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Join our movie club to connect with like-minded movie fans and gain access to exclusive content dedicated to the vibrant culture, rich history, and cinematic magic of Chicago! Sorry, we no longer offer Chicago Movie Club. Subscribe here to be notified if it returns. No plans available Once there are plans available for purchase, you’ll see them here. Back to Home Page

Embark on a 90-minute guided walking tour through Chicago's Union Station and discover its connections to film and television Hollywood on the Rails: Movies and TV in Chicago's Union Station Embark on a 90-minute guided walking tour through Chicago's Union Station and discover its connections to film and television Read Reviews Book Public Tour Book Private Tour About 1.5 hrs 0.5 mi. 8 guests $39.99 Embark on a 90-minute guided walking tour through Chicago's Union Station and discover its connections to film and television Step into the glamour of Hollywood on our 90-minute guided walking tour of the iconic building and marvel of modern transportation that is Chicago's Union Station! Led by a knowledgeable PhD guide , Hollywood on the Rails: Movies and TV in Chicago's Union Station unveils fascinating connections between Chicago's 100-year-old train station and the silver screen. From The Untouchables and My Best Friend's Wedding to Fargo (FX) and Run (Max), Chicago's Union Station has served as a backdrop for countless narratives of drama, suspense, and romance. Retrace your favorite stars' footsteps as you uncover secrets behind their movies and television series! You'll also delve into stories that even most Chicagoans don't know about Union Station's Hollywood history. Hear about the building's ties to a glamorous dining haunt of celebrities past and a 1930s magazine contest, where dreams came true for lucky movie fans aboard the rails. And fear not, history buffs. Hollywood on the Rails: Movies and TV in Chicago's Union Station also uncovers Union Station's own story. From its awe-inspiring architectural design to its pivotal role in shaping Chicago's identity, there's a wealth of tales waiting to be discovered within these marble halls. Finally, exclusive to this Union Station tour, you will gain access to areas not available to the public. NOTE: If private events are scheduled during our tour time, these spaces may not be available. So, whether you're a film enthusiast, history buff, or simply curious to explore one of Chicago's most iconic landmarks, join us for a leisurely (mostly indoor) walking tour filled with lights, camera, and action! Movies/TV Highlighted The Killer (2024) Fargo (2020, FX) Run (2020, HBO Max) Man of Steel (2013) Public Enemies (2009) Flags of Our Fathers (2006) Derailed (2005) My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) Love Jones (1997) The Untouchables (1987) The Sting (1973) Movie stars: Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Errol Flynn Public Tour Dates Show More Dates Private Tours Book this tour as a private or group tour! The private tour price listed below is a flat fee for up to 8 guests. If you have more than 8 in your party, please contact us to see if we can accommodate you. Book Private $399 Tour Specifics Start/End Points The tour starts just inside Chicago Union Station's Jackson St. entrance, next to Corner Bakery and across from the Chicago River. The tour ends at 225 S Canal St. Waivers Guests must initial a digital general waiver of liability with Chicago Movie Tours when they book. Guardians must sign waivers for children under the age of 18. Low Attendance To ensure we can provide a fun, engaging, and economically feasible public tour, we typically need a minimum of 4 guests. Head over to Tour Terms and Conditions for more on this policy, including reasons behind it and your refund options if, in the rare instance, a tour is cancelled due to low attendance. Parking/Transportation By Car : Use Union Station's driving directions . Public Transit : Use the CTA's Plan-a-Trip guide . Accessibility Guests will need to climb up/down 2 sets of stairs. Escalators and elevators are available in some areas. Restrooms Public restrooms are available inside the head house and concourse. Children Guests ages 10 and up can attend. Photography/Video No video or audio recording of the tour, but take as many pictures as you'd like! Cancellations and Refunds You may cancel or amend your reservation 48 hours or more before the tour departs. Read more Tour Terms and Conditions . What's Included 90-minute guided walking tour of Chicago's Union Station Guided access inside locations where movies and TV series have filmed Exclusive access to spaces typically off-limits to the public Tour guide commentary from a passionate PhD Small group to generate engagement and foster a personalized tour Insights into Union Station's Hollywood history, architectural design, and historical significance Visual and audio media to enhance your tour experience Plenty of Instagram opportunities Mini (movie-themed) goodie bags! 💙 Reviews Carole Hollywood on the Rails average rating is 5 out of 5 I learned so much about the history of this landmark building and the many movies filmed here. September 26, 2025 Nicole Hollywood on the Rails average rating is 5 out of 5 I would recommend this tour because Kelli is incredibly knowledgeable, prepared & personable. Learned a lot & look forward to joining another tour! August 8, 2025 Mitchell Szczepanczyk Hollywood on the Rails average rating is 5 out of 5 Kelli at Chicago Movie Tours gave a fantastic tour of Union Station for her tour "Hollywood on the Rails." She didn't just teach us about movies and TV shows, which were plentiful (I didn't realize that "The Sting" was filmed in part at Chicago Union Station); the tour also touched on points from a variety of fields, including architecture, art and design, history, technology, and of course, Chicago. It was a wonderful way to spend two hours, very informative and engaging, and very much worth your time, whether your interests lie in film, pop culture, history, architecture, or the Windy City! April 26, 2025 Load More Reviews

