 am
Coincidence? Ralphie wants a Red Ryder BB gun. Mickey Gubitosi, aka Robert Blake, played Little Beaver in the Red Ryder films. Robert Blake had his own alleged problems with guns that went far beyond shooting an eye out.
posted by tongueflap on 12-11-2008 at 11:45 am
I have seen “Ollie Hopnoodle’s Haven of Bliss.” I can’t remember a single thing about it other than I think I was about nine when I saw it and I thought it was hysterical. This was before I’d even seen “A Christmas Story.”
posted by andrea on 12-11-2008 at 11:56 am
Long before “Christmas Story,” “Ollie Hopnoodle” and “My Summer Story,” there was “The Great American Fourth of July (and Other Disasters),” which starred Matt Dillon as Ralphie! And there was one other, about Josephine Koznoski, who moved in next door after the Bumpuses departed.
Bonus fact: I knew someone who lived in Hobard, IN (the town Jean Shepherd grew up in).
posted by loripop on 12-11-2008 at 12:04 pm
Great list Stacey..
I watch this movie at leat 3 times every christmas..As a matter of fact, it has become my tradition to watch it on x-mas night and leave it playing on tv while i sleep.
posted by Jill...NOT Jillian on 12-11-2008 at 12:20 pm
If anybody has the ability to, listen to the third movement of the classical piece The Grand Canyon Suite by Ferde Grofe. The movement itself is called On the Trail. You’ll recognize many of the melodies from the movie!
posted by Eric on 12-11-2008 at 12:30 pm
Billingsley plays a tech working for Obidiah Stane in Iron Man – he delivers the “I’m not Tony Stark” line.
He was also one of the friends in The Break Up (The “Band of Brothers” bowling scene)
posted by SScott on 12-11-2008 at 12:32 pm
@SScott – oh! I know exactly which part you’re talking about! Thanks for the clarification!
posted by stacy on 12-11-2008 at 12:49 pm
Don’t forget that Peter Billingsley was one of Santa’s helpers in the ‘new’ Christmas classic – “Elf”. Another Vince Vaughn tie in – Vince and Jon Favreau (the director) got their big break in “Swingers”.
posted by Mike on 12-11-2008 at 1:00 pm
Stacy – Thanks for the great post!! Just bought and watched the movie last night. I just couldn’t wait until Christmas eve. Also, my husband isn’t a big fan of the movie, so now I can watch it without hearing about how I’m torturing him. Yea me!!
I actually watched “Elf” the day before yesterday. Now I have to go back and look for Peter Billingsley’s spot! I know where it is, but I didn’t recognize him. That’s why I love this website!! Great information is shared here every day!!
posted by bzzyb on 12-11-2008 at 1:24 pm
If you are a fan of “A Christmas Story” you really should dig up Jean Shepherd’s books and read the originals. I found Jean Shepherd back in 1965. My roommate was reading a Playboy and laughing his ass off. When I asked him what the hell he war reading, he introduced me to Jean Shepherd. “Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories”, a story about going to the prom, may be his best.
Note: In the original writings, the Bumpus Hounds made off with the Easter ham. They rated an entire story of their own.
posted by Ken on 12-11-2008 at 1:30 pm
I have to admit, I was never much of a “Christmas Story” fan. I figure my LOVE of “Ollie Hopnoodle’s” balances it out. There are some great bits in “Ollie” including Dad drinking pickle juice from the jar to prevent colds, Mom’s obsession with tacky lawn ornaments (particularly those big glass balls), and a lost-in-the-woods parallel to the Greek sailors who would be lost forever following siren calls. I think about that every time I get lost on back roads.
As for the tongue-stuck-to-pole thing? Of course it’s true! My mom did it at an airport when she was little. The fire department came out, but couldn’t figure out what to do. Finally, this little old lady came out of the crowd and calmly told my grandmother to get a bowl of warm water and run it over my mom’s tongue. Worked like a charm. The only mystery now is what possesed my mother to lick a metal telephone booth…
posted by Chelsea on 12-11-2008 at 2:39 pm
Mythbusters actually bothered to test the tongue thing?
Is it really that hard to believe for those of you who never really see cold weather? Cause a pretty massive chunk of North America knows damned well it happens. Someone did this at least once a year at my school.
