All Ralphie ever wanted was a BB gun.  Not just any BB gun, though.  He wants, "an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock."  But even Santa lets him know, "you'll shoot your eye out, kid!"

It's hard to believe, but it's been 30 years since 'A Christmas Story' was released in the theaters...to mixed reviews. But over time, it not only has become a family favorite, but a Christmas classic that is viewed by millions during the holidays.

Taking place in Indiana in the 1940's, 9-year old Ralphie (played by Peter Billingsley) goes on a mission to convince his family that the perfect gift for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB gun.  But the movie isn't all about BB guns.  There is also a good amount of traditional family semi-dysfunction and endless kid-sized trials and classic moments that include the neighborhood bully ("Scut Farkus staring out at us with his yellow eyes. He had yellow eyes! So, help me, God! Yellow eyes!"), a warm tongue and a cold flag pole ("Now it was serious. A double-dog-dare. What else was there but a "triple dare ya"? And then, the coup de grace of all dares, the sinister triple-dog-dare." "I TRIPLE-dog-dare ya!" "Schwartz created a slight breach of etiquette by skipping the triple dare and going right for the throat!") and trying to be a grown up with a gruff dad and sometimes over-protective mom ("Oooh fuuudge! Only I didn't say "Fudge." I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the 'F-dash-dash-dash' word!").

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Because of the 30th anniversary of the release of 'A Christmas Story', the town of Cleveland, where parts of the movie were filmed, will be celebrating with iconic leg lamps, holiday store windows like the ones that drew Ralphie's wide-eyed stares and stage and musical versions of 'A Christmas Story'.  The Horseshoe Casino in Cleveland will even be decorating their slot machines with leg lamps and a visit to Ralphie's house will allow a visitor to re-enact scenes from the movie.

To mark the 30-year anniversary, 'A Christmas Story' will also be on many stages from Boston to California. The musical has even returned to Broadway for another run.  There will even be a 30th Anniversary 'A Christmas Story' Blu-Ray DVD released on Tuesday, December 3rd for New Stuff Tuesday.

In honor of the 30th anniversary of 'A Christmas Story', here's a look at the original movie trailer from 1983.

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