Holiday Tradition Continues as TBS Presents 13th Annual 24 Hours of A CHRISTMAS STORY, Beginning Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. (ET/PT)

A CHRISTMAS STORY started as a moderately budgeted movie - a bit of nostalgia based on the writings of a radio humorist. The film has gone on to become a nostalgic, heart-warming holiday tradition. This year, the joy continues as TBS presents the 13th Annual edition of 24 Hours of CHRISTMAS STORY, beginning Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).
 
TBS first aired A CHRISTMAS STORY on Dec. 1, 1992. Since then, TBS and sister networks TNT and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) have shown the movie more than 250 times. The 24 Hours of A CHRISTMAS STORY marathon came to TBS in 2004 after seven years on TNT.
 
The marathon is one of the most popular holiday programming events on cable. Last year, 24 Hours of A CHRISTMAS STORY rang up its biggest audience ever, averaging 3 million viewers and reaching a total of 54.4 million viewers, a 3% jump from the previous year.
 
Directed by Bob Clark and based on the short stories of famed humorist Jean Shepherd, who appears briefly in the movie as an irate man waiting in line for Santa, A CHRISTMAS STORY follows the mischievous adventures of a young boy who longs for a special Christmas gift - a Red Ryder BB gun.   Peter Billingsley stars as young Ralphie Parker, who is determined to convince the world that he is responsible enough to handle such a gift, despite his mother's insistence that he could shoot his eye out. Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin are pitch-perfect as Ralphie's parents, and Ian Petrella provides some of the movie's funniest moments as Ralphie's little brother Randy.
 
A CHRISTMAS STORY was shot on location in Cleveland, although some scenes were shot in Canada. The residents of Cleveland were apparently so entranced with the movie, many local auto club members donated the use of their antique cars to help portray the movie's 1940s setting. As a tribute to the city, the producers decided to name the street the on which the Parkers live Cleveland Street.
 
A CHRISTMAS STORY opened in theaters just before Thanksgiving in 1983 but, by the time Christmas rolled around, many theater owners had stopped showing it, feeling it had been "played out." After getting complaints, the movie returned to select theaters and continued playing well into January 1984. A CHRISTMAS STORY has since gone on to be named in various polls as the #1 holiday movie of all time. Memorabilia connected the movie is hugely popular and widely available, including replicas of the famed "major award" leg lamp, which can be found through various sellers online.