'A Christmas Story's' Indiana Connection-- Part 2: 'Go to the End of the Line, Boys'

A number of key locations and the family homes of characters depicted in "A Chrustmas Story," as adapted from Jean Shepherd's 1966 published short story, "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash," are often-overlooked residential landmarks in Hammond's established neighborhoods.

"Shepherd loved the irony that the film was shot in Cleveland and he had grown up on Cleveland Street in Hammond," said Hammond filmmker Nick Mantis, who produced and directed the documentary "Shep," about Jean Shepherd found at www-.shepherddocumentary.com.

"Shepherd spent time on the film set, since he has a small cameo in the film as the grouchy man waiting in line with his children to see Santa at the department store.  It's Shep who points to Ralphie and Randy and tells them to go to the back of the line."

While Bob Clark, as the film's director, did not get his wish to film "A Christmas Story" in Hammond, he did win his battle with studio brass to hire Shepherd to lend his distinctive voice for the film's narration.

--Cooter