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the G-man said:
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thedoctor said:I've been a big fan of [a Christmas Story] since I first saw it back around '84 or so. I don't let the overabundance of airings that it's enjoyed over the past decade get to me; but I began to realize that it knocked out the movie which had dominated our TV sets for decades as the #1 Holiday movie, It's a Wonderful Life.



There's a legal reason for that.

Up until about ten years ago, the broadcast rights to "It's a Wonderful Life" had somehow lapsed. This meant that every TV station in America could air it without paying royalties to the studio. As a result, every TV station in made it a holiday staple because it was cheap and starred a well-known actor (Jimmy Stewart), not because it was well-loved (in fact, it was a bomb when first released).

It was those repeated airings that imparted "classic" status on it, as more and more people realized that, hey, it's a DAMN GOOD MOVIE.

Then, about ten years ago, Ted Turner reasserted the broadcast rights and, as a result, it only airs a few times on "his" stations. I believe that is, in part, because Turner agrees that it's a classic and should be a special occasion. (But I could be wrong on that last part).



Thank you, I was going to post the reason for this.

I actually saw, but didn't meet, the woman that played Zuzu last year. She spoke at my church one December weekend. She said how the movie bombed at the boxoffice but it was because of those airings on tv that it became a hit.

I wish it would air more often though. Yes I have it on tape, bought it from Blockbuster eons ago and it's black and white, but there's something about watching it on tv that makes it more special.

It's a rented tux ok? I'm not going comando in another man's fatigues.