Answer: An asbestos factory
"I got laid off when they closed that asbestos factory, and wouldn't you know it, the army cuts my disability pension because they said that the plate in my head wasn't big enough." Eddie was explaining to Clark (Chevy Chase), why his family was having such financial trouble. He then promptly asked Clark for $52,000.
Asbestos is a fire retardant material that has been linked to several kinds of cancer, most notably, Mesothelioma. The use of asbestos has been banned in the United States and most developed nations since the 1980s.
From Quiz: Cousin Eddie - "Nothin' But The Best"
Answer: Vegas Vacation
Eddie loaning Clark money was a switch. Of course, they had to dig up Eddie's yard to find all of the money that he had buried. Cousin Eddie was played by Randy Quaid and Miriam Flynn played his wife, Catherine.
From Quiz: Which "Vacation" Movie Was It?
Answer: Christmas Vacation
Rocky was played by Cody Burger. Rocky and Ruby Sue arrived with Catherine and Eddie when they coasted in on fumes in their RV before Christmas. Rocky was a quiet boy who became fascinated when the television weatherman reported observing Santa Claus at the North Pole.
In one touching scene Chevy Chase's character tried to convince Ruby Sue that there was indeed a Santa Claus. Ellen Hamilton Latzen played the pathetic Ruby Sue.
From Quiz: "National Lampoon's Vacation" Movies
Answer: Hamburger Helper
"I don't know why they call this stuff hamburger helper. It does just fine by itself, huh?" Eddie asked Clark. Eddie also mentioned Tuna Helper in the same exchange..."I like it better than tuna helper myself, don't you, Clark?" Hamburger Helper was introduced by Betty Crocker in 1970. Since then, both Chicken Helper and Tuna Helper have been added to the product line.
From Quiz: Cousin Eddie - "Nothin' But The Best"
Answer: Vacation
He ends up waking the entire motel because the water was so cold.
From Quiz: Which "Vacation" Movie Was It?
Answer: Johnson
In "Christmas Vacation" it was learned that Ellen Griswold's cousin Catherine had married Eddie Johnson. Miriam Flynn was the only actor who played Catherine in any of the films.
From Quiz: "National Lampoon's Vacation" Movies
Answer: Ketchup
"Real tomato ketchup Eddie?" Clark asked Eddie. "Nothin' but the best!" Eddie replied. This of course was after Clark found out that there was no meat for the buns when Eddie asked "How do you like yours, Clark?" To which Clark replied "Medium rare, a little pink inside."; prompting Eddie to respond "No, your bun...light or dark?"
From Quiz: Cousin Eddie - "Nothin' But The Best"
Answer: European Vacation
Each "Vacation" movie had different actors playing the kids. In "Vacation", Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall played Audrey and Rusty; in "European Vacation", it was Dana Hill and Jason Lively; in "Christmas Vacation", it was Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki; and in "Vegas Vacation", it was Marisol Nichols and Ethan Embry.
From Quiz: Which "Vacation" Movie Was It?
Answer: Brian Doyle-Murray
Brian Doyle-Murray was affiliated with "National Lampoon" when he was a regular on "The National Lampoon Radio Hour" between 1973 and 1975. His role as the watermelon seed-spitting Kamp Komfort clerk in "Vacation" was a brief cameo, however, his role as Clark's uptight boss in "Christmas Vacation" was a pivotal role in the film. His gift of the Jelly-of-the Month Club as a Christmas bonus caused Clark to finally come unglued towards the end of the film.
Sid Caesar had a cameo role in "Las Vegas Vacation" as a lonely, elderly man who died holding a winning Keno ticket. Eugene Levy was cast as Ed Shohet, the salesman who sold the Griswolds the Wagon Queen Family Truckster in "Vacation". James Keach was the motorcycle cop who stopped Clark after he had inadvertently chained Dinky the dog to his rear bumper in the first "Vacation" movie.
From Quiz: "National Lampoon's Vacation" Movies
Answer: White patent leather shoes
"Oh no, Eddie, you shouldn't have", Clark responded. Clark seemed to be a bit patronizing when presented with the shoes. He seemed to wear them with pride though when he went to the bar and met the girl in the Ferrari (Christie Brinkley), after a fight with his wife.
