A van named "Candy Man" sparked a dive into Chicago’s past, where 1920s candy jobbers mixed sales with racketeering and violence. Van with a plan: selling candy. One evening, while driving through Chicago's western suburbs, I pulled up behind a white van named "Candy Man." After doing a double take, two thoughts came to mind:   Does this company realize it shares a name with the 1992 horror movie Candyman , filmed on location in Chicago? Did this business purposely name itself after said horror film? Honestly, every possible answer here is amusing. But I'd like to think this distributor knowingly named his Chicago-based business after the horror movie Candyman . That would be dark comedy marketing at its finest! Regardless, the van's name also brings to mind Chicago's deep-routed candy history , which, as you'll see below, turned surprisingly dangerous for some so-called "candy men" in the late 1920s. We'll use the Maywood Candy Co. as an example. Maywood Candy Co. (since 1920). Maywood, IL. Google Maps. Chicago's 1920s Candy Jobbers The small brick building pictured above was once home to the Maywood Candy Co., a wholesale candy distribution business founded around 1920 at the height of Chicago's candy boom . From what I can tell, the business , located in Maywood, IL, ceased operations around the early 2000s. By all accounts, the Maywood Candy Co. lived a quiet existence. However, the years spanning roughly 1927 to 1930 must've been nerve-racking ones for its owner and select colleagues. In the late 1920s, the founder of Maywood Candy Co.—along with with approximately 250 other local candy distributors— is listed as a member of the Candy Jobbers Association of Chicago. These jobbers, or wholesalers, purchased candies from manufacturers and dealers in Chicago, New York, Boston, and other major U.S. cities. Then, they sold and delivered their goods, via automobile and wagon, directly to candy retailers throughout Chicagoland. At the time, the Candy Jobbers Association of Chicago's collective business was estimated at $7,000,000 annually—or about $129,000,000 today. Women shoppers at Mrs. Snyder's Candy Shop, South Michigan Ave., Chicago, 1927. Wikimedia Commons. On the whole, the Candy Jobbers Association of Chicago's goals were to twofold: to make improvements to the candy business to advance the social conditions of its members Admirable objectives, I'd say. But in April 1926, a newly elected leader named Vincent Pastor wanted to make some changes. Pastor was growing concerned that tobacco dealers who were not members of the association were "selling candy as a side line" after receiving it at a discounted cost. As a result, he proposed a strict amendment to the Chicago Candy Jobbers Association's constitution to induce "tobacco shops to abandon the candy business." Specifically, Pastor requested all members comply with these rules among a few others : Do not purchase candy from manufacturers who do not support our association. Do not purchase candy from subjobbers who do not support our association. Do not sell to any one who jobs candy and is not a member in good standing. The Candy Jobbers Association of Chicago, as reported , unanimously approved the amendment. But in hindsight, it seems as though most members, including Maywood Candy Co.'s, did not fully know what they were getting into. Chicago's "Candy Racket" Case In 1926-27, the Candy Jobbers Association's new leader, Vincent Pastor, began to carry out his rules, " actively and aggressively " forcing manufacturers and subjobbers to comply with his terms. Those who refused were allegedly subjugated to verbal threats and rough handling as well as "assaults and bombings and smashing of store fronts." All of these actions , along with attempted price fixing, were executed to "terrorize the small dealers, in order to require them to become members." You'll even find the Chicago candy jobbers listed under "racketeering" in the 1929 book Organized Crime in Chicago . Moreover, some sources like Jazz Age Chicago (2022) claim Al Capone was behind all the violence. Sheesh. As a result of the association's "terroristic methods," 45 officials and members—including the founder of Maywood Candy Co.— were initially indicted  for enacting violence against competitors and violating the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 , which outlaws monopolistic business practices. Ultimately, 35 members went to trial. Sixteen members, including Victor Pastor, were convicted and sentenced, liable to a year in prison and fines ranging as high as $5,000 (about $95,000 today). The 19 other men named in the indictment were acquitted  since "evidence did not show their guilt, and interstate commerce [was] not involved." Since Maywood Candy Co. only appears at the outset  of this trial, we can assume either its owner was one of the 10 men who didn't go to trial or he was of the 19 acquitted. Either way, good news for this Chicago "candy man" and his distribution company. For many, the name "Candy Man" might conjure up images of a hook-handed  horror villain. But in 1920s Chicago, the real terror came from men in business suits—candy jobbers threatening shopkeepers, smashing storefronts, and fixing prices. Candyman (1992), screenshot. IMDb.com

