What was originally nothing more than a small budget film based on the writings of Jean Shepherd has become a holiday classic that Turner Broadcasting has shown in marathon format for the past 13 years.
Since its first airing on TBS in 1992, A Christmas Story has been shown 250 times on the Turner family of networks. The current 24 hours of A Christmas Story marathon initially began its run in 1997 on TNT until moving to TBS in 2004.
Last year the event chalked up its best ratings ever, according to Turner each showing averaged 3 million viewers with a total reach of 54.4 million. This equates to a 3% increase over the prior year’s results.
The movie features a 9-year-old boy named Ralphie who is pining for a Red Ryder carbine-action-200-shot range model air rifle. The audience follows the young boy’s misadventures as he attempts to convince his parents, teacher and even Santa Claus himself that the BB gun is the perfect gift.
The film is set in a fictional town called Hohman, Indiana but was actually shot on location in the Tremont area of Cleveland with a few scenes shot in Canada.
Clevelanders rallied around the movie while it was in production, ensuring that the film kept to its 1940’s setting. Local auto club members even donated the use of their classic cars.
The actual home utilized for the film has been restored to its movie luster and can be visited in Tremont.
The marathon can be seen on TBS starting tonight, Christmas Eve, at 8 p.m.
See pictures of A Christmas Story and the renovated house below. Follow me on Twitter
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Comments
This is our favorite Christmas movie and watch it every year. We now recite parts of the movie before it happens. Still laughing every year at this movie. It is a classic in our house.
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