A Christmas Story: Why is the Lamp a Leg?
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- Опубликовано: 14 июл 2024
- My favorite Christmas film, by far, has always been ‘A Christmas Story’. Growing up, I always wondered… why a leg? Why was Ralphie’s dad winning a leg lamp? Who was making and giving away leg lamps? As it turns out, there is a reason behind it.
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Timestamps
00:00 - Context If You’ve Never Seen the Film
01:47 - The Answer You’re Looking For
03:31 - The History Behind The Answer
Fun Fact: The author and narrator, Jean Shepherd, is also the current voice of the dad in the Carousel of Progress!
I had never watched a christmas story before so when I heard Shepherds voice all I could think about was the opening to CoP
That's a cool fact. You should have said that in the video. I usually don't read the comments but that's nice to know
It’s a shame he passed away though
Get this...I was an adult before I realized it was Jean doing the voiceover for the classic Sesame Street animated segment "Cowboy X".
whenever i watch this movie all i hear is john progress ahaha
Man, the only time i heard Nehi was when Radar orders a Grape Nehi in MASH. didn't know it was connected to RC cola.
"It's just a movie, Rob, don't think too much about it." Haha..... haaaaaaaave you met Rob!?!?!
To quote Ralphie, "A crummy commercial?!"
Short Answer: It was a major award.
A major award? The hell you say?! :LOL
The irony that my local UPS store has a miniature leg lamp in their front window Christmas display.
Given the huge crate that leg was shipped in, it makes even more sense now.
I consider myself an A Christmas Story walking dictionary and even I didn’t know this! Awesome video!
Huh, I had no idea it was supposed to be the 1930s, I guess I should have realised with the radio stuff. Guess I never paid close enough attention, but that's what Rob is here for!
I thought it took place in the 50’s
It most likely took place in the 40s because the Red Ryder BB gun didn't come out until spring 1940.
I just thought you would like to know, if you look at the back of the Little orphan Annie decoder it’s dated 1940 😀
I always thought it was right after World War 2, like in 46 or 47
From the stuff in the movie it would have to have been between 1940 and 1942 probably 1941 because the BB gun didn't come out till 1940 so would have took a while to get popular Wizard of Oz came out 1939 the characters were in the movie Orphan Annie was on the radio 1930 to 1942 so Christmas of 1941 would be the best match
Answers to questions I would never think to ask is one of my favorite genres of videos, and you make them is spades. Thanks.
Wow I had no idea there was so much behind the leg lamp. Another great video Rob !!!
I've seen this movie countless times, and I never knew that background of the lamp . Thanks :)
Rob you've done it again...revealed something I always wondered about but was too lazy to find out on my own.😀
Every time I am notified of a new video of yours and read the title I find myself thinking "I never asked myself that but now I can't wait to find out"
A Christmas Story is our favorite Christmas movie also and the leg lamp is our favorite Christmas decoration that proudly takes it’s spot in the center of our living room window the day after thanksgiving through the New Year!
This was very interesting, I had no idea this is why the leg lamp came to be. Now I need to find us some Nehi soda!!
Didn't Radar in M*A*S*H always order a grape Nehi? Cool.
yes exactly!
This, this is why I'm a subscriber and supporter. Great video Rob!
My Father in Law loves this movie. I got him an official leg lamp a few years ago for Christmas. My Mother in Law wouldn’t let him put it in the window...and then 2020 happened and she saw the needed humor and was like “go crazy you can put it in the window”
Before ACS, PBS did some adaptations of Jean Shepherd's stories. (James Broderick, Matthew's dad, was The Old Man. Matthew would go on to play adult Ralphie in A Christmas Story Live on TV.) In one of these, The Phantom Of The Open Hearth, we see the first version of the leg lamp...and Shepherd's narration actually names Nehi in this version, as the original story didn't.
For a second I thought you were going to go "They made Crown Royal........" like wait what but didn't know what RC in RC Soda stood for so there is that. Always learning something new with your videos!
Let's not forget the leg lamp was imported from Italy - it came from "Fra-Gil-E." 6:26 - May revealing my age here, but for 7UP, the real spokesperson is "The Un-Cola" guy played by Geoffrey Holder in the early 1970s, with his deep voice and wicked laugh at the end.
"This is a cola nut. It grows here. This is an Un-Cola Nut, it grows here too..."
BTW - Geoffrey Holder played Baron Samedi in the 1973 James Bond movie, "Live and Let Die."
I had no idea RC Cola was connected to knee-high bottles!
Rob, once again, GREAT CONTENT! Seriously sir, this is really well done. I hadn’t even considered the lamp was anything more than a great little narrative hook. Makes the movie that much better. Thanks for doing the research.