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple, famed for its concrete design and lack of religious iconography, appears mostly in documentary film, including one narrated by Brad Pitt. Exterior of Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple, Oak Park, IL. I recently took a guided in-depth tour  of Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple in Oak Park, IL, about 9 miles west of Chicago.   Here are three tidbits I learned about it: Still used for its original purpose—the oldest Wright building to do so Constructed of concrete since funds were slim and concrete was cheap Eschews religious iconography for precise geometric proportions   Fascinating! But is Unity Temple in any movies? Eh, not so much. Is Unity Temple in Any Movies? Naturally, Unity Temple pops up in documentaries on Wright's architecture  and in PBS specials like The Most Beautiful Places in Chicago . But to date, I've not found it represented in any narrative films—like these Wright buildings: Ennis House : House on Haunted Hill (1959), Blade Runner (1982), The Rocketeer (1991) Guggenheim Museum : Bye Bye Birdie (1963), Manhattan (1979), Men In Black (1997) Marin County Civic Center : Gattaca (1997), THX 1138 (1971) Unity Temple's onscreen destiny so far, it seems, lies within the documentary form. See Wright's Guggenheim Museum in the sci-fi comedy Men in Black . Narrating Unity Temple Onscreen The most recent documentary devoted to Unity Temple is called Frank Lloyd Wright’s Modern Masterpiece: Unity Temple (2021) and is directed by Lauren Levine. The 55-minute film focuses on the painstaking—and quite expensive ($25 million)— two-year restoration process  of the Wright church. When deciding on narration for the film, Levine wanted to avoid a traditional documentary approach, so she "searched for relevant Frank Lloyd Wright quotes that would infuse the story with a bit of insight into Wright’s process and philosophy." Those quotes—like this one—she would weave into the film's transitional moments: "The mission of the architect is to help people understand how to make life more beautiful, the world a better one for living in, and to give reason, rhyme, and meaning to life." But who would speak these words within the documentary? Enter Brad Pitt. Shifting Complications of Star Power Frank Lloyd Wright’s Modern Masterpiece: Unity Temple is narrated by Brad Pitt, an actor whose interest in architecture is well-documented. Recall his and (now ex-wife) Angelina Jolie's private tour in 2006 of Wright's Fallingwater house in Pennsylvania. The two-hour tour ended with a private birthday party for Pitt in Fallingwater's living room. In 2008, after Hurricane Katrina, Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation worked alongside an architectural firm to build environmentally friendly homes in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward. The intent was to build 150 safe, affordable houses for families who lost everything in the hurricane. But years later, because of foundational problems and decay, the project faced several class-action lawsuits . Speaking of lawsuits, Pitt's personal life, we should note, has also recently drawn controversy , including allegations of domestic violence. As a result, cultural dialogue around the actor these days has shifted. It is more cautious, with some critics warning audiences not to be fooled by Pitt's hollow attempts at public redemption . So while the latest onscreen representation of Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple adds a layer of Hollywood star power, it is, for some anyway, now a more complicated one. The documentary on Wright's Unity Temple is now streaming on Apple TV .

