A Brief by Doug Draper
It may be hard to believe for some of those of us who are getting-older-more-faster but ‘A Christmas Story’ – a movie that, in its relatively short life, has become an America holiday favourite is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
The Queenston, Ontario fire truck that was featured in “A Christmas Story’ 20 years ago in front of the Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda, New York last Christmas for an inaugural screening of the film. You can catch it again this December. Photo by Dooug Draper
What some may not know is that this now iconic movie, starring Ralphy as the kid who longed for a Red Ryder bb gun, was partly filmed in St. Catharines, Ontario, with the scenes in and around the old centre of the city, at the Victoria Public School and its surrounding neighbourhoods, serving as backdrops.
When one of the characters in the film got his tongue stuck on a flag pole at the school on a frozen winter day, the firefighters called to rescue him road up on an antique fire truck from the Niagara Falls, Ontario community of Queenston, – a fire truck that is still around today and will be there in front of the Riviera Threatre this Saturday, December 14th date of the film’s showing to offer children and their families a ride.
Further information on this special showing of what has become a Christmas classic, along with a gathering of cast members from the film, is available below from North Tonawanda’s historic Riviera Theatre.
Ian Petrella, who played the younger brother Randy in ‘A Christmas Story’, was at the Riviera Theatre last Christmas for the first screening of the film there with the “ugliest lamp ever.” He and other cast members will be back this December 14th for the 30th anniversary showing of the film. Photo by Doug Draper
A Christmas Story 30th Anniversary Tour Benefit Event With Cast
Saturday, Dec 14th, 2013 1:00 pm
At Riviera Theatre & Performing Arts Center
Tickets : Reserved: Adult-$15.00, Child 12 & Under-$10.00
Purchase : Click Here to Purchase Tickets Online
Come see Ian Petrella (Randy Parker), Yano Anya (Grover Dill), Zack Ward (Skut Faras), Patty Johnson-Lafontaine (Higbee’s Elf) & Scott Schwartz (Flick)who performed in “A Christmas Story.” Cast speaks at 1:00pm about filming the movie in 1983 & the things done behind the scenes. The movie is at 3:00pm. After the movie, meet the cast, see the fire truck that rescued Flick from the flagpole…rides available for a small donation…and try to win limited edition Red Ryder bb guns donated by Ian Petrella in additional to other raffles. All proceeds from raffles will benefit Sweeney Hose Co…proceeds from ticket & concessions sales benefit the Riviera.
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