Heck never mind the pole, some days my tongue or lips will stick to the metal ziper on my coat.
posted by Tristan on 12-11-2008 at 2:43 pm
“Ollie Hopnoodle’s Haven of Bliss” by far outshines “A Christmas Story” for my family. “Christmas Story” is great, but the Mom in “Ollie Hopnoodle” is AMAZING, and the Randy has a way better whine. The movie is a big part of my family’s quip library, with things like jokes about bees in cars and shouting “IT SPINS!” at any slob art place on the side of the road.
posted by Silentseas on 12-11-2008 at 3:17 pm
Ollie Hopnoodle’s Haven of Bliss is one of the best movies ever, you have not seen it,i suggest going out now and renting/buying it if you can find it
posted by lu on 12-11-2008 at 3:24 pm
Wow…they had to test the tongue thing on Mythbusters? I’ve seen that happen more than once. One time in elementary school my buddy left part of his tongue on the fence when he panicked and pulled his tongue off too quick….ouch!
posted by Dan on 12-11-2008 at 3:32 pm
@ Eric
Holy cow! I have that song on iTunes, and I’ve listened to it countless times, and I’ve seen A Christmas Story even more times. I always thought the song sounded vaguely familiar from somewhere else, but in years have never connected that. It’s the robber music! Thanks.
I love this movie. Usually watch it a couple times during the 24 hour marathon. So many classic parts.
I’ve read that it was actually really unsuccessful when it came out. Is that true?
posted by kate on 12-11-2008 at 4:42 pm
Ah, but did you know that to get period cars driving around in the background of A Christmas Story, they enlisted a Cleveland-area old-fashioned car club? It’s the same cars driving by in the background over and over and over–they just kept taking laps.
My grandparents are in one of those cars that drives past over and over and over. Possibly this is why I hate A Christmas Story; I had to watch it so many times while my grandparents’ car was pointed out to me every time it went past…
posted by erm on 12-11-2008 at 8:24 pm
Lines from that movie are quoted in my house all yewar round. We’ve all seen it a billion times, and even so, it stays on all Christmas Eve (thanks, TBS) regardless if anyone’s watching it or not.
posted by Cassie on 12-11-2008 at 9:30 pm
“He doesn’t do much acting these days, but he did make a surprise appearance on the “Vince Vaughn Wild West Comedy Show” in Memphis, Tenn., in 2005.”
Damn skippy he was. I was front row that night and the reinactment of their afterschool special tore the house down. So funny!!!
posted by Becky on 12-11-2008 at 9:38 pm
I live on the same street as the Christmas house and our little neighborhood always has the leg lamps in all the restaurants’ and galleries’ windows. I can always tell when the holidays are near from the cars that are slowly going up and down my street peering at house numbers and the new glow in all the home and retail windows. :)
posted by annie on 12-11-2008 at 10:35 pm
Fun fact: Before it was retitled and rereleased as “My Summer Story,” it was called “It runs in the family.” For a little known flick it’s got some memorable moments. Ralphie fighting the bully with battle tops, the old man fishing for crappies, and mom going to the movies every week just to get the same damn gravy boat. Not a classic, but Jean Shepherd had a way of making his stories memorable.
posted by Nate on 12-11-2008 at 10:55 pm
Poor Flick nothing. I met him at one of the Christmas Story tree lightings in downtown Cleveland, and his wife has a huge rack (not that that’s everything, but damn). He got his, that’s for sure.
posted by Roman on 12-12-2008 at 1:25 am
Wow, it sounds like Scott Schwartz’s tongue has really gotten around…
posted by Matthew on 12-12-2008 at 6:58 am
@ loripop
You’re thinking of Hobart, but that’s not where Shepherd grew up. He grew up on Hammond, which is pretty much in the extreme northwest corner of Indiana. They do some special stuff around Christmas up there (I live a little ways south of Hammond) commemorating the movie, and especially this year because of the anniversary. I think I remember reading that the guy who played Schwartz in the movie was there on the first day of the celebration.
posted by crocostimpy on 12-12-2008 at 8:46 am
Jean Shepherd grew up in Hammond. While they do a seasonal thing for Christmas Story, the area has never fully recognized Shepherd as they should. For some juicy gossip, trivia and backstory (plus Mark Kiesling’s story and illustrations by Bill Thornbro) you should find the link to the The Times of North West Indiana newspaper in Jean Shepherd’s hometown and search Christmas Story.
