‘Christmas Vacation’ film comes to life as part of Bethel Park home’s elaborate holiday display
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Dan Hartman stands Wednesday in front of his “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” display.
Cousin Eddie stands in the foreground of the "Christmas Vacation" display.
It’s one thing to deck the halls with boughs of holly, but for Dan Hartman of Bethel Park, the halls, walls, RV and roof are all in need of some holiday ornamentation as he sets up various scenes from the 1989 film “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” throughout his yard and driveway.
His efforts have led to cars slowing to a crawl on East McMurray Road along the border of Bethel Park and Peters Township as motorists take in all that there is to see.
Hartman said it started four or five years ago with some Christmas lights affixed to the family RV. It has since expanded to include what Hartman said are some of his favorite scenes from the movie.
“It kind of took off from there,” Hartman said. “Every year we added a little bit more.”
Among some of the scenes depicted are Clark Griswold dangling from the roof after the ladder he was using fell out from under him, Cousin Eddie standing in the driveway holding the septic tank hose from the RV, and the outline of Aunt Bethany’s cat on the recliner after it was electrocuted by the Christmas tree lights.
New this year are the tree that caught fire in the Griswold home and a giant bundle of knotted lights that Clark could not untie.
With the help of his wife and four kids, Hartman said it took at least 20 hours to set it all up over the course of a few days, with the undriveable station wagon and the pine tree on top being the most difficult to transport. But, said Hartman, the time spent setting it up is more than worth it.
“My favorite part of doing this is just bringing happiness to other people,” he said.
“And to bring Christmas cheer to everybody that drives by.”
During the day, Hartman said passersby either slow down or park their cars along the side of the road to get a picture of the display. At night, when the nearly 25,000 LED lights come on, the house glows with Christmas spirit.
Not everything is just for display, however. The RV is functioning and has been used for Hartman family vacations. Unlike its movie counterpart, Hartman said there have been no reported issues of sewage backup in the RV, something Cousin Eddie could only hope for.
Over the years, as the setup became more elaborate, it appeared that the desire by some to take one of the repurposed store mannequins that portray various characters from the film also increased
Three years ago, Cousin Eddie was stolen from the set in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve, but was returned a few days later. Hartman said the note attached to Eddie, which apologized for the abduction, led him to believe it might have been some neighborhood teenagers who felt bad after the fact and were possibly coerced by their parents to return him.
Dan Hartman’s home is highly illuminated.
In terms of additions to next year’s display, Hartman is puzzled as to what else he could depict.
“I don’t know what else to do,” Hartman said. “I’m at the point now where friends are giving me suggestions and ideas, but we’ll see.”
Hartman said the display will remain up until a week after Christmas. Until then, Cousin Eddie’s, um, sewer system, will remain full.