Drinking a RC as I watch this and NEHI is at my Wal-Mart along with RC
I had no idea that you can connect this movie to M*A*S*H, Radar's favorite drink Grape NEHI.
That's Interesting. I love the movie but never thought much about the leg lamp.
Thanks, Rob! I love watching you, love this movie *and* had heard of Nehi but never knew that was their logo! This was great!
Love this bit of trivia, and your festive background!
A very Merry Christmas to you and yours! Thank you for bringing some joy to the world. 💝
something younger people may not know
Original Nihi soda that came in flavors was not colored. Orange Nihi soda was clear in color but it still tasted orange.
Thank you for this, Rob! Jean Sheppard was from Hammond, IN where I live, so "A Christmas Story" is kind of a big deal around these parts.
2907 Cleveland Street, Hammond, Indiana
My mom remembers Nehi soda and she grew up in the late 50’s-early 60’s. Also, us Pittsburghers know RC Cola. It’s served at Penguins hockey games. I think we have the only major sports venue in the country to have that instead of Coke or Pepsi.
Wait till you hear about the statue that exists of it. Built in a town that the film wasn't even filmed in.
When RUclips lets you know what you didn't know that you didn't know.
This is fascinating! Thanks for the fun info.
Very cool. As many times as I watched this movie I never thought about it. Great video
The best video you've done in recent memory
Awesome video! Thanks!
I'm Jewish, but even I grew up w/ this movie! We always connected w/ the Chinese food scene, because it's a Jewish tradition to go out for Chinese on X-mas.
Every christmas eve we would order Chinese delivery, while putting together the kids presents. got to have Chinese food, or it ain't christmas ha ha 😎
One of my favorite Christmas presents was the “Make 7 Up Yours” shirt. Still get compliments to this day!!!
I drank peach Nehi growing up in Tennessee. I only ever knew that the peach flavor existed, but it was my absolute favorite soda growing up. No other peach soda could quite measure up. They sell it in every grocery and convenience store in my home town. I always wondered why it was called Nehi. Thanks for the video.
Awesome, thank you.
Favorite video you have made.
Mind BLOWN! Rob, it's like you just gave me the red pill and revealed universal truths that were right before my eyes!! Wow! Great job! Great content!
“A Christmas Story” is my favorite Christmas movie, for both its heart and the nostalgia. Love every gag. (Except maybe Mom getting Randy to eat like a little piggie. 😲 )
And the Battle of the Leg Lamp is hilarious! But the only way I’d even CONSIDER owning a leg lamp is if I had a man cave ... and I’m not even sure of that! The thing is just damned tacky!
I’d sure love to know how the production crew came up with one, though ...
Weird, I was just at a Cracker Barrel, wondering what the NE-HI soda advertisement on the wall was and then your video comes along to explain it.
you learn something new every day
I remember a commercial in the 1970's (I think they showed "knees" in the ad) I thought it was sorta of cute & unique. Love to run across it again. I always thought the leg was very provocative, therefore the reason Mom was against it. Never got the NeHi connection. BTW the "toe" of her shoe could put Dads eye out! LOL! Thanks for giving me more insight to a favorite movie of mine. another BTW If you can find the orange flavor or even Stewarts Orange on a hot summer day with some lemon icebox cake....OyyyyyVey!!!!!
Always thought the leg lamp was so weird.
Brilliant! My favorite Christmas movie as well. Tasted Grape Nehi when I was a young kid right out a of vending machine--at a Florida gas station. RC Cola was, at one pint, owned by the same person who owned Arby's.
I’ve heard of grape knee high only because radar on MASH used to drink it.
Ive seen plastic bottle nehi somewhere else recently, like the dollar store or gas station. The peach is hella good.
"I'd keep that lamp" 🤣
I would too if I had the money to buy it 🤣. www.amazon.com/Christmas-Story-House-Full-Cream/dp/B000VWXG0I/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&hvadid=77653063229113&hvbmt=bb&hvdev=c&hvqmt=b&keywords=leg+lamp+full+size&qid=1606760709&sr=8-2&tag=mh0b-20
I’m the proud owner of a Leg Lamp! I received it for Christmas 15 years ago and it came from a Spencer’s store in Michigan. Apparently, my house is known as the Leg Lamp House!
Coming out of my grandparents' street, there's a house that puts theirs right in the window. Always gives me a laugh :)
Messy Marvin at his best!!!
we used to have 7 Up drinking glasses in the seventies that were upside down, almost looked like a beaker! from their slogan at the time, the Un-cola!