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. While You Were Sleeping This screenshot of a Christmasy Chicago "L" station is from the 1995 romantic comedy While You Were Sleeping . The movie follows a lonely Chicago transit worker named Lucy (Sandra Bullock) who pretends to be the fiancée of a comatose man (Peter Gallagher), only to find herself entangled in a web of misunderstandings with him and his family. (It's a cute movie, and it helped catapult Bullock into movie stardom!) Today's #OneShotWed is an establishing shot. It shows us where Lucy works as a token collector and jumps onto the tracks to save the life of Gallagher's character. The scene was filmed at Chicago's Randolph/Wabash “L” station, but it is no longer there. Shortly after Randolph/Wabash closed in 2017, its replacement, Washington/Wabash, opened. You'll recognize the new station when you see its canopies intending to echo the waves of nearby Lake Michigan . Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Home Alone From Home Alone (1990), this is a medium shot of a cashier, Sally, holding a bag of army men labeled Attack Force. Notice the slightly low camera angle and Sally’s downcast eyes, suggesting she is interacting with someone shorter than she. Also, Christmas lights, garland, and wreaths hang behind her in the store. Hopefully, those directorial decisions hinted to you that we’re likely looking at a Chicago-based Christmas movie that may involve a child. And indeed we are. Mistakenly left alone at Christmastime, eight-year-old Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin) must defend his home against a pair of burglars. During the process, Kevin ventures out to the grocery store, where he adds this bag of army men to his list. Amusingly, he tells Sally, “It’s for the kids.” Did you know actor-comedian Robin Williams played with little toy soldiers too while he lived here in Chicago? As a child in Chicago’s north suburbs, Williams staged battles with thousands of toy soldiers, his mother recalls. In fact, the young Williams even wrote the soldiers' dialogue, foreshadowing his performance style of carrying on conversations with himself through multiple voices. Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. A League of Their Own Set during World War II, A League of Their Own (1992) follows the creation of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League as women step in to play baseball while men are off at war. The movie focuses on the rivalry and camaraderie between two sisters, Dottie (Geena Davis) and Kit (Lori Petty), and their journey to prove that women belong in the sport. One teammate who clearly belongs in the sport is the socially awkward Marla Hooch (Megan Cavanagh). Because of her plain appearance, Marla is initially overlooked, but she proves to be a powerful hitter and a valuable team member. What’s more, Marla is also perhaps the one player “who comes out of the film the most emotionally fulfilled.” The medium shot above is of Marla’s father. He has just showcased his daughter’s batting skills to a group of men—and declared she would have easily made the Yankees if she were a boy. Now, at a train station, he proudly bids his daughter farewell while pretending to swing a baseball bat. This scene with Marla and her father was filmed on location at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois. Here is a long shot of the same . Watch the full scene below, starting around minute 4:00. A League of Their Own also filmed at Chicago's Wrigley Field and in the Chicago suburbs. Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Adventures in Babysitting Today's #OneShotWed comes from Adventures in Babysitting , a 1987 teen comedy set and filmed almost entirely in and around Chicago. Here , Vincent D'Onofrio plays Dawson, the owner of a Chicago garage who—with his long blond hair and sledgehammer—resembles Sara's favorite superhero, Thor. In the original script, eight-year-old Sara was obsessed with She-Ra and He-Man. But the director, Chris Columbus, had never heard of the characters, so he changed them. Read more about that switch here . Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. The Bob Newhart Show The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978) stars comedian Bob Newhart as psychologist Bob Hartley, whose interactions with his wife, friends, patients, and colleagues spark humorous situations and witty dialogue, all filmed before a live audience. In the series, recurring jokes are often derived from Newhart’s stand-up comedy routines, particularly his one-sided telephone conversations . The show's opening credits—which you can watch below—pay homage to this comedic signature as they begin with Bob’s answering the phone with a simple "Hello?" Today’s screenshot shows you an extreme-long, low-angle shot of Newhart’s character passing by several landmark Chicago buildings. Here, Newhart's Bob Hartley is leaving his psychiatry practice for his commute home—which many have (rightly) described as bizarre. After all, if you were actually taking this route in Chicago, you'd be walking 7+ miles every day! Again, The Bob Newhart Show aired from 1972-78. But as you can see from these headlines, Chicagoans today are still perplexed by the out-of-the-way path Newhart’s character takes to get home: Chicagoans are still mad about ‘The Bob Newhart Show’ opening sequence Bob Newhart’s Bizarre Commute Home To Edgewater Took Him WAY Out Of His Way Crazy Commute (this blog post gives you a serious breakdown of the route, including a map !) Bob Newhart responds to