A Christmas Story Discussion

[MinnesotaMike]

Well, as far as history goes, I teach U.S. history at a local high school


Different strokes, indeed

Just admit it...you had your own "Scut Farkas" to deal with as a kid, didn't you.

[JollyElfDC]

Now I just think you're weird! You're 3 years OLDER than me!! How can you not vibe on the nostalgia of A Christmas Story?? Oh well...different strokes....

I'm just a huge history buff, and I've always been drawn to post-war Americana.

Not to nit pick, but I'm pretty sure A Christmas Story is supposed to take place in the late 1930's.

[MinnesotaMike]

Not to nit pick, but I'm pretty sure A Christmas Story is supposed to take place in the late 1930's.

I pulled this off IMDB:

When and where does the story take place?

The story takes place in 1939 or 1940 in the fictional northern Indiana town of Hohman (based on real-life Hammond, Indiana, where writer Jean Shepherd grew up).

There is also a mention of the soldiers standing outside Higbee's Store in the opening scene. That suggested a post-war setting, however there are many components of the movie that would make it most likely to be December 1940.

So I guess I was off by a handful of years. Same general era though.

[ChantelleJoy]

Hey all - I just pulled the parts of this discussion out of the ELF thread so we can keep talking about it over here..


Y'know I never really liked A Christmas Story until I was in my late-20s. And also clearly I'm no history buff (and much younger than most people who LOOOOVE this movie) because I always thought it took place in the Mid-50's Hahaha.... For a kid in the 80's the difference between 1939 and 1955 is negligible.

[Papa_Christmas]

Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra....Ra Ra Ra Ra

[ornamentmaven]

Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra....Ra Ra Ra Ra

Love that scene!

[MinnesotaMike]

Hey all - I just pulled the parts of this discussion out of the ELF thread so we can keep talking about it over here..


Y'know I never really liked A Christmas Story until I was in my late-20s. And also clearly I'm no history buff (and much younger than most people who LOOOOVE this movie) because I always thought it took place in the Mid-50's Hahaha.... For a kid in the 80's the difference between 1939 and 1955 is negligible.

HAHA!!...yeah, nothing much happened between '39 & '55! I'm a typical guy, because I always knew it was earlier because of the cars in the movie!

[MinnesotaMike]

Love that scene!

The duck looks like it's smiling.

[Mary Angeldog]

This is my husband's favorite christmas movie. We both were elementary school age in the early 50's and the clothes and the neighborhood in the movies could have been ours. We both really identify with the kids in the movie. I still remember my hideous snowsuit and trying to stay upright in it while walking to school! The spectacled little boy my husband was seemed to always want some gift his mother thought was dangerous. It takes us back to the magic and sometimes hysterically funny Christmases of our childhoods.

[Tall Paul]

A Christmas Story is awesome! I guess I did grow up watching it though.