#114 - A conversation with John Abendshein, author of: “Home But Alone No More.”
Send us a text Thank you for tuning in! In today's episode, I am joined by John Abendshein, author of "Home But Alone No More: A Memoir From the Owner of the House That Made Movie History." John lived in the famous "Home Alone" house before, during, and after the filming of the holiday classic. In his book, he shares how this came about, the aftermath following the film's release, and why this movie continues to resonate with viewers more than three decades after its initial release. In...
Thank you for tuning in! In today's episode, I am joined by John Abendshein, author of "Home But Alone No More: A Memoir From the Owner of the House That Made Movie History." John lived in the famous "Home Alone" house before, during, and after the filming of the holiday classic. In his book, he shares how this came about, the aftermath following the film's release, and why this movie continues to resonate with viewers more than three decades after its initial release. In this episode, I get to interview John and ask him several questions ranging from Home Alone trivia to Would You Rather - Chicago version, and I also challenge him to answer a few pop culture questions related to events in 1990. It was a pleasure chatting with John and I highly recommend his book!
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You can purchase John's fantastic book here.
Check out Julia Hagen's website here. She is the artist responsible for the beautiful artwork on the book's cover as well as illustrations throughout.
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Conversation with John Abendshien, author of "Home But Alone No More.
Episode Outline from Gemini via Google Meets:
Amy Lewis welcomed John Abendshien, a healthcare strategy expert and author of Home But Alone No More, to the Pop Culture Retrospective Podcast to discuss his experience living in the iconic Home Alone house for 23 years. Abendshien shared that the surreal experience led to his book, which details his family's journey, from initial skepticism about the constant visitors and "liloos" after the film's 35th anniversary to embracing the film's legacy after an inspiring encounter with a French au pair. The discussion covered Abendshien's background, his personal parallel to the movie's themes of resourcefulness, Home Alone trivia, behind-the-scenes insights, and the universal themes of family and home that he hopes readers take away from the book.
Details
Introduction and John Abendshien's Background Amy Lewis welcomed John Abendshien, a nationally recognized expert in healthcare strategy and policy and author of the new book Home But Alone No More, to the Pop Culture Retrospective Podcast. Lewis explained that Abendshien's suburban home in Wanetka, Illinois, became the iconic setting for the film Home Alone in the early 1990s, and they are here to discuss their book, which details this extraordinary experience. Abendshien, a self-described non-Hollywood business person involved in developing healthcare systems, shared that the selection of their home resulted from an interesting and bizarre set of circumstances.
The Home Alone Phenomenon and Aftermath: The film is celebrating its 35th anniversary, and Abendshien recently attended a pre-premiere showing. They and their family lived in the house for 23 years after the filming, enduring the aftermath of constant visitors, tourists, and "liloos". Abendshien noted the surreal experience of a typical home becoming an iconic centerpiece, which provided them with a unique privilege to gain insights into why people worldwide love the movie and the house.
Book Inspiration and Positive Reception Abendshien's book shares their journey of living in the Home Alone house, written over about two years. Amy Lewis shared a positive review from Lisa Claire, who described the book as a perfect beginning to the Christmas season, taking the reader through Abendshien's personal transformation from initial skepticism to becoming part of the film's legacy. Lewis noted the book's positive and engaging nature, which resonates with people.
Abendshien's Upbringing and Move to Wenettka: Abendshien shared their upbringing, starting in Haven, Kansas, and moving to mid-Missouri. Following the death of their father, their mother moved them to Columbia, Missouri, where they later attended the University of Missouri. Abendshien described their subsequent career in health administration, which included time in New York and Chicago, eventually leading them to settle in Wanetka on the North Shore.
Connecting Personal History to Home Alone: Abendshien revealed a personal parallel to the movie, having literally lived "home alone" from age 12 onward while their mother worked nights as a registered nurse. They shared this story with John Hughes, who assumed they grew up privileged. Abendshien noted that Hughes' films, including Home Alone, often explore the theme that resourceful children and adolescents left to their own devices can take care of themselves.