This is the best Christmas movie ever, I love how realistic it is, the mom in terror of displaying the leg lamp, the yearning for a certain Christmas gift, getting in trouble for swearing, it all feels so real,
wow... i had no idea that there was a meaning behind it
As always, a great video. And yes, it’s a Major Award. I’d keep it too.
I got the full size lamp this year and got it in my front window lol
A little correction. The film doesn't take place in the 1930s, the Red Ryder BB gun wasn't introduced until spring 1940 so earliest it can take place is the December 1940.
Waiting for the next video to be sponsored by Nehi
Maybe it’s just a southern thing but I had no clue Nehi was not popularly sold
Book is awesome! Great job as always Rob
It's funny every year my neighbor always has the leg lamp on the window from November to January I never questioned it until now
Everyone: *talking about not knowing the history of the leg lamp or the connection to RC Cola*
Me: Wait, the RC in RC Cola stands for Royal Crown???
(Also as a cashier in a grocery store, I can at least confirm that we *do* carry RC Cola, but not Nehi. It's so weird to me that people actually still drink it!)
I love that leg
Christmas story takes place in 1939 or 40. Wizard of Oz characters in the parade. Seems to be pre war.
You can also get peach nehi in cans at Walmart
Also RC
There is a place called “The Bottle” near Auburn, Alabama where the world’s largest Nehi bottle once stood. It was a gas station in the shape of a giant bottle of Nehi with an observation deck on the bottle cap. Here’s a link to an old photograph of it. commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Bottle,_Alabama.jpg
"And now you know - the rest of the story." - Paul Harvey 😉
Paul Harvey fan as well! Early Merry Christmas to you!
I own a leg lamp. Mind you it is the leg of Harley Quinn, but still a leg lamp.
Another great one but I can't see having a lamp shaped like Orlando Jones
My Leg Lamp is on display in my front window and every night it’s lit up!
I have never seen this film.
Also, I see you with the x-wing ceramic ornament...
Well, that was a lot more PG than the reason I assumed. Thanks for keeping us wholesome, Rob
Interesting
Nehi, and RC cola where the bomb when I was a kid because they where cheaper, but did not taste like vomit worthy store brand crap.
I thought it was a prize from his employer, for say making the most sales!
🤯
And also, both Nehi AND RC Cola should send you a check (and more cola)!
That's interesting because in MASH Radar always ordered Grape NEHI but did it exists during the Korean War??
Yes it did. We bought Nehi at 7-11 well into 1990s. I have not seen it much lately...
Merry Early Christmas, dude!
*You'll shoot yer eye out kid...MERRY CHRISTMAS!* 😂
Incredible, I absolutely thought it was just a "This will be a funny site gag" decision made for the movie
Same! I didn't think anything of it, except to think those sorts of weird sleazy novelties were a real big thing back in our grandparents' day
Best movie ever ralphie flick and Schwartz are bff
🌠🌠🌠The More You Know 🌠🌠🌠
I love the movie and I live about 10 minutes away from the house but yet I've never gone over there still.
Can you tour my Minecraft theme park (opens up this Friday) it has magic kingdom and Hollywood studios (it’s 1:1) please.
How bout that?
The more you know.....
Wow, last week, I commented about a 90s sequel to A Christmas Story, and this week I get an actual episode based on the original holiday classic! Thanks a bunch. This is the year I plan on forcing my 8yo daughter into watching this. When she was 5, she’s asked Santa for an “air gun,” which actually is just a toy that shoots out a large puff of air, but when his helpers started laughing, and told me that’s what she asked for, I said “she’ll shoot her eye out!” And I have a leg lamp ornament, as well as a 42” leg lamp, that she knows about, but doesn’t quite understand how it’s related to the holiday. It is totally time for her to see this!
No mention of the Disney bullet train
You did a past video on that
More reimagine Disney please
But NEHI isn't Italian..................
I always wondered.
Such a tiny little bit of info but it really makes the lamp that much more interesting
Randy lay there like a slug, it was his only defence
Fun Fact: The author and narrator, Jean Shepherd, lived two blocks from my house. It was set in my neighborhood.
Nehi is short for Knee-High. That's why they use a stalking, sometimes referred to as knee-highs.
Fra-gee-lay
*iT mUsT bE iTaLiAn*
Good video as always. Though as a Brit (now US citizen), I'll never understand the fascination with that movie. Seems like a cringe-worthy celebration of all the worst American values. I'd certainly never let a kid watch it.
That is what makes it funny. It is showing the idiocy of the whole thing. 😎
It's not really so much of a celebration so much as a roast, that's why people like it because it makes fun of the hell we're living in