Monday, December 05, 2011

Our "Christmas Story" Adventure


Mary and I have visited two historical homes in Ohio over the years: The Thurber House in Columbus and, now, the Cleveland house used in the holiday classic film "A Christmas Story."

In both cases, things didn't exactly go according to plan.

On Sunday at 10 a.m., we showed up at the doorstep of 3159 W 11th St. in Cleveland, Ralphie's home in the beloved movie. After spying the place on the Internet, we were convinced of this sound plan: Tour the house at 10 a.m. and hit the gift shop and be on the road by 11:30 a.m. and at Quench to watch the Bears by 1 p.m.

And, much like the case of the Thurber Treat-winning Thurber house tale previously spun here, the house was not visitor-friendly upon our arrival. A sign informed us the house was closed.

But wait, the website said… We were soon joined by a couple arriving from San Diego. They, too, were under the misguided notion that the house was to open at 10 a.m.

Across the street from the house are two associated buildings: The ticket office for the house and a museum. Both locked up tight, of course. And a sign on the ticket office indicated the house did not open until 12 p.m., which would shatter our 11:30 a.m. departure.

Then, through a fence behind the museum, we could see a guy who was cleaning up after his dog in the museum's backyard. At least the dog was eager to greet us.


THIS DOG WAS EAGER TO GREET US

Maybe this groundskeeper could help us, we thought. So, we started to explain through the fence that we were confused about why the house as closed when the website indicated it would be open at 10 a.m.

"It opens at noon," he said. "Want me to prove it to you?"

He went back into the museum and returned with his Apple laptop. He had browsed to the home's website. And, even though it was a bit confusing, the house apparently did not open until noon.

Oh! Skunked again…

"Do you work here?" Mary asked, already scheming to get us in despite the noon opening.

"No," he said. "I was in the cast."

Huh? And you are…?



"Ian Petrella. I played Randy."

Flabbergasted, I murmured something about taking his picture.

"Not in my pajamas!" he said.

Yes, Randy, in his pajamas, was explaining the hours of operation of the Christmas Story house. Wrap your head around that one…



So Randy, I mean, Ian, went in to change and came back with autograph pictures for us and the San Diego couple. He was a real nice guy. He was in town for personal appearances during the home's busy season. And he had a great dog.

I took some pics of him, the house, and even shot an image of the interior through the front window.


THIS PICTURE SHOT THROUGH THE LAMP LEG WINDOW
And soon we were off.

We HAD to get back for the Bears game.

The Chicago Bears. Terrors of the midway. More like the Chicago Chipmunks, if you ask me…

More later,


Mark
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