History Trivia / NationalLampoonsChristmasVacation

* SelfAdaptation: Creator/JohnHughes adapted his short story ''Christmas '59'', which was published in the December 1980 issue of ''Magazine/NationalLampoon'' magazine.

** Lewis and Bethany were based on Creator/GeorgeBurns and Creator/GracieAllen, and it was hoped George Burns would play Lewis.
** [[Music/FleetwoodMac Lindsey Buckingham]] was offered the opportunity to write the theme for the movie, but declined, because he didn't want to be known as only a soundtrack musician.

* HeyItsThatPlace: The house front from ''Series/{{Bewitched}}'' and ''Series/TheNewGidget'' appeared in the home movie that Clark was watching in the attic.

* TheRedStapler: Quite a few items from the movie (like the Walley World eggnog glasses) are popular Christmas items and Clark's Blackhawks jersey (seen in the "Shitter was full!" scene) is popular with Chicago Blackhawks fans. It's not uncommon to see the occasional white Hawks jersey customized with Clark's name and "00" number on the back.

** After failing to get the Christmas lights to work one last time, Clark Griswold takes his frustration out on the plastic decorations in the front yard. Creator/ChevyChase actually breaks his pinky finger while punching Santa Claus. He resorts to kicking and clubbing the decorations after that. The film kept rolling and the take was used.

** Lewis and Bethany were based on Creator/GeorgeBurns and Creator/GracieAllen, it was hoped George Burns would play Lewis.

** Music/LindseyBuckingham was offered the opportunity to write the theme for the movie, but declined, because he didn't want to be known as only a soundtrack musician.

*** Dana Barron was 2 years older than Anthony Michael Hall in ''Film/NationalLampoonsVacation'', similar to Creator/JulietteLewis' age difference to Johnny Galecki, so her being older is normal.

** Lewis and Bethany were based on Creator/GeorgeBurns and Gracie Allen, it was hoped George Burns would play Lewis.
* YouLookFamiliar: Clark's boss is played by Creator/BrianDoyleMurray, who appeared in ''Film/NationalLampoonsVacation'' as a hotel clerk.

* ThrowItIn: After failing to get the Christmas lights to work one last time, Clark Griswold takes his frustration out on the plastic decorations in the front yard. Creator/ChevyChase actually breaks his pinky finger while punching Santa Claus. He resorts to kicking and clubbing the decorations after that. The film kept rolling and the take was used.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: According to an article on the making of ''Film/HomeAlone'' in Chicago Magazine, Creator/ChrisColumbus states that he was the original director of this movie. Although he filmed some second-unit establishing shots (which he claims are still in the finished film), he left after two meetings with Creator/ChevyChase and told Creator/JohnHughes, "There's no way I can do this movie. I know I need to work, but I can't do it with this guy." He was sent the script to ''Home Alone'' in its place.

* PlayingGertrude: Diane Ladd, who plays Clark Griswold's mother, Nora, is actually less than eight years older than Creator/ChevyChase. In fact, Chase is closer in age to Ladd than he is to Beverly D'Angelo.

* {{Defictionalization}}: People drink eggnog from the bowl in Wally World moose cups. You can buy them.

* TheRedStapler: Quite a few items from the movie (like the Wally World eggnog glasses) are popular Christmas items and Clark's Blackhawks jersey (seen in the "Shitter was full!" scene) is popular with Chicago Blackhawks fans. It's not uncommon to see the occasional white Hawks jersey customized with Clark's name and "00" number on the back.

*** Dana Barron was 2 years older than Anthony Michael Hall in ''Film/NationalLampoonsVacation'', similar to Juliette Lewis' age difference to Johnny Galecki, so her being older is normal.

* YouLookFamiliar: Clark's boss is played by Creator/BrianDoyleMurray, who appeared in ''Film/NationalLampoonsEuropeanVacation'' as a hotel clerk.

* YouLookFamiliar: Clark's boss is played by Creator/BrianDoyleMurray, who appeared in ''European Vacation'' as a hotel clerk.

