Encounter four ways Hollywood has traditionally represented women onscreen Gender in Hollywood: Women Encounter four ways Hollywood has traditionally represented women onscreen All Talks About Encounter four ways Hollywood has traditionally represented women onscreen. Among the categories you'll consider: mothers, damsels, femme fatales, and domestic or romantic agents. You'll also get a primer on how movies have chosen to represent women's bodies over the years, particularly when few clothes are involved. Join Chicago Movie Tours for an overview of women onscreen! NOTE: To give your guests a thorough background on common representations of gender in Hollywood film, book this talk alongside Gender in Hollywood: Men . Or if only one subject interests you, book it individually! Request Talk

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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. Sixteen Candles This slightly low-angle medium shot of Joan Cusack comes from Sixteen Candles . In John Hughes’s 1984 teen comedy—set and filmed in suburban Chicago—Cusack plays Geek Girl #1. She has no lines other than “yeah” and “okay,” and she wears a neck brace that hinders her drinking from water fountains and cans of soda. Memorably, Geek Girl #1 uses material from her shirt appliqué to wipe her mouth after she finally captures a sip of water. (Joan’s brother, John Cusack, also plays a small part in Sixteen Candles .) Fans of the Cusacks likely know the siblings—comprised of Ann, Joan, Bill, John, and Susie—grew up in Chicago’s north suburb of Evanston, where they began acting in local theater productions. Additionally, their father, Dick Cusack, owned a movie production company that created corporate films, and he and his wife encouraged the kids to perform. Despite their careers in Hollywood, John and Joan Cusack still have residences here. In fact, since 2011, Joan has owned a gift shop in Old Town, Chicago . When asked about her hometown—where bit parts like this one in Sixteen Candles would ultimately lead to Oscar-nominated roles in Working Girl and In and Out— Joan Cusack says this: “Chicago is so normal. It’s very real. In Hollywood, I feel like mostly an actress. In Chicago, I feel like a person and an actress.” (Tallahassee Democrat , Dec 1993) 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

Questions about your order from the Chicago Movie Tours store? You'll find them here. Store Orders Get answers about topics, bookings, tech requirements, and more. Store Orders How are your products made? We work with a print-on-demand drop shipper. They have locations worldwide, so depending on where you are, your orders are printed and shipped from the facility that can do it most efficiently! When will I get my order? Usually, it takes 3–7 days to fulfill an order, after which it’s shipped out. The shipping time depends on your location, but can be estimated at 3–4 business days. How do I track my order? You’ll receive a tracking link via email when your order ships out. If you have any questions about your tracking or shipment, drop us a line at info@chicagomovietours.com . I received a wrong/damaged product, what should I do? We’re so sorry if the product you ordered arrived damaged. To help us resolve this for you quickly, please email us at info@chicagomovietours.com within a week's time with photos of the damaged product, your order number, and any other details you may have about your order. We’ll get back to you with a resolution as soon as possible! My order should be here by now, but I still don't have it. What should I do? Before getting in touch with us, please help us out by doing the following: Check your shipping confirmation email for any mistakes in the delivery address Ask your local post office if it has your package Stop by your neighbors in case the courier left the package with them If the shipping address was correct, and the package wasn't left at the post office or with your neighbors, get in touch with us at info@chicagomovietours.com with your order number. If you did find a mistake in your delivery address, we can send you a replacement order, but shipping will be at your own cost. Return to Store

View upcoming walking tours and film history presentations by Dr. Kelli Marshall. Join a public tour in Chicago or find a talk near you. Book your spot today! Chicago Movie Events Calendar September 2026 Today Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 11:30 AM The Art of Ferris Bueller 27 28 29 4:30 PM Edward Hopper's Nighthawks: From Diner Scene to Silver Screen 30 1 2 3 4 5 6:00 PM Batman in Chicago: Filming Locations and the Art of Anarchy 6 7 8 9 10 11:30 AM The Art of Ferris Bueller Don't see a date that works? Request a Private Tour Request a Talk

Get introduced to cinematography to experience movies on a new level How Do Movies Guide Your Eyes? Get introduced to cinematography to experience movies on a new level All Talks About When you watch a movie, the images before you may seem like objective views of the world. But they are not. In fact, those images are purposefully constructed and then put onscreen—to guide your eyes where the director wants them to go. Sneaky, right? This hour-long program introduces you to the basics of cinematography, including speed of motion, perspective relationships, focal length, depth of field, and framing. After all, once you recognize how cinematography works, you can experience and understand movies on a new level. Request Talk

