Relax...we've all been had! :biggrin1:
Tonight, I just finished watching the purchased DVD of "Christmas Vacation" with its bonus commentary featuring the never-before-told stories behind making that movie. And Randy Quaid was among those speaking (along with Beverly D'Angelo, Miriam Flynn, and Johnny Galecki.)
There were several references to Quaid slipping a bottle into his pants several times during the movie. The producers discussed the "gag effect" which Quaid came up with himself at the last minute since the costumer had planned to fit Quaid's character with clothing way too small (he played Griswald's impoverished cousin who was living in an old motor home). Apparently Quaid tried the effect once in a scene to see what the producers would think (assuming they wouldn't go for it) Instead, Quaid was allowed to continue using the inserted prop in several additional scenes, but it was that shopping sequence that became a true lasting memory for sure.
These actors' commentary "was looped" over the entire movie as a bonus feature with the DVD set and there were several occasions when Quaid (along with the others) quipped whether "that bottle" was being used or not. There was a lot of giddy laughter from this group over this. Finally, Quaid remarked toward the end that he really had hoped "viewers would believe it was all naturally him and not fake at all. etc." Then---even
more laughter from the actors.
So, there you have it. Like other posters here, I too, having watched this (now) Christmas classic for many, many years, surely thought Quaid was obviously quite endowed.
I'm kinda glad it's all settled--- once and for all.
I won't have to watch Quaid's scenes so intensely anymore.