Walk with us back through time to the hometown of the greatest American storyteller, Jean Shepherd. He is best known for writing the Christmas classic "A Christmas Story," and today, we're going to find out where his inspiration came from. Join me as I sit down with the President of the Hammond Historical Society to talk about the scenes we loved from the movie and the true stories behind them.

Summary Tom Novak, president of the Hammond Historical Society, joins the podcast to talk about Hammond, Indiana, the hometown of Gene Shepard and the birthplace of the movie A Christmas Story. He shares stories about the locations in Hammond that inspired events in the movie, such as the homes where Gene Shepard grew up and the gas station where Scott Farkas' dad owned. Tom also discusses the importance of preserving the history of Hammond and the movie, and the possibility of offering tours of the movie landmarks. The episode ends with a game called 'From Hammond to Hohman,' where Tom answers questions about Hammond's history. Takeaways Tom Novak, president of the Hammond Historical Society, shares stories about the locations in Hammond that inspired events in the movie A Christmas Story. Preserving the history of Hammond and the movie is important to keep the legacy alive. There is a possibility of offering tours of the movie landmarks in Hammond. The episode ends with a game called 'From Hammond to Homan,' where Tom answers questions about Hammond's history. Sound Bites "Preserving the history, that's what we want to do. To whoever will listen." "We are offering tours of the movie landmarks in Hammond." "A Christmas Story put us on the map." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Hammond and A Christmas Story 05:39 Gene Shepard's Stomping Grounds in Hammond 08:23 Meeting People Connected to Gene Shepard 10:48 Possibility of Offering Tours of Movie Landmarks 12:40 Personal Connection to A Christmas Story 19:09 Importance of Preserving History 23:27 Game: From Hammond to Homan 32:22 Preserving the Legacy of A Christmas Story