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. City That Never Sleeps Today's #OneShotWed comes from City That Never Sleeps , a film noir set and filmed (mostly) in Chicago. This shot comes at the start of the film. After holding our gaze to the Wrigley Building for several seconds, the narrator—representing Chicago itself—begins to introduce its citizens. First up is the "mechanical man" below, working in a window. "Once he was an actor; now he's down to this," we learn. Watch the film's opening here , courtesy of Turner Classic Movies. 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

Discover a Chicago restaurant booth frequented by classic movie stars, and analyze food in "When Harry Met Sally" Hollywood Bites: From Golden Age Glamour to Rom-Com Delights Discover a Chicago restaurant booth frequented by classic movie stars, and analyze food in "When Harry Met Sally" All Talks About Indulge in tales about a white booth once nestled inside a glamorous Chicago hotel restaurant, where classic Hollywood movie stars converged. Then, turn to the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally , as you uncover how food offers insight into its characters' lives, even in fleeting Chicago scenes. Through HD video footage, the University of Chicago and Chicago's Union Station will serve as backdrops for your culinary movie journey. Request Talk

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

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 (2008) Standing on a street corner in Chicago, an unidentified man carries a duffle bag over his right shoulder and a clown mask in his left hand. Within seconds, he’s whisked away in an unmarked car, and the game’s afoot. This is the opening of The Dark Knight (2008). In the summer of 2007, The Dark Knight filmed in and around multiple locations in downtown Chicago (or Gotham, if you will), for example: Old Chicago Post Office Navy Pier Chicago Theater Millennium Station Lower Wacker Dr Chicago Board of Trade Building The first 66 days of the shoot took place in Chicago, beginning with the bank-heist sequence, as represented in today’s screenshot. Then, production traveled to the UK for 53 days. Then, it moved back to Chicago. This is an odd schedule for a big-budget movie. So here’s The Dark Knight 's director, Christopher Nolan, explaining the (intentional) traveling: “When we made The Dark Knight we quite specifically moved around. We started in Chicago, went to London, went back to Chicago which is a massive production no-no; you’re never supposed to go back to the same place. But it meant we constantly challenged people to work in a new environment on a daily basis.” Watch the full opening below, which takes place at S. Franklin St. and W. Van Buren St . 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 Package The Package is a 1989 political thriller set during the Cold War. The U.S. and Soviet governments are on the verge of signing a nuclear disarmament treaty when a high-ranking U.S. General is assassinated. Gene Hackman’s character is blamed for the lack of security and, therefore, the general’s murder. As punishment, he is assigned to escort an Army sergeant (Tommy Lee Jones/Kevin Crowley) back to the U.S. for court martial. The Package 's opening was shot in Berlin, Germany. The rest was shot in and around Chicago. Locations here include Lake Forest Academy (as a German chalet), the Field Museum, the South Shore Country Club, Grant Park, O’Hare International Airport, and Chicago’s Union Station . This medium-long shot of Tommy Lee Jones takes place on the historic oak benches in Chicago’s Union Station . His character is disguised as an Anglican priest and has just received a suitcase containing a sniper’s rifle. As the story’s villain, he will not use this weapon for good. A native Texan, Jones fondly recalls his time shooting The Package in Chicago—and he even wears the clothing to prove it : “I, my wife, and my little boy love Chicago. It’s a fine city, an all-American city. A considerable amount of history has been written there. It’s windy and cold in the wintertime, but we don’t worry about that — it’s hot and dry in Texas in the summer.” (The Sacramento Bee , Sept 1989) 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

Examine women's fashion at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair while considering the iconic Ferris Wheel and fair photography Women's Fashion, Ferris Wheels, and Film at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair Examine women's fashion at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair while considering the iconic Ferris Wheel and fair photography All Talks About Step back in time to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair , where innovation and transformation shaped not only the city but also the lives—and wardrobes—of women. As women began challenging traditional gender roles in the early 1890s, advice columns influenced what they should wear to the Chicago Fair. What did these recommendations reveal about shifting societal norms? And how did they prepare women to be photographed at one of the most visually documented events of the era? Through original Fair photographs, vintage newspaper articles, and a virtual reality ride on the dazzling new Ferris Wheel, this program explores how fashion balanced practicality, style, and the growing influence of the camera. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with history, fashion, and amusement! Request Talk