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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday November 26, 2008 - 13 Living Oakville Beaver LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Phone: 905-845-3824, ext. 248 Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com Ladies, be ready to water some plants ... R emember Ralphie? The boy who wanted a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas -- his "old man" who won a major award ... a leg lamp that Ralphie's mom ostensibly broke while watering a plant ... as the story goes. Christmas just wouldn't be the same without Ralphie, his little brother, his old man, neighbourhood bully Scut Farkas, the hillbilly neighbours, the fire department rescue of a friend's tongue frozen to a school flag pole and Ralphie's elusive Red Ryder BB gun. Just ask Oakville's Tyler Schwartz. Of course, you'd have to reach him this weekend at a convention in Cleveland, Ohio celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Christmas classic A Christmas Story. That's where the 33-year-old Schwartz and his fiancée Jordie Smits, 26, are launching their fan movie, Road Trip for Ralphie. In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash is Jean Shepherd's 1966 collection of short stories upon which the 1983 movie was based. While the movie was one its director Bob "The most popular item is the leg lamp, the major award. Everybody seems to want to buy one for their dad." Tyler Schwartz Tyler Schwartz Clark wanted to do for some time, it wasn't until he achieved success with Porky's that he was able to. It starred the late Darren McGavin as The Old Man and Peter Billingsley as Ralphie, who was told by everyone that if he got his Red Ryder he would shoot his eye out. The film became a holiday favorite years after its theatrical release and is cel- ALL AGLOW: Jordie Smits, who compiled the fan film, Road Trip for Ralphie, with a replica of the leg lamp featured in A Christmas Story. ebrated annually on cable in the U.S. with a daylong marathon. Former Oakville resident and special effects director Martin Malivoire worked with Clark on both Porky's and A Christmas Story and now there is another Oakville tie to the Christmas classic. Schwartz and Smits spent two years researching the film's shooting locations -- documenting their adventure in a 90minute film called Road Trip for Ralphie. "I don't want people to think I'm a fanatic," said Schwartz, a marketing professional who sheepishly acknowledges his DVD is not a big budget production (as A Christmas Story itself wasn't), but a fan movie, and stresses he began as an average fan of the 1983 flick. He and Smits met eight years ago when they were both working at Sherkston Shores summer resort. As Christmas rolled around, the couple that hails from the Niagara Region, discovered each liked A Christmas Story. "In 2002, I got my first DVD copy of the movie and it became a tradition that Jordie and I would sit down and watch it," said Schwartz. Then Schwartz heard of Brian Jones who bought Ralphie's house from the movie on eBay. He has restored it to the way it was in the movie and renovated inside to mimic the Toronto stages on which interior scenes were filmed. Jones's Ohio- company operates A Christmas Story House and Museum, and gift shop, in Cleveland and has an online leg lamp company. However, A Christmas Story, which has achieved cult classic status south of the border, was filmed to a great degree in Canada. See Road page 16 Get Ready with THE SEASON TO SHOP www.hyundaiofoakville.ca charges only) for 72 months terms. maintenace conditions. 2500 South Service Road W., 905.845.7791 Cash purchase price adjustments are for cash purchases only and are calculated against the lease/finance starting price Purchase Financing available O.A.C. from Hyundai Financial Services on all new 2008 Santa Fe 0% nominal finance rates (based on interest Offers available for a limited time and subject to change or cancel without notice. See dealer for complete details. Dealer may sell for less. See dealeri for eligible vehicles and full details of the Graduate rebate Program. Hyundai's Comprehensive Limited Limited Warranty coverage covers most vehicle components agains tdefects in workmanship under mornal use and