According to TBS, the 24 hour A Christmas Story marathon averaged 3 million viewers in 2010 and is one of the most popular holiday programming events on cable.
For those not up on their holiday movies, here’s the A Christmas Story synopsis:
“Based on the short stories of famed humorist Jean Shepherd, A Christmas Story follows the mischievous adventures of a young boy who longs for a special Christmas gift – a Red Ryder BB gun. Peter Billingsley stars as young Ralphie, who is determined to convince the world that he is responsible enough to handle such a gift, despite his mother’s insistence that he could shoot his eye out. Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin are pitch-perfect as Ralphie’s parents, and Ian Petrella provides some of the movie’s funniest moments as Ralphie’s little brother, Randy.”
A Christmas Story Trivia [Courtesy of TBS]:
* A Christmas Story was shot on location in Cleveland, Ohio, although some scenes were shot in Canada. The residents of Cleveland were apparently so entranced with the movie, many local auto club members donated the use of their antique cars to help portray the movie’s 1940s setting. As a tribute to the city, the producers decided to name the street the movie family lived on Cleveland St.
* A Christmas Story opened in theaters just before Thanksgiving in 1983, but by the time Christmas rolled around, many theater owners had stopped showing it, feeling it had “played out.” Complaints were lodged, and the movie returned to select theaters and continued playing well into January 1984.
* A Christmas Story was selected in an E! Entertainment poll as the #1 holiday movie of all time.
* Memorabilia connected to the movie is hugely popular and widely available, including replicas of the famed “major award” leg lamp, which can be found through various sellers online.
* Peter Billingsley, who continues to act in movies, has also become a successful executive producer, with such credits as the blockbuster Iron Man and the holiday film Four Christmases. TBS recently ordered a sitcom pilot entitled Sullivan and Son from Billingsley and his producing partner, Vince Vaughn.
Source: TBS
