‘A Christmas Story’ Convention Planned
A celebration and convention are being planned in Cleveland to mark the 25th anniversary of the classic yuletide movie “A Christmas Story,” organizers said.
A Christmas Story House & Museum is orchestrating the events, which are to take place Nov. 28 and 29.
Cleveland is where many exterior scenes of the movie were shot and where A Christmas Story House, the home featured in it that was restored to its original movie appearance, opened to visitors two years ago.
The convention will take place at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel with other activities occurring at A Christmas Story House.
Some of the supporting players from the movie are expected to reunite for the festivities.
Included on the lineup are the premiere of two documentaries — “ClarkWORLD,” which is about the life and works of “A Christmas Story” director Bob Clark, and “Shooting Your Eye Out: The Untold ‘Christmas Story,’” which is about the making of the movie and the phenomenon it has become.
Fans will also have the opportunity to ride in the original fire truck used in the movie from Flick’s famous tongue-on-the-flagpole scene, with proceeds benefiting the Chippawa Volunteer Fire Department of Niagara Falls, Ontario, which owns and maintains the fire truck, organizers said.
Universal Studios to Open Thanksgiving and Christmas
Revenue must be down: Universal Studios Hollywood said Monday it will open on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day this year for the first time in its history.
“Universal Studios Hollywood has always been a favorite destination for families to celebrate special occasions and also an ideal place to visit with out-of-town friends and family,” Larry Kurzweil, president and chief operating officer of Universal Studios Hollywood, said in a statement. “We’re excited that our theme park will now be open every day of the year for our guests’ enjoyment.”
The movie-based theme park and studio tour is home to “The Simpsons Ride,” “Revenge of the Mummy — The Ride,” “Shrek 4-D” and “Jurassic Park — The Ride.”
Santa Descendents Meet to Take Oath
SANTA CLAUS, Ind. – The grandsons of two of the more famous men to don Santa Claus suits plan to meet Sunday in this southern Indiana town to sign and dedicate a newly created oath for the jolly gift-givers.
Charles Howard of Albion, N.Y., a famed Macy’s Day Parade Santa, and Jim Yellig, who became known as the “Real Santa” from Santa Claus, met 70 years ago at Santa’s Candy Castle, a Depression-era tourist attraction here.
During Sunday’s ceremony at a refurbished Candy Castle, Howard’s grandson, Charles Bergeman, and Will Koch, the grandson of Yellig, will be the first to sign the document on behalf of their famous grandfathers, the Evansville Courier & Press reported Saturday.
“Not a day goes by here at Holiday World that we don’t hear someone reminiscing about Santa Jim,” said Koch, president of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari amusement park in Santa Claus. “Grandpa would have loved to know his legacy continues in this far-reaching way.”
The oath, an attempt to set guidelines for all who portray St. Nick, has eight principles, including this one: “I promise to use my powers to create happiness, spread love and make fantasies come to life in the true and sincere tradition of the Santa Claus Legend.”
The oath will be administered to every Santa attending a convention in Gatlinburg, Tenn., next March.
Yellig’s role lasted 70 years until his death in 1984. It took root during World War I when Navy shipmates throwing a Christmas party for poor kids in Brooklyn, N.Y., elected him to be St. Nick because his hometown of Mariah Hill was near Santa Claus. A casual hobby became a profession in 1946 with the opening of Holiday World-forerunner Santa Claus Land about 35 miles east of Evansville.
Yellig’s daughter, Pat, married into the family that created Santa Claus Land and remains active in running the family-owned park. She said her father believed he was “born to play Santa.”
The oath was written last spring by Phillip Wenz, who makes Santa appearances nationally in addition to being the Jolly Old Elf at a Santa’s Village attraction near Chicago.
Wenz said Yellig and Howard inspired the oath, so it seemed fitting to have the grandsons meet in the “same magical town” where their grandfathers were introduced in 1938.
