TBS's 24 Hours of "A CHRISTMAS STORY" Returns on Christmas Eve As Perennial Favorite Marks 30th Anniversary

One of television's most popular holiday traditions will be back this year as TBS presents the 17th Annual edition of 24 Hours of A CHRISTMAS STORY, beginning Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Making this a particularly special year, the movie A Christmas Story is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Based on the short stories of famed humorist Jean Shepherd, A Christmas Story follows the mischievous adventures of a young boy who longs for a special Christmas gift - a Red Ryder BB gun. Peter Billingsley stars as young Ralphie, who is determined to convince the world that he is responsible enough to handle such a gift, despite everyone telling him, "You'll shoot your eye out." Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin are pitch-perfect as Ralphie's parents, and Ian Petrella provides some of the movie's funniest moments as Ralphie's little brother, Randy.

In addition to marking the 30th anniversary of the movie and the 17th anniversary for 24 Hours of a Christmas Story, this is the 10th consecutive year for the marathon to run on TBS. Prior to 2004, the marathon ran for seven years on TBS's sister network TNT.

Fun Facts about A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story was shot on location in Cleveland, Ohio, although some scenes were shot in Canada. The residents of Cleveland were apparently so entranced with the movie, many local auto club members donated the use of their antique cars to help portray the movie's 1940s setting. As a tribute to the city, the producers decided to name the street the movie family lived on Cleveland St.

A Christmas Story opened in theaters just before Thanksgiving in 1983, but by the time Christmas rolled around, many theater owners had stopped showing it, feeling it had "played out." Complaints were lodged, and the movie returned to select theaters and continued playing well into January 1984.

In an E! Entertainment poll, A Christmas Story was selected as the #1 holiday movie of all time.

Memorabilia connected A Christmas Story is hugely popular and widely available, including replicas of the famed "major award" leg lamp, which can be found through various sellers online.

Peter Billingsley, who continues to act in movies, has also become a successful producer, with such credits as the blockbuster Iron Man and the holiday film Four Christmases. Billingsley and producing partner Vince Vaughn serve as executive producers on TBS's hit sitcom Sullivan and Son.

TBS first aired the movie A Christmas Story in Dec. 1, 1992. Since then, TBS and its sister networks TNT and Turner Classic Movies have aired the movie more than 275 times.

The 24 Hours of A CHRISTMAS STORY marathon first aired in 1997 on TNT. It moved to TBS in 2004.

24 Hours of A CHRISTMAS STORY on TBS is one of the most popular holiday programming events on cable. Last year, the marathon averaged 3 million viewers, with a total accumulated audience of 48.8 million viewers over the 24 hours. The marathon peaked with the 10 a.m. Christmas Day telecast, which averaged 4.5 million viewers.

About TBS

TBS is basic cable's reigning champion among young adults in primetime. Available in 101 million households, TBS features original scripted comedies like Cougar Town, Ground Floor, Sullivan & Son and Men at Work, as well as American Dad!, which will become a TBS original series in late 2014. TBS also features original unscripted series like King of the Nerds, Deal With It and Trust Me, I'm a Game Show Host, as well as the upcoming CeeLo Green's The Good Life. In late night TBS, is home to the Emmy(R)-winning series CONAN, starring Conan O'Brien, and The Pete Holmes Show. The TBS lineup also includes popular contemporary comedies, such as The Big Bang Theory and Family Guy, along with blockbuster movies and championship sports.

TBS is part of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company. Turner Broadcasting creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.