From Quiz: Cousin Eddie - "Nothin' But The Best"
Answer: European Vacation
The Griswolds were given a rental car which had a man in the trunk. The kidnappers couldn't get the keys to the car from Ellen so they kidnapped her.
From Quiz: Which "Vacation" Movie Was It?
Answer: European Vacation
Clark first literally ran into Eric Idle on his bicycle while driving in England. He also connected with the unfortunate bicyclist on other occasions in different cities in Europe. Each time he was struck by Clark Griswold, Eric appeared seriously injured but simply brushed off the injuries as minor.
From Quiz: "National Lampoon's Vacation" Movies
Answer: The Jelly of The Month Club
Clark received a subscription to the club in lieu of his annual Christmas bonus. This was what drove Clark mad and inspired Eddie to kidnap Clark's boss.
The original slogan "The Gift That Keeps on Giving" was from the Red Cross, used to inspire people to donate blood.
From Quiz: Cousin Eddie - "Nothin' But The Best"
Answer: Christmas Vacation
No, the dog food wasn't for Eddie, it was for Snot, his dog.
From Quiz: Which "Vacation" Movie Was It?
Answer: Christy Brinkley
The unnamed girl in the red Ferrari played by Christie Brinkley whom Clark took a swim with in the original "Vacation" movie, appeared again in "Vegas Vacation".
Jeannette Charles played Queen Elizabeth in "European Vacation". Jane Krakowski played cousin Vicki in the "Vacation" movie. Cousin Vicki was played by Shae D'Lyn in "Las Vegas Vacation". Diane Ladd was Clark's mother, Nora Griswold, in "Christmas Vacation".
From Quiz: "National Lampoon's Vacation" Movies
Answer: Snots
Snots was a Rottweiler, with what Eddie described as a sinus condition. Eddie also noted that Snots had a little "Mississippi leg hound" in him. Dinky was the dog from the original "Vacation" movie, who met his demise behind the Griswold family truckster. Rocky was actually one of Eddie's kids, who according to Eddie, had an unidentified oral fungus.
From Quiz: Cousin Eddie - "Nothin' But The Best"
Answer: Vacation
Unfortunately Aunt Edna didn't make it to any of the other "Vacation" movies, she died on the way home and Clark wanted to leave her on her doorstep. She was played by the wonderful Imogene Coca.
From Quiz: Which "Vacation" Movie Was It?
Answer: Vegas Vacation
Zach Moyes played cousin Denny in "Las Vegas Vacation". It was the only film in the series to feature cousin Denny. While cousin Eddie made references to other kids doing jobs like barking for the yak lady or being in rehab to get off of Wild Turkey, many of the kids were only mentioned but not played by actors.
From Quiz: "National Lampoon's Vacation" Movies
Answer: Christmas Vacation
Brian Doyle-Murray played the Kamp Komfort clerk in "Vacation" and Clark's boss, Frank Shirley, in "Christmas Vacation".
From Quiz: Which "Vacation" Movie Was It?
Answer: Jack
When the Griswolds were checking out of their London hotel there was an expensive bill for a toll call. Audrey had called Jack and run up the bill. She kept the family miserable throughout the entire trip whining about how much she missed him.
From Quiz: "National Lampoon's Vacation" Movies
Answer: His boss
When Clark launched into a furor over not receiving a Christmas bonus, he said that the one thing he wanted was his boss, Frank Shirley, brought to him with a ribbon on him. Leave it to Cousin Eddie, he promptly kidnapped Mr. Shirley (Brian Doyle-Murray), and brought him to Clark, tied-up, with a ribbon around him, just as requested. Ask and ye shall receive!
From Quiz: Cousin Eddie - "Nothin' But The Best"
Answer: European Vacation
After Ellen covered her eyes with a washcloth, Clark left the bathroom and Robbie Coltrane's character came in. Ellen didn't realize she was inviting him into the tub with her. Clark went into what he thought was their room and wound up in bed with a woman who didn't want him to get away.
From Quiz: Which "Vacation" Movie Was It?
Answer: Pappagiorgio
One of Rusty's first questions when the family arrived in Las Vegas was to inquire whether prostitution was legal. He began an incredible winning streak as opposed to Clark's failure to win anything. He assumed the name Pappagiorgio and took advantage of all the amenities the casino extended to him.
