'Christmas Story' cast members to lead Hammond yuletide parade on Saturday

Fans of "A Christmas Story" have the chance this weekend to meet some of the cast members who will be acting as grand marshalls at a Christmas parade at 10 a.m. Saturday from Gavit High School in Hammond, where late author Jean Shepherd grew up and where the holiday classic is set.

On hand will be Ian Petrelle "Randy," Zack Ward "Scut Farkas," Yano Anaya "Grover Dill," Scott Schwartz "Flick," and Tedde Moore "Mrs. Shields." After the parade, all of them will be signing autographs and posing for pictures from noon to 5 p.m. at the Indiana Welcome Center, 7770 Corinne Drive, Hammond. There is a $20 fee for autographs.

All of them will also be on hand at a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday, followed by another autograph and photo session from noon to 4 p.m.

There also is an exhibit about the movie on display through Jan. 3 at the welcome center.

Complete information on the parade, breakfast, autograph session and exhibit can be found at http://www.achristmasstorycomeshome.com/

And what better way to get into the spirit of the season than by watching Christmas movies. Here are six available on video and DVD that are fun for the whole family.

"A Christmas Story" (1983) -- Peter Billingsley stars as Ralph, a little boy who really, really, really wants a BB gun for Christmas circa 1938. Other stars include Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin and the folks who will be at the parade on Saturday. If you want to follow the adventures of Ralph, Randy, Mrs. Parker and the Old Man, check out "It Runs in the Family." The movie picks up the story the following summer with the BB gun gathering dust in a corner of Ralph's bedroom.

"The Bishop's Wife" (1947) -- Cary Grant is an angel sent in answer to a prayer by David Niven, who dreams of building a cathedral. Other stars include Loretta Young, Monty Woolley, James Gleason and Elsa Lanchester.

"Scrooge" (1970) -- Albert Finney stars as the Dickens character given a chance at redemption on Christmas Eve in this musical version of the story. Other stars include Edith Evans and Kenneth More as two of the ghosts Scrooge encounters.

"Christmas Vacation" (1989) -- Chevy Chase must deal with a lost Christmas bonus, a houseful of unwanted relatives, snobby neighbors and wild animals as he attempts to celebrate the holiday in his own way in this goofy comedy. Other stars include Beverly D'Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, Randy Quiad, Nicholas Guest and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) -- James Stewart stars as George Bailey, who comes to realize that he's had quite an impact on the people of Bedford Falls in this Frank Capra classic. Other stars include Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Ward Bond and Gloria Graheme.

"Miracle on 34th Street" (1947) -- Edmund Gwenn stars as Kris Kringle in this timeless classic about a young mother and daughter finally believing in Santa Claus. Other stars include Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood, John Payne and Gene Lockhart.