Home Alone Trivia - John Candy's Character and Global Popularity Amy Lewis initiated a series of varied questions, starting with Home Alone trivia. Abendshien correctly identified John Candy's character as Gus Pollinski of the Kenosha Kickers, noting that Candy reportedly turned down a commission for an hourly rate for their role and filmed everything in a single, 23-hour day. They also correctly guessed that Poland has aired Home Alone every year since 1990, where the film became an ambassador of the better Western world following the collapse of the Iron Curtain.
Chicago and Midwest-Themed Trivia In Chicago-themed trivia: Abendshien admitted they are a Cubs fan, which Lewis was relieved to hear. When forced to choose a Chicago food, they quickly selected deep-dish pizza over a Chicago hot dog or Italian beef. Abendshien mentioned that Julia Hagen, the book's illustrator, is known as the "hot dog lady" in Chicago for their paintings of iconic hot dog stands.
The Turning Point to Embrace the Experience Abendshien described going through an emotional roller coaster, moving from excitement about the filming to wanting the constant influx of tourists to stop after the movie's release. The turning point was a conversation with a young French au pair who had traveled far to see the house, whose joy and enthusiasm were infectious. This interaction prompted Abendshien to embrace the experience, engaging with visitors to learn about their backgrounds and their connection to the movie, which provided them with unique insights.
Behind-the-Scenes Insights and Favorite Scenes: When asked about wallpaper, Abendshien, expressing their disgust with the movie's excessive wallpaper, reluctantly chose the red and green Christmas motif from the central entryway as the "least bad" option. They shared that one of their favorite scenes to watch being filmed was the infamous sled run down the stairwell, revealing that a 26- or 27-year-old stunt double named Larry Nicholas stood in for Kevin. During the first take of that stunt, Nicholas missed the landing pads and landed on the driveway, frightening the crew.
Memorable Filming Moments and Errors: Abendshien recounted a second favorite scene, the reunification of Kate McCallister (the mom) and Kevin, which required fake snow (foam and potato flakes) due to an unseasonably warm winter. They shared a personal anecdote of inadvertently almost ruining the filming of that emotional final scene when they drove their car into the driveway during a sudden snowfall, getting it stuck and leaving footprints, which the crew narrowly managed to keep out of the camera's view.
Final Takeaways from the Book Abendshien hopes readers take away two things from their book: the universal theme of family life in the movie—tension, conflict, separation, loneliness, and ultimately reunification and reconciliation—which they believe brings people together. The second takeaway is that a house is just bricks and sticks, but it is the people who make it a home; a home requires an open heart. Abendshien feels they were serendipitously given a "life gift" through the whole movie affair, which motivated them to write the book and share the gift.
Book Availability: Abendshien confirmed that the book, Home But Alone No More, can be purchased on Amazon and their website, homebutalonenomore.com. Lewis offered to include links to the website and ordering information in the show notes.
John Abendshien
Author
John Abendshien never set out to be part of movie history, but life had other plans.
A nationally recognized expert in healthcare strategy and policy, John spent decades advising major health systems across the country. He’s an accomplished author, speaker, and thought leader in his field.
But in the early 1990s, his quiet suburban life took a turn when a Hollywood film crew knocked on his door in Winnetka, IL, with a big idea: turning his home into a movie set.
That movie? Home Alone.
That house? One of the most iconic in cinema history.
In his new book, Home But Alone No More, John shares the extraordinary true story of how his family’s house became the backdrop for a global holiday classic, and how the unexpected spotlight brought with it a lifetime of unforgettable experiences.
Through humor and reflection, John offers more than just a behind-the-scenes look. He explores themes of family, connection, resilience, and what it means when your personal story becomes part of something much bigger.
Because as John has come to learn, when your home becomes everyone’s Home Alone house... you’re never really home alone.
