Episode 17: "The House at Good Old Cleveland Street" - Analyzing The "A Christmas Story" House as a Primary Source w/ Guide Ernie Scales

It may come as a surprise that 1983’s “A Christmas Story” was not a big hit upon its initial release, a trait that 1946’s It’s A Wonderful Life shares with the now much beloved story of young Ralphie Parker’s quest to get a Red Ryder BB Gun delivered to him on Christmas Day.  A Christmas Story owes its loyal following and place in American Pop Culture to both the popularity of home video as well as cable tv, as it has been replayed countless times in countless households in those formats for decades.

The best testament to A Christmas Story’s place in the pantheon of holiday movies, more-so than the sequels and spin-offs, the merchandise or the consistent quoting of “You’ll shoot your eye out” or “Fragil-ay” , is the A Christmas Story house museum in Cleveland, Ohio.

Lead Tour Guide Ernie Scales joined the show recently to talk about how this museum stands as primary source of the early part of the 21st century.

To hear my household break down the latest installment of the Ralphie Parker saga, A Christmas Story Christmas, visit patreon.com/epspodcast and become a patron today!

(Cover art: A "One Story House" doll house courtesy of The Tie Dye Librarian)