* HeyItsThatGuy:
** [[Series/{{Seinfeld}} Elaine Benes]] and [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold Martian Manhunter]] are the yuppie neighors.
** [[Film/FatalAttraction Ellen Gallagher]] is Cousin Eddie's daughter Ruby Sue.
** [[Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond Marie Barone]] plays another obnoxious in-law.
** [[Series/TheBigBangTheory Leonard Hofstadter]] is Russ.
* HeyItsThatVoice:
** Aunt Bethany is played by Mae Questel, the voice of WesternAnimation/BettyBoop and [[WesternAnimation/{{Popeye}} Olive Oyl]].
** Uncle Lewis is [[WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas Dr. Finklestein]].
** Frank Shirley is [[WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants the Flying Dutchman]].

* YouLookFamiliar: Clark's boss is played by Creator/BrianDoyleMurray, who appeared in ''European Vacation'' as a hotel clerk.

** Frank Shirley is [[WesternAnimation/SpongeBoBSquarePants the Flying Dutchman]].

* TheRedStapler: Quite a few items from the movie (like the Wally World eggnog glasses) are popular Christmas items and Clark's Blackhawks jersey (seen in the "Shitter was full!" scene) is popular with Chicago Blackhawks fans.

* YouLookFamiliar: Clark's boss is played by Creator/BrianDoyleMurray, who appeared in ''European Vacation'', as a hotel clerk.

* HeyItsThatGuy: [[Series/{{Seinfeld}} Elaine Benes]] and [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold Martian Manhunter]] are the yuppie neighors, [[Film/FatalAttraction Ellen Gallagher]] is Cousin Eddie's daughter Ruby Sue, and [[Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond Marie Barone]] plays another obnoxious in-law.
* HeyItsThatVoice: Aunt Bethany is played by Mae Questel, the voice of WesternAnimation/BettyBoop and [[WEsternAnimation/{{Popeye}} Olive Oyl]], and Uncle Lewis is [[WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas Dr. Finklestein]]..

*** Dana Barron was 2 years older than Anthony Michael Hall in NationalLampoonsVacation, similar to Juliette Lewis' age difference to Johnny Galecki, so her being older is normal.
* YouLookFamiliar: Clark's boss is played by Brian Doyle Murray, who appeared in ''European Vacation'', as a hotel clerk.

* HeyItsThatGuy: [[{{Series/Seinfeld}} Elaine Benes]] and [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold Martian Manhunter]] are the yuppie neighors, [[Film/FatalAttraction Ellen Gallagher]] is Cousin Eddie's daughter Ruby Sue, and [[EverybodyLovesRaymond Marie Barone]] plays another obnoxious in-law.
* HeyItsThatVoice: Aunt Bethany is played by Mae Questel, the voice of BettyBoop and [[{{Popeye}} Olive Oyl]].

*** Dana Barron was 2 years older than Anthony Michael Hall in NationalLampoonsVacation, similar to Juliette Lewis' age difference to Johnny Galecki, so her being older is normal.

* HeyItsThatGuy: [[{{Series/Seinfeld}} Elaine Benes]] and [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold Martian Manhunter]] are the yuppie neighors, [[Film/FatalAttraction Ellen Gallagher]] is Cousin Eddie's daughter Ruby Sue.

*** Dana Barron was 2 years older than Anthony Michael Hall in NationalLampoonsVacation, so her being older is normal.

** Though in the sequel, Audrey is once again played by Dana Barron who played her in the original 1983 film.

* HeyItsThatGuy: [[{{Series/Seinfeld}} Elaine Benes]] is one of the yuppie neighbors, [[Film/FatalAttraction Ellen Gallagher]] is Cousin Eddie's daughter Ruby Sue.

* HeyItsThatGuy: [[{{Series/Seinfeld}} Elaine Benes]] is one of the yuppie neighbors, [[Film/FatalAttraction Ellen Gallagher]] is Cousin Eddie's daughter Ruby Sue.

* HeyItsThatGuy: [[Series/Seinfeld Elaine Benes]] is one of the yuppie neighbors, [[Film/FatalAttraction Ellen Gallagher]] is Cousin Eddie's daughter Ruby Sue.