Hollywoods biggest stars. Now his role in the new film Silver Linings play book has critics talking about an oscar. You look nice. Reporter not that anyone from philly is surprised. I just saw your movie. It was great. Did you like it . I loved it. Oh, good. Reporter what does it do for you coming here . Tranquility. Reporter going whom Bradley Cooper, ahead on sunday morning. Osgood most of us think a family portrait and a still life are two totally different art forms. Bill geist will set us straight. Reporter you may be getting a lot of christmas cards about now. This was exactly last year. Reporter but youve probably never received one from a family quite like this. Here comes the family now. Smile, smile osgood Placido Domingo is a singer who hardly ever sits still for long. Not with his schedule of performances. Tracy smith got him to take some time out. Reporter he may be the finest tenor the world has ever known. But Placido Domingo says he wasnt always the best businessman. We did it because we loved to be together, you know . We didnt have any royalties. Reporter no royaltys . No royalties. We dont say for anything so they dont give us anything. Reporter still, hes more than made up for it. Ahead on sunday morning plas dedomingo home for the holidays. Thats good. Thats good. Osgood mo rocca has the story of a christmas storys broadway debut. Steve hartman tracks down a secret santa. Bill flanagan and David Edelstein share their movie picks and first, the headlines of this sunday morning. Funeral and Memorial Services for the 26 children and adults killed by a gunman at the Sandy Hook Elementary School are coming to an end. Services for two of the first graders were held yesterday in connecticut. Another Memorial Service was held in utah. Officials say newtown, connecticut, is being inundated with gifts from around the world. In fact, they say the donations, including some 60,000 teddy bears are simply too much for the town to handle, theyre suggesting gifts for Organization Serving needy children elsewhere. Hawaiians are paying their last respects to senator Daniel Inouye in honolulu. Funeral services will be held later today. The president and first Lady Michelle obama, now vacationing in hawaii are expected to attend. In japt, the ruling Muslim Brotherhood government says a proposed islamistbacked constitution has been approved by voters. In new delhi, police used Water Cannons for a second day to break up protests over the gang rape and beating of a 23yearold woman on a bus last weekend. The protesters are demanding the Death Penalty for all six suspects arrested by police. Shopper track, which monitors store sales nationwide, is cutting its holiday buying forecast after first projecting sales would rise 3. 3 from last year, it now says sales will be up but about 2. 5 . It attributes the slowdown to Superstorm Sandy and the newtown shooting, saying they have tempered buyer enthusiasm. Now todays weather cold in the plains and much of the nyse, the chance of showers. The southeast will have temperatures on the chilly side. The west more stormy weather. With odds of a White Christmas look good in the Northern Tier of the nation. The south and parts of the west can expect rain. Ahead okay, on your mark, get set. Osgood say cheese. ,,,,,,,,,, osgood in this season of giving we take note of a very special group that gives a gift that is needed this time of the year. Our sunday morning cover story is reported now by seth doane. Its beautiful here reporter any vacation is a fleeting break from routine. A chance to relax and make memories. But for the curtis family, visiting this 3,000 acre dude ranch in southern arizona, time together seemed more precious than ever. How is it to get out of that routine that youre in. Very nice, very nice. Undescribeable. I am trying to stay reporter for four days earlier this month the curtiss left reality behind, back in woodburn, kentucky. You always think you have a lot of time, you always think you would do something later. Reporter at least until 18 months ago. Thats when theresa mother to sally and levi and wife to High School Sweetheart jeff received a terminal diagnosis. I have stage 4 Breast Cancer that has metastasizeed to the bones. The biggest thing is my spine with there is at least one lesion in every vertebrae. Reporter chemo was devastating. She has her hair back now which at least makes her look healthy. But cancer is always a part of their lives. Its always there and i know its always on the kids mind, always on jeffs mind. But it never goes away. Its like the big elephant in the room, but at least we talk about it. Reporter theresas doctor, Vanderbilt Medical Center oncologist vandana abramson, understands families like the curtises face more than just medical problems. The hardest part is that they have to be preparing for life without one parent in the future. So theres a lot going on with these families. A lot outside of the realm of what most normal families have to deal with. Theres a lot of anxiety for the entire family. Reporter so along with the morphine and hydrocodone, dr. Abramson called for something you cant find in any pharmacy. I prescribed this trip as part of her treatment because i thought she and her family needed a chance to get away, not think about her cancer diagnosis not think about anything else. I think they needed something special. Reporter which is where the jack and Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation come in. John albert is its founder. You ate timeout from cancer . We call it a timeout from cancer. Thats what it is. Reporter a distraction. An opportunity to live. To live life. Reporter alberts nonprofit raises money to send families like the curtises on an all expense paid vacation. Reporter who qualifies for a trip like this. A young mom or dad with