Before Ralphie dreamed of his Red Ryder BB gun on the big screen, he appeared in a 1976 PBS movie called "Phantom of the Open Hearth", written and narrated by humorist Jean Shepherd. Like "A Christmas Story", it features Ralphie, his Old Man, and even the infamous leg lamp.
Another story featured in "Phantom" comes straight from one of Shepherd’s short stories. In it, one of Ralphie's neighbors proudly announces: "I ordered a house from Sears and Roebuck!" He recruits the beer-drinking neighborhood men to come to the rail yard and help him unload two boxcars full of house parts.
Suddenly, it starts to downpour and everyone flees, except the poor homeowner. He stands soaking wet among the house parts strewn everywhere, piteously begging for help.
The Sears house segment begins around the 13:00 mark.
Happy Holidays — and here’s to rediscovering the stories behind our favorite traditions!
Suddenly, it starts to downpour and everyone flees, except the poor homeowner. He stands soaking wet among the house parts strewn everywhere, piteously begging for help.
The Sears house segment begins around the 13:00 mark.
Happy Holidays — and here’s to rediscovering the stories behind our favorite traditions!
2 comments:
OMG! That was HILARIOUS!
Lara, this is a great find! For too many years to count, people have been telling me about this vignette, but despite some aggressive searching, I never could find it.
I'm so glad that you found it!
Rose
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