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List of Talks
Browse 40+ film history talks available for conferences, libraries, classrooms, and more.
Featured Talk
Women and Early Cinema in Chicago: Untold Stories Behind the Silent Screen
America's Most Famous Diner, Chicago Style
Visit a Chicago mural that spoofs one of American art's most well-known paintings by inserting celebrity likenesses
Beyond the Blues Brothers
Celebrate the 1980 Chicago-based movie in all its iterations
Black Movie History in Chicago: Cinematic Milestones and Sacred Grounds
Explore Black film history in Chicago through select movies and sites that connect them
Brief History of Hollywood Film
Learn about three eras of Hollywood's history, from 1893-1970
Chicago Movie Houses: Hidden Histories and Lost Glamour
Uncover the histories of three movie theaters in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood
Chicago Murals and Movie Stars
Explore the lives of three stars via massive murals in Chicago
Chicago and Movies on the Mississippi River
Visit Vicksburg, Mississippi, as you learn about its ties to Chicago and movies
Chicago and The Wizard of Oz
Discover Chicago's connections to the classic children's story—now updated with new content!
Chicago's World's Fairs and the Movies
Discover how Chicago helped advance film and create movie stars
Chicago, Christmas Movies, and Class
Consider what three Chicago-based Christmas movies say about social class
Chicago, Movies, and the 1918 Pandemic
Learn about three Chicago movie theaters that survived the 1918 flu pandemic
Cinematic Canines and Circus Stars in Chicagoland Cemeteries
Delve into the intersection of film history, animal performers, and cemetery lore
Comedy in Chicago: The Marx Brothers and Bob Newhart
Learn about the Chicago connections of a few giants of American comedy
Countdown to the Oscars: Illinois Winners, Scandalous Moments, and Oscar Bait
Celebrate Illinois' Oscar winners, scandalous moments, and "Oscar bait" as you countdown to this year's Academy Awards
Dirty Dancing on Abortion
Revisit the abortion plot in Dirty Dancing, without which the entire movie falls apart
Festivus 101: A Celebration for the Rest of Us
Become an expert on Festivus and its place in pop culture, Chicago's included
Film Noir: Hollywood's Darkest Timeline
Dive into film noir—dark plots, dim lights, and dangerous cities, including Chicago
From Ferris to the Frontlines: Chicago's Art Institute and Grant Park in the Movies
From Ferris Bueller to political drama, see the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park through the lens of film
Gender in Hollywood: Men
Explore four typical depictions of men in Hollywood film
Gender in Hollywood: Women
Encounter four ways Hollywood has traditionally represented women onscreen
Holiday Chaos: Behind the Scenes of "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"
Yule love it! Unwrap the holiday magic and dive into the world of the Griswold family
Hollywood Bites: From Golden Age Glamour to Rom-Com Delights
Discover a Chicago restaurant booth frequented by classic movie stars, and analyze food in "When Harry Met Sally"
Horror Movies in Chicago: Child's Play and The Fury
Delve into the backstories, productions, and locations of Chicago-based horror films "The Fury" and "Child's Play"
How Are Movie Worlds Created?
Explore settings, props, actors, costumes, makeup, and lighting
How Do Movies Guide Your Eyes?
Get introduced to cinematography to experience movies on a new level
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