The modest Cleveland house that was used in the filming of "A Christmas Story" in 1983 sold on ebay a few years ago for $150,000. The “Red Rider Leg Lamp Company," owned by Brian Jones, purchased the house and restored it for use as a public museum.

Of course, you can guess which movie Jones loves above all others. His passion for the film led him from sunny San Diego to snowy Cleveland to pursue his dream of restoring the house and opening it as a museum.

The restoration project has been chronicled on the museum’s website www.achristmasstoryhouse.com. You can even see the original ebay ad for the house!

The house is open year round for tours, but Christmastime is obviously the best time to go visit! Directly across the street from the house is a museum that features memorabilia from the movie.

In a nod to the famous Chinese Christmas dinner (after the neighbor's dogs make off with the turkey!), if you bring your ticket stub to the C&Y Chinese Restaurant, you can get 20% off your order! It is just 10 minutes away from the museum.

Thanksgiving weekend 2007 featured the first annual "A Christmas Story" Convention. Some of the original actors came to the museum, and there was a BB gun range set up in the backyard, among other activities. The museum also used the occasion to unveil a 1937 Oldsmobile and chalkboard that were used in the movie. Hopefully this will become an annual tradition in Cleveland!

In the museum's Gift Shop, you can purchase – oh, yes – a replica of the famed “Leg Lamp.” Get your own MAJOR AWARD!!

********

If you haven't seen this holiday classic, you simply MUST get a copy for your home library!