The incidents in the movie originated with Jean Shepards monologues from a Sunday night talk show on New York Radio Station WOR in New York City. The events were inspired by his childhood in a working class neighborhood in Hammond Indiana. I believe that this was a steel mill town, and the time period was the late 30’s.
I’m pretty sure that’s the voice of Shepard himself narrating in the movie soundtrack.
As teenagers in the 1950’s I and some friends were faithful listeners of Shepard’s show . A funny thing about him was that Shepard was fired a couple of times by WOR for mocking certain commercials that the Station advertised during breaks. Beatniks saved his bacon by demonstrating on his behalf outside the radio station.
Jean Shepard managed to cash in in the 60’s when Playboy magazine wrote up some of the stories you now see in the movie “Christmas story”.
If Playboy or Hollywood owns any recordings from the old WOR shows, I’d be one buyer of any CD’s they released.
I’ve got several CDs of Shep’s radio shows. I have lost the link but it wasn’t that hard to find. (Ought to buy some more.) I loved listening to his show on WOR.
Jean Shepard also appears in the film, but very briefly.
It is the scene where Ralphie is getting into line to see Santa at the department store and a gentlemen informs Ralphie that the line to see Santa is way, way, WAY back yonder! That well dressed man is the late Mr. Jean Shepard.
Jean Shepard was the absolute best story teller of his time. My wife & I (we were dating in the late 50’s) would ride around in my car w/friends & listen to his show. He must have been on before midnight because my wife had to be in by then, but my memory ain’t so good.