posted by Rudy on 12-12-2008 at 12:04 pm
OK, I´m guessing this is an American thing because I have never in my life seen this movie (just to clarify, I´m from Peru and have lived in Venezuela for many years). Am I missing much?
posted by GTT on 12-12-2008 at 12:19 pm
I think William Ginter Riva was one of the soldiers in the Humvee with Tony Stark at the beginning of the movie.
posted by Brandon on 12-12-2008 at 6:38 pm
and the one bully kid grew up to become the brother of Christopher Titus in his Fox show Titus (which was really good and given the ax too early, like many quality Fox shows–see Family Guy listing).
posted by Staci on 12-12-2008 at 10:13 pm
There is a lesser known sequal called “phantom of the open hearth”. My family and I watched one knight thinking it was a horror(not slasher) movie. It was listed by title only on the tv guide during the creature feature. We were disapointed but mainly because we thought it going to be something else and we saw it before a christmas story came out.
Rahlphie is a teenager going on a blind date, that’s about all I remember. clips are on you tube
posted by james on 12-13-2008 at 2:45 pm
#13. Bob Clark was never paid for any of the marathons on TBS or any of the Warner channels. Warner own Christmas Story and broadcasts it on cable for a ridiculously low rate so Bob died without a dime.
posted by Tuesday Mason on 12-15-2008 at 1:52 pm
The husband and I went to Cleveland over the Thanksgiving holiday and checked this place out. It’s awesome. We came home from the gift shop with a 6ft, inflatable, light up, leg lamp lawn ornament. I’d have to say we’re the only ones in our town with a leg lamp in our front yard.
posted by Amy on 12-16-2008 at 2:45 am
Don’t think I saw this mentioned anywhere, but in Ollie Hopnoodle (which is great) Ralphie is played by Jerry O’Connell.
posted by Colin on 12-16-2008 at 12:48 pm
Peter Billingsley played the nearly-bald lab-coat employee of Stark Industries who helps Jeff Bridges create Iron Monger. Bonus features on the DVD show him having his head shaved for the part.
posted by MC on 12-17-2008 at 9:10 am
Why is there no mention of Jon Favreau? If it weren’t for him, I doubt Peter Billingsly would have much of a career post-Christmas Story. Sure, Vince Vaughn may have been the stepping stone, but it was he who kept Billingsly in the game. Favreau is long overdue for becoming a household name and more worthy of mentioning since he directed “Iron Man” and “Elf” with a cameo of Billingsly as the elf manager. But I understand if the focus was more of things that I *didn’t* know.
posted by JP on 12-17-2008 at 12:25 pm
I saw “Ollie Hopnoodle’s Haven of Bliss” and about a year later relived it. On a summer trip to Northern Minnesota (very similar terrain). We saw lots of the souvenir stands, many with those little lawn windmills, silver balls, etc. There was a terrible thunderstorm at night when we stayed in a cabin. Very reminiscent of the film. Also saw “The Great American 4th of July” and others, but GA4J was the best. They ran on CBS in the 1980s. I ordered one from the Jean Shepherd website but the quality was as bad as my own video tape of it. Still it was hilarious with the Old Man setting off fireworks and the town drunk setting off his homemade “bomb” of a firecracker. Jean Shepherd was a genius at reminiscing about childhood, He was a “child of the 40s” and I was a “child of the 50s” and loved his stuff, but obviously his works hit home with all generations.
posted by Dijon on 12-17-2008 at 11:07 pm
Scott Schwartz got into porn movies all of his own chosing, so I don’t see what’s so sad about that.
posted by LostBoy68 on 12-18-2008 at 1:35 am
In response to JP: It’s actually Favreau who got his directors chair via Billingsly. Billingsly had contacts to get funding for Favreau’s movies, therefore allowing to actually make the films he wanted. I would go as far as to say that neither of them would be successful right now without each other. But, Billingsly had already made key connections for producing before he met Favreau.
posted by Quenfis on 12-18-2008 at 4:02 pm
Stacy, you always have the best lists!
posted by Kevin on 12-24-2008 at 4:03 pm