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QURIOUS CONSUMER
When 'A Christmas Story' reruns aren't
enough
William Hageman
Published November
30, 2003
To celebrate
the 20th anniversary of the film "A Christmas Story," you could tour
northwest Indiana and visit sites related to the movie (yes, Flick's
Tap is still there in Hammond). Or you could load up on "A Christmas
Story" merchandise.
The National Entertainment Collectibles
Association offers a whole line of items, including a 20-inch desk
lamp modeled on The Old Man's leg lamp ($45); detailed bobble heads
($10); action figures (Ralphie, The Old Man, Mom and Randy, and
Flick, stuck to the flagpole, $10); talking 12-inch figures (Among
Pop's phrases: "Fra-gee-lay! Must be Italian," $25); Christmas ball
ornaments ($15 for a set of three) and a metal lunch box, with
insulated drink container ($20).
Go
to http://acs.flicklives.com/Toys/toys(underscore)acs. htm to check
out the items (some can be purchased through links on the Web site,
and others can be bought at Toys 'R' Us, Sam Goody, Suncoast/Media
Play, Spencer Gifts or other specialty or comics stores.
A
special two-disc anniversary DVD ($26.99) offers a commentary track
with reminiscences by actor Peter Billingsley (Ralphie) and director
Bob Clark, two trivia tests and a mini-feature on the real Red Ryder
guns.
There's also a new "A Christmas Story" book (Broadway
Books, $14.95), which combines material from the two Jean Shepherd
books the movie was based on: "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash"
and "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories and Other
Disasters."
For that little cowboy, there's a commemorative
reproduction of Ralphie's Red Ryder BB Gun. Production of the "A
Christmas Dream" rifle is limited to 1,000 guns and they're
available only through the Rogers Daisy Airgun Museum
(479-986-6873). Cost of the limited-edition gun is $75 plus
shipping.
Perhaps the most striking item out there is the "A
Christmas Story Leg Lamp," a 40-inch lamp with a black stocking and
black stiletto heel (a couple of different styles of shades are
available). It is shipped in a crate or box marked FRAGILE and comes
with a "Major Award" certificate, suitable for framing. There are
several companies making the lamps, but the original is One Leg Up
Leg Lamps (www.leglamps.com), which has packages starting at
$169.95. That black fringe is going to cost extra.
Copyright © 2003, Chicago Tribune
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