limited life and they have children under 18. Thats it. Any cancer, any economic group, socioeconomic group. These are families low are who are facing the imnt in loss of their mom or dad. Reporter john albert know this is kind of loss all too well. He created the foundation in 2006 with his wife jill as she was dying from metastatic Breast Cancer. The cruelest aspect of latestage cancer is the emotion. Jill was afraid our kids would forget her. Reporter forget her . They were seven and nine when she was diagnosed. That haves why i started the foundation. To give other young moms and dads the comfort, the relief, the joy to know that they can get back the gift of memories to their children. Reporter the Foundation Works with oncologists to identify families to go on these trips. It relies on contributions from the public, along with donations from airlines, hotel chains, and cruiselines to host families struggling with endstage cancer. The foundation does it wall a fulltime staff of three. How is this not just saddest job in the world . It really is absolutely the opposite. I get to deal with laughter and smiles and unbelievable joy everyday. Thank you. Reporter families typically choose between a few vacation options. Whoa reporter the curtises opted for a stay at the White Stallion ranch just outside tucson. Its the farthest west tenyearold sally has ever traveled a world away from the stresses at home. What does this do to a family tv diagnosis like this . For it to be as serious as it is. It really brings things down, kind of. Like youre always thinking about something. Somethings happening. But now we really arent thinking about anything. laughs reporter what do you mean . We arent thinking about the cancer at all, were just thinking about having fun, what are we going to do next . Are we going to ride horses . All that. Reporter they road as often as they could. Theresa watched as her family learned to herd cattle, sad but also serene. Its a calmness. I dont know if i can describe it. Its just where you just take a deep breath and just relax and just dont really think about anything at all. Reporter the jack and jill latestage Cancer Foundation aims not just to provide that elusive break but also a trip so memorable they call it a wow. Two years ago we thought we had 20, 30, 40 years together. Now we dont know. Reporter bill franciss wife sondra is living with brain cancer so on their vacation to denver this the foundation gave them v. I. P. Treatment at a broncos game. Complete with the a meetandgreet with n. F. L. Star dallas sparks. And the run of a Westin Hotel Suite that the obama family calls home during the 2008 democratic convention. Were special this weekend, you know . Were out and people are taking care of us and helping us and were going to enjoy the weekend but were taking with us forever reporter an escape captured forever me photographs, just some of the thousands filling the photo albums of more than 600 families and counting. Hi reporter Elizabeth Giordano and daughters look back at their photos all the time. Her husband died last year at 42. What do you think the trip meant to todd . Oh, everything. Reporter todd lived for just six months after his diagnosis and elizabeth says a vacation seemed hard to justify. But at sesame place in philadelphia all seemed just right. The girls enjoyed it; we enjoyed it as a family. And that was the last time we were a family on the trip because we literally flew home and two hours after we landed i was taking todd to the hospital and he didnt come home. Reporter at the White Stallion ranch, jeff curtis tried not to think about why the family was there. Does this trip really make a difference . It doesnt change anything. Yes, it does. If just for ten minutes they forget about mom being sick its worth it. Reporter they posed before a rainbow that appeared in the arizona sky and for all the comfort it provided theresa felt something else, too . The word grateful keeps coming to my mind. Osgood next, its the sunday morning before the night before christmas. music playing music playing music playing music playing delicious hersheys chocolateh, with 30 less fat . Hersheys Simple Pleasures chocolate. 30 less fat, 100 delicious. Flavor, meet food. Its time for swanson flavor boost. Concentrated broth in easy to use packets. Mix it into skillet dishes, for an instant dose of. Hello [ female announcer ] get recipes at flavorboost. Com. Military families face, we understand. At usaa, we know military life is different. Weve been there. Thats why every bit of Financial Advice we offer is geared specifically to current and former military members and their families. [ laughs ] dad dad [ applause ] [ male announcer ] life brings obstacles. Usaa brings advice. Call or visit us online. Were ready to help. Osgood and now a page from our sunday morning almanac. December 23, 1823. twas the night before the night before christmas that the sentinel visited a visit from st. Nicholas then just newly minted. I dont have to tell you, you know it for sure a visit from Saint Nicholas by Clement Clark moore. Someone read it to you and youve read it to yours. A few of us now sleep with kir chief or cap, the poem to the times always seemed to adapt. And though doubts about authorship sometimes raise a clatter, to most of us, any such doubts hardly matter. Now, dasher, now franer and vic seine, on comet, on donner and bit zen. To the top of the porch,tothe top of the wall, now dash away, dash away, dash away all every year at this time we go straight to this work. For an adult with children its a highly prized pirg. So spring once again to your young give a whittle and read them this tale of a sleigh like a missile. Let them hear as o as you put out the light happy christmas to all and to all good night. Sfchl. Osgood coming up, the