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Learn more about the "dirty blonde" and Broadway mom who worked alongside the Marx Brothers. In my talk Comedy in Chicago: The Marx Brothers and Bob Newhart , I briefly cite two women who worked alongside the Marx Brothers comedy team: Mae West was an actress who made movies at the same time as the Marx Brothers. Minnie Marx was a harpist and the matriarch of the Marx family; she served as the Marx Brothers' manager until her death in 1929. Learn more about these women through a 2020 documentary and a (failed) Broadway production. Mae West: Dirty Blonde The 2020 documentary Mae West: Dirty Blonde (PBS) dives into the life and career of American actress, playwright, screenwriter, and sex symbol Mae West. West was active in the entertainment industry from the 1910s until the 1970s. Like the Marx Brothers, she began her career as a vaudeville performer before transitioning to the stage and eventually to the movies. Mae West, Wikimedia Commons As you learn in my talk, Mae West was known for her wit, double entendres, and suggestive dialogue. Some of her most famous films include She Done Him Wrong (1933), I'm No Angel (1933), and My Little Chickadee (1940), which she co-wrote and starred in. West's dialogue, we should note, often got the actress into trouble with censors . In addition to her work in entertainment, West was an outspoken advocate for women's rights and sexual freedom , and she challenged traditional gender roles and societal norms through her work. Mae West died November 22, 1980, in Los Angeles, at the age of 87. The film runs for about 90 minutes. Check out the trailer below: Minnie Marx on Broadway Minnie's Boys is a Broadway musical comedy that tells the story of the Marx Brothers. Written by Arthur Marx , the son of Groucho Marx, the musical focuses on the early years of the Marx Brothers and their journey to becoming one of the most popular and influential comedy teams in American history. The story begins with the arrival of the Marx family in New York City from Germany in the late 19th century. The family would also live in Chicago for about a decade. Minnie Marx , the mother of the Marx Brothers, is determined to turn her sons into successful performers. She enlists the help of a famous theatrical agent, who sees potential in the young boys and helps them launch their career in vaudeville. Shelley Winters played Minnie Marx. Minnie's Boys, Imperial Theatre, NY, 1970. Playbill.com Minnie's Boys ran for only 80 performances. During its brief run, Groucho appeared on the Dick Cavett Show with Shelley Winters and the five actors who portrayed the Marx boys in the show. Here they are: Chicago Connections You'll find one of Mae West's cars in Chicago's Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum . Minnie Marx was the one who decided to move the entire Marx family from New York to Chicago. After all, Chicago was a major vaudeville center, home to newly emerging film companies, and a hub for railway travel. Mae West's 1938 V16 Sedan

Hang out with us! A podcaster, a blogger, and a tour guide discuss how they record Chicago's past and present film history Join us below for an exclusive livestreamed conversation on Chicago and movies! You'll meet our three guests—a seasoned podcaster, a location blogger, and a Chicago tour guide—and learn how they began their respective projects, currently decide on content, work with their chosen media, and more! This roundtable discussion (55 min.) was streamed live simultaneously on Facebook and YouTube. 👋 Say hello to our guests Tommy Henry, Chicago History Podcast Chas Demster, It's Filmed There, Filming Locations of Chicago and Los Angeles Kelli Marshall, Chicago Movie Tours

I’ve never loved gangster movies—but I couldn’t say no to NBC Chicago when they asked me to revisit one of the most iconic shootout scenes in cinema, right inside Union Station. NBC's Lexi Sutter and I talk about The Untouchables inside Chicago's Union Station. Occasionally, tour guests ask me, "What's your favorite Chicago movie?" My go-to answer is usually The Untouchables —an admittedly odd response for someone who doesn't like gangster movies. (Yes, as someone averse to mob and gangster flicks, I realize I'm working in the wrong city!) So why do I give The Untouchables a pass? The way the movie represents Chicago and its historic architecture—part of which you can see in the gallery below—is, for lack of a better phrase, [chef's kiss]. For that reason alone (and maybe Kevin Costner), I truly enjoy watching The Untouchables . All of these locations, by the way, show up in the movie: Chicago Board of Trade Building Rookery Building Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica Michigan Ave. Bridge (now DuSable Bridge) Chicago Union Station One of The Untouchables ' most memorable sequences takes place inside Chicago’s Union Station . You know the scene : a runaway baby carriage gets caught on a staircase amidst a slew of gangster gunfire. A mother fears for her child's life while Eliot Ness (Costner) continues the task at hand: bringing down Al Capone's accountant. Needless to say, when NBC 5 Chicago invited me  to stand on those stairs and talk about the only gangster movie I truly embrace, I had to say yes. Watch the Interview Below, watch the full interview with NBC 5 Chicago, and learn about other movies and TV shows that have used Chicago as a backdrop. NBC 5 Chicago: "Only in Chicago: Famous Scenes in Shows and Films" Go Further Discover the iconic staircase shootout from The Untouchables  on my guided walking tour in Chicago’s Union Station —where Hollywood meets local history!

Ever stumble upon a hidden gem in an antique mall? This Blues Brothers find might spark your curiosity about Hollywood publicity stills. Framed film still promoting the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers. While browsing an antique mall in Chicago's western suburbs , the above picture frame caught my eye.   For the movie The Blues Brothers , Elwood and "Joliet" Jake Blues (Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi) pose for the camera, complete with their trademark sunglasses, hats, and suits. Below the image, the seller paraphrases the duo's catchphrase, "We're on a mission from God."   For the unenlightened, The Blues Brothers   filmed all over Chicago in 1979 , with some scenes shot in Los Angeles.   The photo in the antique mall frame appears to be a publicity still  (or production still) from Universal Studios, likely from 1979.   Publicity stills are photographs taken either on or off the set during movie or TV production. As the name implies, the publicity still's main purpose is to help studios promote their films and stars. As a result, they are often circulated widely.   For instance, here's the same Blues Brothers still on eBay signed by Dan Ackroyd for $150.00. Here's another , not signed, for $25.00.   Do you have any publicity stills from Hollywood? If so, did you happen to find them in an antique or thrift store?

An emotional reaction in the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles was tied to a subplot that director, John Hughes, chose to remove. Screenshot from the ending of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles . At the end of Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), why does Susan Page (Laila Robins) appear so emotional when her husband, Neal (Steve Martin), returns home to Chicago? One word: EDITING. In an earlier subplot, later cut, Susan believed Neal was having an affair. She was convinced her husband was making up John Candy's Del Griffith and their journey home. So when Neal walks in the door with Del in tow, she is overcome with emotion—relieved Del exists and her husband is faithful. Fortunately, audiences can also read Susan's teary reaction as "I'm happy you're finally home." Screenshot from the ending of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles . During post-production , director John Hughes instructed his editor , Paul Hirsch, to remove major chunks of the movie. “Take that out, just take it out. Lose that,” Hughes would say from a sofa in the editing room, cigarette and a coffee in hand. Among the subplots edited out of Planes, Trains and Automobiles  was the one about Neal's alleged marital affair. A sound decision, I'd argue, since the road comedy  doesn't need to be weightier than it already is. Enjoyed this topic? Bring the talk to your community! If this subject sparks your interest, consider booking Planes, Trains and Automobiles , and the Trappings of Home for your library, community center, or film club. Led by Kelli , a Ph.D. and owner of Chicago Movie Tours, the talk uses original HD video footage to take you on location to the Planes, Trains and Automobiles house in suburban Chicago. While there, you will hear behind-the-scenes stories and explore the movie's complex theme of home. Learn more or schedule your presentation today . Screenshot from the end of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles .

Revisit three scenes from The Blues Brothers , and assess the significance of location filming in Chicago Daley Plaza, which the Blues Brothers wreck in The Blues Brothers (1980), public domain (CC0). This mini course — Blues Brothers on Location: Prisons, Malls, City Halls —breaks down three scenes from the movie The Blues Brothers (1980) in order to help you understand why movies (and TV series) get made in specific locations like Chicago potential meanings behind location filming the impact, environmental or otherwise, of screening locations You'll also learn the backstory of the 1980 movie and how the Blues Brothers' act got started. This mini course is not currently active, but you can watch a 90-second sneak peek here or click on the video below.

