Fan brings 'Christmas Story' house to life

[Wayne_Zitkus]

One of my all-time favorite movies. I remember listening to Jean Shepherd's radio program as a kid, and hearing him narrate this movie every year brings back memories....

Fan brings 'Christmas Story' house to life

POSTED: 2:38 a.m. EST, November 26, 2006

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) -- Ralphie Parker and Brian Jones know what it's like to want something.

For Ralphie, the object of desire was an official Red Ryder, carbine-action, 200-shot, range model air rifle. (Go ahead, say it, "You'll shoot your eye out, kid.")

For Jones, the gotta-have-it item was Ralphie's house -- the one in "A Christmas Story," the quirky film that's found a niche alongside holiday classics like "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street."

Jones has restored the three-story, wood-frame house to its appearance in the movie and opened it for tours beginning Saturday. His hope is that it will become a tourist stop alongside the city's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and other destinations.

He's unsure whether he'll make enough money to cover his $500,000 investment, but as sure as a kid's tongue will stick to a frozen flag pole, he's committed to the project.

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http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/26/christmas.story.ap/index.html