Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/384751
Celebrating our 30th year of publication • Be sure to visit us online at www.worldfencenews.com OCTOBER 2014 It's Christmas everyday on the southwest side of Cleveland, Ohio, where the house used in the 1983 movie A Christmas Story stands. In fact, the house where much of the beloved Yuletide tradition was shot is now restored to its movie splendor, and is open year round to the public for tours. There are probably few people who are not familiar with the movie, set in the 1940s. Ralphie Parker is a nine-year-old boy living in the small town of Hohman, Indiana. His old- er self narrates his experiences and thoughts through the short weeks be- fore Christmas. As he, a few friends, and his younger brother, Randy, look into the display window of a local store, Ral- phie has his eyes set on the only thing he wants for Christmas – an offi cial Daisy Red Ryder carbine-action two hundred shot Range Model air rifl e, with a compass in the stock and "this thing which tells time" (a sundial). One of the movie's most well known phrases is spoken by Ralphie's mother and others when he acciden- tally lets slip his desire for the gun: "You'll shoot your eye out." The movie's plot is at times both humorous and touching. On Christ- mas day, Ralphie does indeed get the Red Ryder BB gun, then almost (but not quite) fulfi lls his mother's predic- tion of shooting his eye out. As a side note, the Red Ryder BB gun was manufactured in Plym- outh, Mich. by Daisy Outdoor Prod- ucts and won international acclaim in the 1930s with cowboy heroes Buck Rogers and Red Ryder using them in promotions and movies. Interestingly, the gun featured in the movie did not correspond to any Daisy model then in existence, and was made especially to match the gun described in author Jean Shepherd's story. Part of the restoration of the house included new commercial ornamental fencing, which was fabricated by Elite Fence Products of Chesterfi eld Town- ship, Mich. This fence will "shoot your eye out" New ornamental fence freshens landscape of house where beloved movie "A Christmas Story" was fi lmed Shown above and below is the house in southwest Cleveland where the classic holiday movie A Christmas Story was fi lmed. As part of a project that restored the property to its original condition and readied it for tours, Great Lakes Fence Co. installed several hundred lineal feet of Elite Fence Products commercial grade aluminum ornamental fence and a number of gates. The inset is of the sign welcoming visitors. (Photos courtesy Elite Fence Products) The powder coated aluminum fl at top fence was installed by Mike Ely's Great Lakes Fence of Garfi eld Heights, Ohio. The project included over 300 lineal feet of 4-foot high commercial grade aluminum fence, three 4x4 walk gates, one 4x12 double drive gate and one 4x6 double drive gate. According to Dick Fromm, sales- man for Elite Fence Products and treasurer of the Michigan Chapter AFA, "The house has become a desti- nation for many movie buffs who year after year enjoy the movie at Christ- mas. There is also a gift shop across the street for souvenirs. Great Lakes Fence also installed a fence for the neighbors and donated it in order to further improve the site. This started a block party action group and others; with the City of Cleveland's help, they will reap benefi ts for the A Christmas Story house." Ely added, "It's a wonderful life; but wait a minute, that's another Christmas story!" Established in 1949, Great Lakes Fence Co. has been serving the North- east Ohio area for over 60 years. They offer professional instal- lation for both commercial and Above is a view of the courtyard of the A Christmas Story House Museum. It shows a portion of the fencing and gates installed at the site. Below is an- other view of the house from the street. continued on page 10