Look for 2 monuments devoted to the founder of Memorial Day in our short video on The Trial of the Chicago 7 Statue of John A. Logan in Chicago's Grant Park Originally known as Decoration Day , Memorial Day was a day when Americans decorated the graves of soldiers who died in the Civil War. Today, it is a national holiday that commemorates all American soldiers who lost their lives in defense of the nation. Traditionally, Memorial Day marked the start of summer, with parades and celebrations, like this one, paying tribute to those who sacrificed their lives: Decoration Day, 1917. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. While several towns claim to have hosted the first Memorial Day celebration, Illinois Civil War general John A. Logan deserves credit for establishing Memorial Day as a national holiday. After the Civil War, Logan helped found the Grand Army of the Republic . During his tenure with this group, Logan issued an order that called for a national day of remembrance for Civil War dead. This order would serve as the basis for what became the national holiday of Memorial Day. Look for 2 monuments devoted to General Logan in our short video below on The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Aaron Sorkin, 2020). Chicago and Movies in 60 Seconds This video takes you to two statues of General John A. Logan: one in a Civil War military park in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the other in Chicago's Grant Park. The Grant Park statue, you'll learn, was prominently featured in The Trial of the Chicago Seven , a 2020 movie depicting the protests at the 1968 Democratic Convention.

See Buckingham Fountain in a 1949 film noir called Undertow You have probably seen Chicago's Buckingham Fountain in the opening credits of the TV series Married with Children (1987-1997). And you have likely seen it briefly onscreen in the animal comedy National Lampoon's Vacation (1983). Buckingham Fountain also appears — in all of its massive flowing glory — in a lesser-known movie called Undertow . Undertow is a 1949 film noir. It tells the story of a former Chicago mobster/ex-con who is framed for murder and must clear his name before police catch him. Notably, Undertow marks the first film credit for Rock Hudson , who hails from Chicago's suburb Winnetka. In the video below, check out Buckingham Fountain as a romantic backdrop in Undertow . Other well-known Chicago locations shown in the 1949 film noir include: Midway Airport Palmer House Hotel Shedd Aquarium Adler Planetarium Merchandise Mart Have you visited any of these sites while visiting Chicago or while taking a walking tour of the Windy City?

Discover one way to clean 1920s movie houses on the cheap After the 1918 Flu Pandemic , movie theater owners in Chicago and across the United States were preoccupied with cleanliness and sanitation. Rightly so, since moviegoers wanted to feel safe when they walked through the doors and took a seat. Theaters that did not meet mandated standards of cleanliness were in danger of losing their patronage and ultimately their buildings. What else was at the forefront of the theater owner's mind at this time? Figuring out how to clean a movie house for a cheap price. Enter the Arco Wand, pictured above. Eating Up Every Particle of Dirt In 1921, the sleek Arco Wand is advertised in movie industry magazines as "a truck vacuum cleaner" that will "eat up every particle of dirt after each show." When compared to hand-cleaning a movie house, especially a large one like Chicago's Central Park Theater , the vacuum's advantages are plenty: Fast Portable, featuring rubber wheels Capable of reaching drapes, upholstered furniture in "comfort rooms," and carpets Versatile, operating on 110 or 220 volts, direct or alternating current Simple enough for "women and unskilled laborers" to manipulate (sigh) Cost-cutting since only 1 attendant was needed to run it No installation necessary Seems as though investing in an Arco Wand is a no-brainer, right? Vacuum Showrooms in Chicago In fact, plenty of movie theaters in Chicago adopted the Arco Wand. Scan this list from Moving Picture World (Oct. 1921), and see how many Chicago theaters you can count: Based on the advertisement below, theater owners could purchase the Arco Wand Truck Vacuum Cleaner in an American Radiator Co. showroom at 816-820 S. Michigan. So it makes sense that Chicago would be well-represented on the above list of "boosters." The American Radiator Co. (Arco for short) also promoted their vacuum products to churches, private homeowners, apartment leasers, and public building managers. In 1919, one version of the cleaning device was available for $195.00 , or about $3,300 today. Cleaning Movie Theaters Today In this current post-pandemic era, movie theater owners are again preoccupied with cleanliness and sanitation. To attract clientele, they have integrated into the theater experience misters and foggers , electrostatic guns , readily available Clorox wipes , and plexiglass screens around popcorn and snacks . Additionally, exhibition chains like Cinemark ensure their vacuum cleaners are equipped with HEPA filters, which reportedly trap "at least 99.97% of microscopic particles, including viruses such as COVID-19." Once more, we find history repeating itself. Only time will tell, of course, as we move further away from the COVID-19 pandemic, if the movie theater cleaning process will continue...

