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Introduction

Toronto, with its distinct neighbourhoods and dynamic cityscape, is a preferred destination for many filmmakers. The heralded holiday film, "A Christmas Story," directed by Bob Clark, also pinned its history into this city's magical tapestry.

Setting Up The Context

"A Christmas Story," released in 1983, is a classic Christmas film narrating a series of humorous childhood anecdotes centred around 9-year-old Ralphie Parker. It was based on the semi-fictional anecdotes in Jean Shepherd's 1966 book "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash." Toronto was chosen for filming due to its architectural timelessness, allowing the city to perfectly portray a 1940's American Midwest setting.

A Peek Into The Locations

Several iconic locations throughout the city were used for filming "A Christmas Story". Here's a breakdown of where precisely in Toronto the movie magic happened:

The Parker House: 3159 W. 11th Street, Cleveland, Ohio

Though this address isn't in Toronto, it's an integral part of the movie most of the interior scenes were shot here. However, for the film's exterior shots, the production team wanted a location that was true to Shepherd's hometown of Hammond, Indiana. This led them to Toronto's urban settings.

Victoria School: 585 O'Connor Drive

One of the key filming locations in Toronto was Victoria School on O'Connor Drive in East York. This Bessborough Drive School served as the school setting where Ralphie, Flick, and Schwartz were students. Even today, the school maintains much of its architectural integrity, making it a hit amongst movie fans.

Ralphie's Classroom

The classroom scenes, featuring Miss Shields, were filmed at the Victoria Public School. The antique wooden desks, inkwell holes, and even the chalk blackboards gave an authentic 1940s feel.

Tremont's Chop Suey Palace: 744 Gerrard St East

The Chinese Restaurant scene, fondly remembered for the "fa ra ra ra ra" carolling, was filmed at the former Chop Suey Palace. This location is now a Vietnamese and Thai restaurant known as Batifole.

Department Store Elf

"Take him to the stockroom, kid", was filmed at the Santa's Mountain site in Toronto's iconic Eaton’s department store. The store is now the Canadian Tire and Best Buy on Yonge and Dundas Streets.

Conclusion

Through its pulsating urban energy juxtaposed with timeless architecture, Toronto breathes life into the celluloid fantasies of filmmakers. As seen in "A Christmas Story," the city's versatile locales perfectly encapsulated America's Midwest spirit of the 1940s. When watching this holiday classic, remember that a piece of Toronto's rich cinematic history is etched into its frames. It underscores the fact that Toronto's cinematic offering is as diverse and vibrant as the city itself.