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Explore Chicago as Gotham, uncover location filming secrets, and learn how camera angles in "The Dark Knight" reveal chaos and power Batman in Chicago: Filming Locations and the Art of Anarchy Explore Chicago as Gotham, uncover location filming secrets, and learn how camera angles in "The Dark Knight" reveal chaos and power All Talks About Discover how Chicago became Gotham in The Dark Knight (2008). Using original HD footage of the Chicago Board of Trade Building and Millennium Station , we’ll explore two iconic filming locations and share behind-the-scenes stories that highlight the creativity and challenges that brought Christopher Nolan’s Gotham to life. But Gotham isn’t just a city—it’s a stage for chaos. In the second half of this program, we’ll explore Heath Ledger’s Joker and his mantra, “introduce a little anarchy,” linking it to both the film’s story and visual style. Using downtown Chicago as our backdrop, you’ll learn to spot low-angle shots, understand their cinematic impact, and see how they heighten themes of power and disorder. By the end of this hour-long talk (and video tour) with Kelli , you’ll not only know where The Dark Knight was filmed, but you'll also gain tools to read the film’s imagery in a new way. Request Talk

Upcoming Talks See where Kelli will be speaking next—online and in person. Feb 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST Private: Black Movie History in Chicago: Cinematic Milestones and Sacred Grounds / Clarendale Six Corners, 4715 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641, USA Learn more Feb 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST Clarendale Six Corners, 4715 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641, USA Explore Black film history in Chicago through select movies and sites that connect them 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! Behind the Baby Carriage: Chicago and The Untouchables Visit three Chicago locations in The Untouchables, focusing on the movie’s baby carriage sequence in Union Station and later films it inspired Learn More View All Talks

Visit three Chicago locations in The Untouchables, focusing on the movie’s baby carriage sequence in Union Station and later films it inspired Behind the Baby Carriage: Chicago and The Untouchables Visit three Chicago locations in The Untouchables, focusing on the movie’s baby carriage sequence in Union Station and later films it inspired All Talks About When people think of movies that showcase Chicago, The Untouchables (1987) often tops the list. But does Brian De Palma’s gangster film truly give the city a starring role—or does Chicago merely serve as a dramatic backdrop? We’ll explore that question through a tour of three key Chicago filming locations featured in The Untouchables : the Chicago Board of Trade, the Rookery Building (including Frank Lloyd Wright’s celebrated redesign), and Union Station. Using original HD footage, we’ll see how Chicago’s architecture, scale, and history help shape the film’s visual power and sense of place. In the second half of the program, we’ll focus on The Untouchables ' most iconic moment: the Union Station staircase shootout. As a baby carriage careens down the steps amid gunfire, De Palma creates one of the most unforgettable set pieces in American cinema. We’ll unpack the scene’s behind-the-scenes construction, trace its roots to silent-era filmmaking, and examine how later directors have borrowed the baby carriage motif for dramatic effect. By the end of our hour together, you’ll see how The Untouchables not only cements Chicago’s place in film history, but turns the city—especially Union Station—into an indelible cinematic character. Request Talk

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Upcoming Talks See where Kelli will be speaking next—online and in person. Feb 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST Private: Black Movie History in Chicago: Cinematic Milestones and Sacred Grounds / Clarendale Six Corners, 4715 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641, USA Learn more Feb 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST Clarendale Six Corners, 4715 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641, USA Explore Black film history in Chicago through select movies and sites that connect them 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! Gone with the Wind in Chicago: Place, Protest, and the Black Press Visit a mill from the credits of "Gone with the Wind," and uncover how Black Chicagoans and "The Chicago Defender" reacted to the 1939 movie Learn More View All Talks

Visit a mill from the credits of "Gone with the Wind," and uncover how Black Chicagoans and "The Chicago Defender" reacted to the 1939 movie Gone with the Wind in Chicago: Place, Protest, and the Black Press Visit a mill from the credits of "Gone with the Wind," and uncover how Black Chicagoans and "The Chicago Defender" reacted to the 1939 movie All Talks About This 60-minute talk explores Gone with the Wind not as a Hollywood epic, but as a cultural flashpoint—tracing its contested legacy through place, protest, and the powerful voice of Chicago’s Black press. Through HD video, we go on location to Little Rock, Arkansas, to visit a grist mill briefly shown in the opening credits of Gone with the Wind . We then turn to The Chicago Defender , the Chicago-based African American newspaper founded in 1905. Drawing on contemporary articles, photographs, and interviews from the Defender , we return to Chicago in 1939 to examine how Gone with the Wind was received—by the general public and by protestors alike. The program concludes with the film’s recent reappraisal, including its (temporary) removal from media outlets such as HBO. PLEASE NOTE : This talk does not address Gone with the Wind 's production history, stars, plotlines, characters, or fandome. The focus is on the movie's credit sequence, public response, and media coverage. Request Talk