critics of his opening credits commute from 'The Bob Newhart Show' Bob Newhart On The Glaring Error In “The Bob Newhart Show” Opening Credits Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. The Bear (1.1) This is the opening shot of the FX television series The Bear . Atop Chicago’s Clark Street Bridge , chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) comes face-to-face with a caged brown bear. Once released from its confines, the bear attacks, and Carmy wakes up in a restaurant kitchen. The 70-second sequence is a dream, a memorable and attention-grabbing dream. The Bear ’s co-showrunner and writer, Joanna Calo, says this sequence was crafted to grab the viewers’ attention so they’d put their phones away. The writers wanted to “trick people into watching more,” she jokes. More seriously, she continues: “But it is a way to let people know you’re going to want to sit down for this and pay attention.” Based on the popular and critical acclaim for The Bear , the intent behind this dream sequence worked: people are definitely paying attention. Watch a portion of this scene below. Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Widows Widows is a 2018 heist movie about four women with nothing in common but a debt left behind by their dead husbands' criminal activities. Today's #OneShotWed reflects the funeral of one of those husbands. The TV show on which Widows is based, also called Widows , is set in London. But British director Steve McQueen wanted to adapt the story to Chicago. In his words: "I wanted a contemporary place, a modern city, and Chicago seemed to be that place. Politics, race, corruption, policing, gender, all those things, it was all there, in Chicago.” Read more about Widows ' Chicago connections . And watch Widows ! Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. The Dark Knight From The Dark Knight (2008), this shot depicts a semi-truck flipping over in front of the Chicago Board of Trade Building and city's banking district. This movie stunt from The Dark Knight is impressive for several reasons. But perhaps the main reason is that it is achieved via practical special effects (as opposed to visual effects ). A practical effect is created physically, without the use of CGI or other post-production techniques. In short, the crew literally flipped a Mack truck on the streets of downtown Chicago. Read more here about how the director, Christopher Nolan, and his stunt coordinator, Paul Jennings, pulled off this memorable special effect. Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

Upcoming Talks See where Kelli will be speaking next—online and in person. Feb 24, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Black Movie History in Chicago: Cinematic Milestones and Sacred Grounds / Orland Park Public Library, 14921 S Ravinia Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, USA Register Feb 24, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Orland Park Public Library, 14921 S Ravinia Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, USA Explore Black film history in Chicago through select movies and sites that connect them Mar 02, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST On the Run in Chicago: Behind the Scenes of The Fugitive / Homer Township Public Library District, 14320 W 151st St, Homer Glen, IL 60491, USA Register Mar 02, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Homer Township Public Library District, 14320 W 151st St, Homer Glen, IL 60491, USA Uncover how "The Fugitive" blends TV history, cultural ritual, and Chicago’s architectural stage Mar 05, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST Women and Early Cinema in Chicago: Untold Stories Behind the Silent Screen / Naperville Public Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Register Mar 05, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST Naperville Public Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Explore hidden stories of women who shaped early Chicago cinema, with HD footage of key locations where they lived and worked Mar 11, 2026, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT Countdown to the Oscars: Illinois Winners, Scandalous Moments, and Oscar Bait / Helen Plum Library, 411 S Main St, Lombard, IL 60148, USA Register Mar 11, 2026, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT Helen Plum Library, 411 S Main St, Lombard, IL 60148, USA Celebrate Illinois' Oscar winners, scandalous moments, and "Oscar bait" as you countdown to this year's Academy Awards Apr 16, 2026, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT Private: Chicago and The Wizard of Oz / Skokie Country Club, 500 Washington Ave, Glencoe, IL 60022, USA Learn more Apr 16, 2026, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT Skokie Country Club, 500 Washington Ave, Glencoe, IL 60022, USA Discover Chicago's many connections to the classic children's story "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" Registration links to dates in the far future may not yet be available. Check back, or subscribe to be notified . Host This Crowd Favorite! Singin' in the Rain and Chicago Celebrate six Chicago actors and the Hollywood musical for which they are most remembered Learn More View All Talks

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off In this medium-long shot from Ferris Bueller's Day Off , the school secretary, Grace (Edie McClurg), pulls multiple pencils out of her hair. With each reach, McClurg acts surprised, as though the No. 2 pencils are growing there like weeds. At the end of the scene, she’s (hilariously) sniffing Liquid Paper at her desk. Director John Hughes recalls McClurg’s “very sprayed hairdo,” which he thought would be fun to stick stuff in during filming. “There was a lot more than pencils in there, by the way,” he tells us in 1992. Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive