'A Christmas Story' Turns 25; Fans to Celebrate at Cleveland Convention

'A Christmas Story' Turns 25; Fans to Celebrate at Cleveland Convention

CLEVELAND, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The beloved holiday classic "A Christmas Story" celebrates its 25th anniversary this November. To mark this milestone, A Christmas Story House & Museum presents "A Christmas Story" 25th Anniversary Celebration & Convention on Nov. 28-29 in Cleveland. The event features a reunion of actors from the movie.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081015/CLW013 )

The convention will bring "A Christmas Story" fans (known as Ralphies) to Cleveland where many exterior scenes of the movie were filmed. Cleveland is the location of A Christmas Story House, the home featured in the film that was restored to its original movie appearance and opened to visitors two years ago.

The convention will take place at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel with other activities occurring at A Christmas Story House.

Highlights of this year's convention include:

-- Appearances by eight of the original cast members, including Ian
Petrella (Randy), Scott Schwartz (Flick), Tedde Moore (Miss Shields),
Zack Ward (Scut Farkus), Yano Anaya (Grover Dill), Dwayne McLean (Black
Bart), Patty Johnson (Head Elf) and Drew Hocevar (Male Elf)
-- The premiere of two documentaries: "ClarkWORLD" about the life and
works of "A Christmas Story" director Bob Clark and "Shooting Your Eye
Out: The Untold 'Christmas Story'" about the making of the movie and
the phenomenon it has become
-- Rides in the original fire truck used in the movie from Flick's famous
tongue-on-the-flagpole scene with proceeds benefiting the Chippawa
Volunteer Fire Department of Niagara Falls, Ontario, which owns and
maintains the fire truck
-- The unveiling of newly acquired costumes from the film
-- The first public display of two Genie Awards (the Canadian equivalent
of the Oscars) won by "A Christmas Story" for Best Achievement in
Direction and Best Screenplay on loan from Clark's estate
-- A special preview of the upcoming "A Christmas Story - The Musical"

"A Christmas Story" 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.

For more information on "A Christmas Story" 25th Anniversary Celebration & Convention," including a schedule of events, hotel packages and convention tickets, visit http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081015/CLW013
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN2
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: A Christmas Story House & Museum

CONTACT: Emily Vincent of Landau Public Relations, +1-216-912-2848,
evincent@landaupr.com

Web site: http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/

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