story of a christmas story. Okay, heres the plan. You have a plan . First were gonna check our bags for free, thanks to our explorer card. Then, the united club. My mother was so wrong about you. Next, we get priority boarding on our flight i booked with miles. All because of the card. And me. Okay, whats the plan . Plan . Mmhmm. Were on vacation. There is no plan. Really . [ male announcer ] the united mileageplus explorer card. The mileage card with special perks on united. Get it and youre in. A delicious new way to get essential vitamins you need. Just bite into the tasty shell. To a chewy vitamin core for a unique multivitamin sensation new centrum flavor burst. I cant breathe, so i cant sleep. And the next day i pay for it. I tried decongestants. I tossed and turned. I even vaporized. And then i fought back with drugfree breathe right. These nasal strips instantly open my nose, like a breath of fresh air. I was breathing and sleeping better. [ female announcer ] exercise your right to breathe right. Get two free strips at breatheright. Com. Hey its your right to breathe right. Osgood tis the season for a christmas story. The 1983 film in which this rather unusual lamp played a memorable role. Now the story is being retold on broadway. Mo rocca sets the stage. Reporter if a miracle on 34th street christmas isnt just a day, its a frame of mine. Reporter and its a wonderful life Merry Christmas you wonderful old building and loan reporter are the frankincense and mir of christmas movies, then the gold may very well be a triple dog dare you reporter 1983s a christmas story. Jeff jeff reporter if you havent seen a christmas story, well, its the tale of 2012yearold ralphie parker. Its something of a cockeyed look at christmas. Would you look at that reporter ralphies dad obsessive over a leg lamp he won in a contest. It reminds me of the fourth of july reporter a pack of dogs makes off with christmas dinner. And santa is anything but jolly. What do you want for christmas, little boy . Reporter its like the seinfeld of christmas movies. What do you mean by that . Well, in some ways its the commitment to the mundane. Reporter for 41yearold Peter Billingsley looks familiar, thats because he played ralphie. Its the simple Little Things that drive you crazy around christmas. Trying to get your little brother to eat, picking a tree, trying to cook a turkey, all those things. Reporter now billingsley is one of the producers of a christmas story the broadway musical. Get there on the double reporter 12yearold johnny rabb plays ralphie. Ralphie too the rescue reporter tenyearold zach ballard is randys brother randy, the one who memorably pigs out on mashed potatoes. Good thats my piggy. Did you ever think of asking a stunt man to do that for you . No, i never want a stunt man to do that. Reporter you do your own stunts . Yeah. Reporter whats your motivation . Um, what do you mean by motivation . I dont even know what im asking. Whatever youre doing, its great. This family favorite was a series of stories written by radio commentator gene shepherd in, of all places,play bog magazine. The stories became a book which then became a movie. Rose fudge reporter only i did isnt fudge i said the word. The big one. Reporter the number one that people say to you when you come up is thats my family. Or you were me. Or thats my mom, that was my dad. It seems like that midwest area is relate to believe everyone. In the country. It feels like everyones street. Reporter the movie wasnt a box office hit, but then cable t. V. Turned it into one of the greatest comeback stories ever told. Were going to get you exactly what you want for christmas reporter a 24hour marathon watched by almost 50 million last year has been playing since 1997 making it the yule log of christmas movies. When you come to visit, where do you stay . I stay in the third the house. Reporter fans of the film include brian jones. In 2004 he found on ebay the Cleveland House used as ralphies home. He bought it sight unseen. He did not tell his wife. How long did it take for your wife to forgive you . The day i opened it. We had a line down the block four or five people wide. Reporter today there are still lines. Does anybody know who played the mom . Reporter open to the public since 2006, the home is a shrine to ralphie. Hello, folks, welcome to the christmas story museum. Reporter theres a leg lamp in the window and a kitchen sink visitors can hide under, just like randy did. Whats the matter . What are you crying . Reporter do any fullsize people get tlurnd. Ive gone in there. Would you like ittosee it . Reporter of course im 63, about 200 pounds. Reporter this is what you call a superfan. Works perfectly. Reporter jones helps pay for the house by selling what else leg lamps. These are for the kids or if you want one on your desk, there even a night light. A night light. Reporter of course, the lamp lamps made it into the broadway musical. Along within a showstopping tap dance number. And if the young cast of the musical is any indication, christmas story still has legs. Who had sign the movie before you did the musical. Its a classic. Reporter is there anyone here who wasnt a fan of the movies . Im jewish. laughter reporter what do you think the missage of this story is . Well, it all comes down to, like, love. Reporter thats very nice. Zach . Its a heartwarming story. Its just the best christmas story ever. Osgood oh, please, call me monkey. The actually, its Placido Domingo next. And later got it osgood back home with actor Bradley Cooper. ,,,,,, reporter there are Opera Singers and then there is Placido Domingo. Even to nonopera fans he is a force of nature. Threat pop stars have their microphones, he doesnt need those gadgets. On stage, domingo is invincible. But real life is trickier for a man whose legacy is hi