National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants… nay… demands this year’s family Christmas to be the best ever. They will have the perfect tree. They will have the perfect meal. They will have a house festooned with enough Christmas lights to be seen from the International Space Station. And his Christmas bonus will pay for the perfect gift: a new swimming pool in the backyard. But when all of the grandparents arrive, their bickering and nitpicking start to put a dent in Clark’s indelible Christmas spirit. And then his wife’s crude cousin Eddie shows up unannounced. And then the turkey… And the squirrel… and the cat…
As the third installment in the National Lampoon’s series, Christmas Vacation is based on a short story by John Hughes (who wrote pretty much every movie you loved in the ‘80s) that was published in National Lampoon magazine. And while its iconic scenes are often quoted, it is – at its heart – a sweet story about a loving husband and father who wants nothing more than to capture the wonder and joy of the season for his family by curating for them “the hap-hap-happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny-f—cking-Kaye.” (We are, incidentally, showing THAT movie a few weeks later on Christmas Eve.)
DONATE TO OUR DIAPER DRIVE
Tampa Theatre is partnering with the Junior League of Tampa this holiday season to help the one in three families in the United States who struggle to provide their babies with clean, dry diapers. Guests attending Holiday Classics film screenings are invited to bring in disposable diapers of any type, size or brand, wipes and diaper cream, or help by purchasing items off of the Junior League of Tampa’s Amazon Wishlist.
Opened packages of disposable diapers are acceptable; however, please place them in a plastic zip-top bag, and label them with the size. Many of those in need use public laundry facilities, which do not permit washing cloth diapers for hygiene reasons. Accordingly, this is a disposable diaper collection only. We cannot accept cloth diapers, nor can we accept opened formula or other baby necessities, to ensure the health and safety of our participating families.
CLICK HERE to see the rest of the 2023 Holiday Classics series schedule.
The Holiday Classics series is presented by Bank of America, with promotional support from WEDU PBS and Axios Tampa Bay
Show Info
$10.00 - General Admission
$7.00 - Tampa Theatre Members
Doors open: One Hour Before Show Time