Upcoming Talks See where Kelli will be speaking next—online and in person. Feb 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST Private: Black Movie History in Chicago: Cinematic Milestones and Sacred Grounds / Clarendale Six Corners, 4715 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641, USA Learn more Feb 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST Clarendale Six Corners, 4715 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641, USA Explore Black film history in Chicago through select movies and sites that connect them 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! Christmas in Chicago: Location and Legacy in While You Were Sleeping Visit three Chicago locations from "While You Were Sleeping," and consider the importance of Saul, the Jewish elder guiding this Christmas rom-com Learn More View All Talks

Visit three Chicago locations from "While You Were Sleeping," and consider the importance of Saul, the Jewish elder guiding this Christmas rom-com Christmas in Chicago: Location and Legacy in While You Were Sleeping Visit three Chicago locations from "While You Were Sleeping," and consider the importance of Saul, the Jewish elder guiding this Christmas rom-com All Talks About Round out your holiday season with a virtual walking tour through the Chicago area locations where the 1995 Christmas movie While You Were Sleeping was filmed. Join Kelli as she guides you through three sites from the film, from the quiet village streets of La Grange, IL, to the city's busy public transit stations. Along the way, we’ll not only revisit the places that set the stage for Lucy and Jack’s romance, but we'll also explore an often overlooked element of the movie: the character of Saul, the Jewish elder who gently guides the story’s moral compass and shapes the romantic comedy. Whether you’re a fan of Sandra Bullock, Peter Gallagher’s eyebrows, or simply looking for a festive way to experience Chicago onscreen, this talk is a fun way to celebrate the season. Request Talk

Learn how the TV series "Seinfeld" uses food to define characters, shape dialogue, and reveal (often wacky) American social norms No Soup for You! The Role of Food in "Seinfeld" Learn how the TV series "Seinfeld" uses food to define characters, shape dialogue, and reveal (often wacky) American social norms All Talks About What does a sitcom "about nothing " have to say about something as universal as food? Quite a lot, it turns out. In this hour-long talk, you'll discover how the TV series Seinfeld (1989-1998) uses food to define its characters, shape their conversations, and highlight society’s endless—and often absurd—rules around eating. From marble rye to the Soup Nazi, from the Big Salad to the Junior Mint, food in Seinfeld is rarely just about what’s on the plate. Through clips and screenshots, this talk traces the show’s nine-season run and highlights the most memorable—and culturally revealing—food moments. Presenter Dr. Kelli Marshall , who has taught a college course devoted to Seinfeld , published articles on the show , and even Skyped with a cast member, guides you through how one of television’s most celebrated sitcoms turned food into a comedic feast of meaning. Request Talk

Upcoming Talks See where Kelli will be speaking next—online and in person. Feb 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST Private: Black Movie History in Chicago: Cinematic Milestones and Sacred Grounds / Clarendale Six Corners, 4715 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641, USA Learn more Feb 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST Clarendale Six Corners, 4715 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641, USA Explore Black film history in Chicago through select movies and sites that connect them 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! No Soup for You! The Role of Food in "Seinfeld" Learn how the TV series "Seinfeld" uses food to define characters, shape dialogue, and reveal (often wacky) American social norms Learn More View All Talks

Examine the SS Eastland tragedy through its screen portrayals—from newsreels and documentaries to home movies and a Disney show Still Waters, Sudden Death: Chicago’s Deadliest Disaster Onscreen Examine the SS Eastland tragedy through its screen portrayals—from newsreels and documentaries to home movies and a Disney show All Talks About On July 24, 1915, the SS Eastland capsized on the Chicago River, killing more than 800 passengers before it ever left the shore. This shipwreck ranks as one of the worst maritime disasters in American history—and one of Chicago’s deadliest catastrophes. Drawing on contemporary newsreels, oral histories, documentary film, and narrative television, this talk examines the SS Eastland from a cinematic perspective, tracing how moving images captured, interpreted, and preserved the disaster. In this program, you will: Watch recently unearthed films depicting the Eastland ’s aftermath Learn why several states banned Eastland footage in 1915 Hear from survivors and their families through recorded testimony See how the tragedy has been represented across film and television Together, we’ll explore how film and TV have shaped public memory of this oft-forgotten tragedy—and why those images still matter. NOTE: Due to the subject matter and the graphic nature of some newsreels, this talk may not be suitable for children. Request Talk