Christmas is a magical time of the year, and there is no better way to celebrate it than with a holiday movie. One such classic movie is “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” that has been entertaining audiences since its release in 1989.
The film’s iconic scene where the Griswold family decorates their house with an insane number of Christmas lights has become one of the most recognizable scenes in Christmas movies history. But did they really decorate the house for the film Let’s find out.
The Story Behind the Scene
The scene where Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) decorates his house with thousands of twinkling lights was filmed on location at a real home in Burbank, California. The home belonged to a woman who agreed to let the filmmakers use her property for the movie. The production team added some extra features like faux snow and icicles to enhance the winter effect.
The Number of Lights Used
According to reports, over 25,000 individual lights were used for the decoration of Clark Griswold’s house in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” These lights were attached to every possible surface on and around the house, including fences, trees, and even cars parked outside.
Impact on Electricity Bill
If you’re wondering how much it would cost to power all those lights, you’re not alone. In fact, in one scene from the movie, Clark Griswold’s neighbor even asks him if he had considered checking his electric meter before turning on all those lights. According to experts, powering 25,000 bulbs could result in an electricity bill upwards of $3,000 per month.
The Legacy Lives On
The scene from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” has become so iconic that it has inspired many homeowners to recreate it in their own yards. Some people even compete in contests for the most outrageous and creative holiday decorations, with Clark Griswold’s house serving as the inspiration.
The Bottom Line
So, did they really decorate the house in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” The answer is yes!
The production team used a real home as the set and decorated it with over 25,000 lights to create one of the most memorable scenes in holiday movie history. Today, the scene continues to inspire people to get creative with their holiday decorations and embrace the spirit of Christmas.
- Key Takeaways:
- The house in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” was a real home located in Burbank, California.
- The production team used over 25,000 individual lights for the decoration of Clark Griswold’s house.
- Powering all those lights could result in an electricity bill upwards of $3,000 per month.
- The scene has inspired many people to get creative with their holiday decorations and embrace the spirit of Christmas.