!8: Shopping Nehi Soda: October 2011

!±8± "A Christmas Story" Leg Lamp - The Icon of a Holiday Classic

Of all of the memorable scenes from Jean Sheppard's "A Christmas Story," those revolving around the infamous leg lamp remain the most classic. The delivering and opening of the Old Man's "major award" from its wooden crate to decidedly mixed reviews in the Parker household captures the spirit of the film as a whole. The subsequent feud over the lamps destruction brings back nostalgic memories for anyone who had parents whose taste didn't always, shall we say, meet eye to eye. Available now in all of its lurid glory, the Christmas Story leg lamp makes a great gag gift for any friend or family member, as well as the perfect "major award" at the the annual office Christmas party.

In case your recollection of "A Christmas Story" is a little fuzzy, it arrives late one night a few short days before Christmas. When answering a rough knock at the door, a pair of gruff delivery men wheel in an over sized wooden crate marked "FRAGILE," which the Old Man reads as "Fraa-Geel-Aye! Must be Italian!!" After rooting through the inexplicable mountain of packing materials, Parker finally retrieves from the box with a look of pained reverence the item in question: a life sized lamp in the shape of a burlesque dancer's leg, complete with fishnet stockings.

Mrs. Parker, baffled in embarrassment as she attempts to shield her children's eyes, is too shocked to stop the Old Man before he sets up the lamp and brings it to life in the center of the front window of the home. The Old Man proceeds out to admire the Leg Lamp from the street as his neighbors gather to congratulate him on receiving such a major award. Incidentally, while the Parker family is oblivious to the source of the lamp in the actual film, the Leg Lamp was actually a very real promotional item for Nehi soda at the time that the film's writer thought was just too gaudy to pass up for Old Man Parker.

Regardless of one's feelings about the holiday season, nearly everyone has a soft spot in their heart for the film "A Christmas Story." While the Leg Lamp might not become the centerpiece of the gift recipient's home decor, you can be sure that everyone will be in on the joke as soon as gift is being unwrapped. Just be sure not to leave the "Mrs." alone in the living room with it.