In this hour-long interview, go behind the scenes of Somewhere in Time with the president of the movie's fan club. Kelli and Jo talk all things "Somewhere in Time" Filmed in Chicago and on Mackinac Island, Somewhere in Time has gained a cult following over the years. The movie is beloved by many romance fans, including Jo Addie , who joins Kelli from Chicago Movie Tours to talk about her personal experiences with the film. Guests engaged in 3 questions at the start of the interview, each of which has been edited out of this on-demand replay. Scroll down if you'd like to see or answer the poll yourself. Finally, if you have a questions you'd like to ask Jo, drop it in the comments section, and we'll make sure she gets it! Answer the Polls

Watch the cast and crew of Somewhere In Time gush over Chicago's hospitality. Christopher Reeve overlooks Chicago in 1979 As we learned in Somewhere in Time : Behind the Scenes , most of the 1980 romantic fantasy Somewhere in Time was shot on Michigan's Mackinac Island . But three scenes were filmed in Chicago. At the beginning of the movie, we watch Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve): Working in his apartment Driving on Lake Shore Drive Researching the past in a library These shots, along with those on Mackinac Island, were filmed in the summer of 1979, a time when Chicago was just beginning to reopen its doors to Hollywood. Chicago and Movies, Daley and Byrne You'll recall from Somewhere in Time : Behind the Scenes that Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley (1955-1976) notoriously guarded the kind of movies that could be filmed in Chicago. Only movies Daley could take his family to see were allowed to be shot on location here. But after Daley's tenure, when Jane Byrne was elected mayor (1979-1983), this policy changed. For Byrne, any movie that wanted to film in and around Chicago should do so. After all, the city would be collecting the monetary rewards. [Cha-ching!] As a result, Byrne established an office to assist Hollywood production companies. And she worked with the Illinois state film office to lure filmmakers here. Read the first few paragraphs of this article to learn more about Chicago and movies, and Daley and Byrne: Courier Post (Oct. 22, 1981) Hollywood in 1979 Chicago Embedded below is a clip from Hollywood Comes to Chicago (1979), a rare documentary short that sheds light on this "new" period in Chicago's movie history. In the clip, the cast and crew of Somewhere in Time recall Chicago being an easy and welcoming place to set up shop—in part because of the efforts of the Illinois film office and its director Lucy Salinger. You can watch the full documentary short below, which runs for about 7 minutes. It also features John Landis since The Blues Brothers was shooting here at the same time as Somewhere in Time .

The late Sesame Street star got his professional start in Chicago Beloved star of Sesame Street , Bob McGrath has died at the age of 90. McGrath, you might recall, was an original cast member of the children's show Sesame Street , which first aired in 1969. His character, also named Bob, most memorably sang about the “People in Your Neighborhood.” (Feel free to relive your childhood via the clip below.) On the show, Bob also gave music lessons to the Muppets and participated in an opera with them. Both of these storylines make sense when you consider McGrath's musical background—that started in Chicago. A native of Ottawa, IL, McGrath got his professional broadcasting start in Chicago—at the ripe ol' age of nine. In 1941, McGrath sang on Chicago's Morris B. Sachs Amateur Hour , where he outperformed Steve Allen , 11 years his senior. Allen, of course, would cement his own fame as the co-creator and first host of The Tonight Show . Still, for his performance on Morris Sachs, the nine-year-old McGrath won a war bond and a "fancy watch," as the article below puts it. Later in childhood, McGrath would take home first prize on the televised show Stars of Tomorrow , WGN 's so-called "mecca of aspiring amateur talent."And as a teenager, the Irish tenor would win runner-up in the vocal competition of the Chicagoland Music Festival . More musical accolades would follow for singer Bob McGrath: The first freshman to become soloist with the University of Michigan's Glee Club A graduate degree from the Manhattan School of Music Time spent at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music But, of course, Sesame Street would catapult McGrath into musical stardom, of sorts. “It’s a very different kind of fame,” Mr. McGrath said about his time on Sesame Street : McGrath recalled a little boy in a store who came up to him and took his hand. At first he thought he had been mistaken for the child’s father. When he realized that the boy seemed to think they knew each other, Mr. McGrath asked, “Do you know my name?” “Bob.” “Do you know where I live?” “Sesame Street.” “Do you know any of my other friends on Sesame Street?” "Yep,” the boy answered and promptly gave an example: “Oh, the number 7.” RIP, Bob McGrath. Thank you for sharing your musical talent, honed in Chicago, and inviting us to sing about all of the people in our neighborhoods.