Discover untold stories of women who helped shape early cinema in Chicago. Through HD footage of historic locations where these trailblazing women worked and lived, you'll explore their significant yet often overlooked contributions to the early film industry.

Start in Chicago's western suburbs at a modest Frank Lloyd Wright home, where you'll uncover Grace Hunt's impressive connection to pre-cinema through her work at the Art Institute of Chicago. Then, stroll down a 140-year-old brick-paved road to the Morse Theatre to hear about its innovative female ownership and why it was once hailed as "the theatre of the future." Finally, visit the old Essanay studio lot in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, where silent-era screenwriter Louella Parsons worked before becoming one of Hollywood's most powerful gossip columnists.

Led by a Ph.D. who taught film for more than a decade, this program offers a unique glimpse into Chicago's cinema history, highlighting three (of countless!) often-overlooked women who made their mark on the early days of film.