The only time Clark won at Blackjack was when Rusty unknowingly walked past him.
From Quiz: "National Lampoon's Vacation" Movies
Answer: On a rock
"Where's your grill, Eddie?" Clark asked. "Don't have one, Clark. Don't need one" Eddie replied as he slung the chicken onto the bare rocks and it started to sizzle.
In Oatmen, Arizona, there is an annual competition in which competitors fry eggs on the hot desert sidewalk.
From Quiz: Cousin Eddie - "Nothin' But The Best"
Answer: Vegas Vacation
"Vegas Vacation" had Ethan Embry as Rusty and Marisol Nichols as Audrey.
From Quiz: Which "Vacation" Movie Was It?
Answer: Holiday Road
Lindsey Buckingham's "Holiday Road" served as the main theme for the original "Vacation" movie. It was also reprized in "European Vacation" and "Vegas Vacation". "Little Boy Sweet" by June Pointer was the song associated with Christie Brinkley's character. "Dancin' Across The USA" was another Lindsey Buckingham song that was on the "Vacation" soundtrack but it was not included on the soundtrack of any other movie in the series. "Back in America" was performed by Network during the finale of "European Vacation".
From Quiz: "National Lampoon's Vacation" Movies
Answer: Yuban
Eddie told Clark that he got the money from donating a kidney. He also remarked that Yuban was good on many things, including ice cream or mashed potatoes. He also told us that you could just eat it straight out of the can for a "quick pick me up". The two were looking for any cash they could find after Clark lost all of his money gambling. Luckily, Eddie had buried small amounts of cash around his yard, but could not remember where.
From Quiz: Cousin Eddie - "Nothin' But The Best"
Answer: Christmas Vacation
Clark was looking for Christmas gifts for Ellen. Whenever it's really cold out, I always think of Clark slipping and saying to the salesgirl how nipply it was outside.
From Quiz: Which "Vacation" Movie Was It?
Answer: Dancer
Cousin Vicki, played by Shae D'Lyn, even tried to get Clark's daughter Audrey (Marisol Nichols) to come work with her. Vicki also gave the Griswolds a show when she was dropped off at home after hitching a ride. The dance provoked Clark to warn his son Rusty (Ethan Embry) "Don't think unnatural thoughts about your cousin, Russ."
From Quiz: Cousin Eddie - "Nothin' But The Best"
Answer: His legs gave out.
Eddie explained to Clark that the V.A. gave him some government land outside Las Vegas because of the defect in the plate in his head. We saw the reaction when Eddie belched while watching Clark gamble in the Casino. In the original "Vacation", Eddie explained that the Army had actually cut his disability because the plate "wasn't big enough". In "Christmas Vacation", Eddie remarked that every time his wife used the microwave, he would urinate on himself and forget who he was for half an hour.
From Quiz: Cousin Eddie - "Nothin' But The Best"
Answer: The Army
"...the army cuts my disability pension because they said that the plate in my head wasn't big enough." Eddie told Clark while asking for money in the original "Vacation" film. Though the plate in his head was referenced many times in the series of movies, we never found out exactly how Eddie wound up with the plate in his head.
From Quiz: Cousin Eddie - "Nothin' But The Best"
Answer: Catherine
Catherine, played by Miriam Flynn, was actually Ellen Griswold's (Beverly D'Angelo) cousin, whom Eddie married. Vicki was Eddie and Catherine's oldest daughter (played by Jane Krakowski in the original "Vacation" and Shae D'Lyn in "Vegas Vacation"). Ruby Sue was the youngest daughter of Eddie and Catherine.
From Quiz: Cousin Eddie - "Nothin' But The Best"
Answer: European Vacation
"European Vacation" was the second film of the series where the Griswolds took a trip across Europe after winning on the "Pig in a Poke" gameshow. Cousin Eddie, unfortunately did not make the trip with them. The Griswolds visited Cousin Eddie at his home in Kansas in the original "Vacation". Eddie and Catherine brought their family to the Griswold home in "Christmas Vacation"; in their RV none the less. In "Vegas Vacation", the Griswolds again visited Cousin Eddie; this time at his new home, a new RV (at least new to them) on the government land Eddie was given by the V.A.
From Quiz: Cousin Eddie - "Nothin' But The Best"