Sadly, the location filming in Chicago of the 1961 movie A Raisin in the Sun echoed the racism in the play. A Raisin in the Sun onstage. Wikimedia Commons. When I started teaching general literature courses in graduate school, I often assigned Lorraine Hansberry's play A Raisin in the Sun as an example of contemporary American drama. The 1959 play was the first Broadway production penned by a Black woman and the first with a Black director, Lloyd Richards . A Raisin in the Sun always went over well with my Texas students—as did clips from its 1961 film adaptation, co-starring Sidney Poitier, who died today at age 94 . At the time, I had no idea I'd one day live near this movie's locations and then dive into its poignant production history. Chicago Filming Locations In the summer of 1960, the cast and crew of A Raisin in the Sun began filming on location in four areas of Chicago: University of Chicago Michigan Ave. Kitty Kat Club (a gay nightclub on 611 E. 63rd) 4930 W. Hirsch St., featured below Screenshot, trailer A Raisin in the Sun (1961) 4930 W. Hirsch Street, Chicago, IL. Google maps. Situated northwest of Chicago's South Loop, this house on W. Hirsch St. serves as a major plot point in A Raisin in the Sun . To recap: The Younger family receives a life insurance check for $10,000 after the death of the father. The matriarch uses part of this money for a down payment on a new house. Instead of resettling her family in a Black neighborhood, she opts for an all-white one. The property there, after all, is cheaper. But, as you might imagine in 1950s America , the Younger family quickly runs into a roadblock. The neighborhood's white residents are vehemently opposed to an interracial population. The Younger house in relation to Chicago's South Loop. A "Black Movie" on Our Street? According to the Black newspaper The Chicago Defender and contemporary industry reports, the Chicago location filming of A Raisin in the Sun eerily echoed the play's narrative. During an exterior shoot at a West Side Chicago home, "neighbors in the block began registering objections to the jam of sepians [Black people] on scene, while others protested because they thought the neighborhood was being invaded by sepians" (Oct. 15, 1960). More specifically, one neighbor contacted  the homeowner, scared "they were selling their house to 'Negroes.'” The house in question—4930 W. Hirsch Street (see above)—belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Casaccio, a middle-class Italian family with two sons. The Casaccio's neighbors, as the book Chicago Whispers describes , clearly did not want "a 'Black' movie on their street." As a result, cast and crew were reportedly "forced out of the neighborhood"—an ordeal that imitated the real-life Chicago experiences that inspired Hansberry's play. Production also apparently faced bigotry when the University of Chicago stipulated the movie could shoot on school grounds only "if the institution’s name was not used." Kitty Kat Club: Hollywood's Choice On a more positive note... Ad in the 'The Chicago Defender' from Feb. 21, 1961. A Raisin in the Sun  also filmed scenes at Chicago's Kitty Kat Club , a gay nightclub located at 611 E. 63rd. No longer in existence, the club was once known as "a haven for gay South Siders and its on-the-pulse music programs." Hoping its ties to the 1961 movie might increase business, the Kitty Kat Club owners promoted their establishment alongside the film . The gay nightclub took out ads in The Chicago Defender reading: "Hollywood's Choice, Make It Yours" "Where Scenes from A Raisin in the Sun Were Filmed" (I haven't looked at data, but I'm guessing attendance went up at the Kitty Kat Club in the early 1960s?!) RIP, Sidney Poitier, and thank you for your stellar body of work, even amidst seemingly insurmountable odds. Correction : an earlier version of this post inadvertently cited the Casaccio family as participants in the neighborhood protests when, in fact, they owned the house that is shown in the film. Poitier onstage with co-stars Ruby Dee and Louis Gossett, Jr. Wikimedia Commons

Celebrate six Chicago actors and the Hollywood musical for which they are most remembered Singin' in the Rain often ranks as the best film musical ever made—and, indeed, one of the best movies ever made. Set in 1927, the film tells the story of silent film stars as they navigate Hollywood's transition from the silent era to "talkies." No, Singin' in the Rain was not filmed in Chicago, nor does it take place here. But at least six of the movie's cast members are from or have strong connections to the Windy City. So on this virtual tour, which begins at a rain-inspired sculpture in Chicago, we will celebrate these six actors and the delightfully entertaining Hollywood musical for which they are remembered. Watch Excerpt This is an excerpt from Singin' in the Rain and Chicago . In the clip, Kelli introduces the talk, which runs about an hour.

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

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...