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Consider what three Chicago-based Christmas movies say about social class Chicago, Christmas Movies, and Class Consider what three Chicago-based Christmas movies say about social class All Talks About National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989), Home Alone (1990), and While You Were Sleeping (1995) sit amongst the most beloved American Christmas movies. Set in Chicago at Christmastime, these three mainstream Hollywood comedies have entertained audiences for decades. But have you ever thought about why? Which characters make you laugh or cry? And what does their social class—lower, middle, or upper—have to do with your reaction? Let’s find out in this hour-long talk on class stereotypes in Chicago-based Christmas movies! Request Talk

Upcoming Talks See where Kelli will be speaking next—online and in person. Jul 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Private: Chicago's First Ferris Wheel in Film / Anshe Emet Synagogue, 3751 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60613, USA Learn more Jul 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Anshe Emet Synagogue, 3751 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60613, USA Travel back to the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and experience the first Ferris wheel through film and virtual reality Jul 22, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CDT Women and Early Cinema in Chicago: Untold Stories Behind the Silent Screen / White Oak Library District: Lockport Bra, 121 E 8th St, Lockport, IL 60441, USA Register Jul 22, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CDT White Oak Library District: Lockport Bra, 121 E 8th St, Lockport, IL 60441, USA Explore hidden stories of women who shaped early Chicago cinema, with HD footage of key locations where they lived and worked Aug 06, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM The Breakfast Club: Chicago, Music, and a Generation Defined / Naperville Public Library - 95th Street, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Register Aug 06, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Naperville Public Library - 95th Street, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Discover how "The Breakfast Club" defined a generation through its architecture, music, and ties to Chicago Aug 17, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM The Breakfast Club: Chicago, Music, and a Generation Defined / White Oak Library District: Crest Hill B, 20670 City Center Blvd, Crest Hill, IL 60403, USA Register Aug 17, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM White Oak Library District: Crest Hill B, 20670 City Center Blvd, Crest Hill, IL 60403, USA Discover how "The Breakfast Club" defined a generation through its architecture, music, and ties to Chicago Registration links to dates in the far future may not yet be available. Check back, or subscribe to be notified . Host This Crowd Favorite! The Oscars and Chicago Review Oscar's history as it relates to Hollywood and Chicago Learn More View All Talks

Upcoming Talks See where Kelli will be speaking next—online and in person. Jul 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Private: Chicago's First Ferris Wheel in Film / Anshe Emet Synagogue, 3751 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60613, USA Learn more Jul 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Anshe Emet Synagogue, 3751 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60613, USA Travel back to the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and experience the first Ferris wheel through film and virtual reality Jul 22, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CDT Women and Early Cinema in Chicago: Untold Stories Behind the Silent Screen / White Oak Library District: Lockport Bra, 121 E 8th St, Lockport, IL 60441, USA Register Jul 22, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CDT White Oak Library District: Lockport Bra, 121 E 8th St, Lockport, IL 60441, USA Explore hidden stories of women who shaped early Chicago cinema, with HD footage of key locations where they lived and worked Aug 06, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM The Breakfast Club: Chicago, Music, and a Generation Defined / Naperville Public Library - 95th Street, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Register Aug 06, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Naperville Public Library - 95th Street, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Discover how "The Breakfast Club" defined a generation through its architecture, music, and ties to Chicago Aug 17, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM The Breakfast Club: Chicago, Music, and a Generation Defined / White Oak Library District: Crest Hill B, 20670 City Center Blvd, Crest Hill, IL 60403, USA Register Aug 17, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM White Oak Library District: Crest Hill B, 20670 City Center Blvd, Crest Hill, IL 60403, USA Discover how "The Breakfast Club" defined a generation through its architecture, music, and ties to Chicago Registration links to dates in the far future may not yet be available. Check back, or subscribe to be notified . Host This Crowd Favorite! School’s Out for Summer! Child Actors and Chicago’s Studio Teachers Trace how studio teachers have taught and protected child actors from 1930s Hollywood to the Chicago sets of "A Raisin in the Sun" and "Home Alone" 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. The Blues Brothers (1980) Today’s screenshot comes from a musical number in The Blues Brothers (1980). The gospel song “Let Us Go Back to the Old Landmark" or “The Old Landmark” is performed here by James Brown , and the Rev. James Cleveland Choir. The number was filmed at Pilgrim Baptist Church , 3235 E. 91st in Chicago. Shown periodically in this lively musical number (and above) is Chicago’s own “Queen of Funk,” Chaka Khan . Humorously, despite singing in a movie that celebrates the blues, Khan has said she dislikes the musical genre: “I try to stay away from love songs. I get sick of them. Especially bluesy ones, crying songs, whining about some lost lover—I hate shit like that, and I’ve always felt that way. I’ve never liked the blues.” 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. Jul 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Private: Chicago's First Ferris Wheel in Film / Anshe Emet Synagogue, 3751 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60613, USA Learn more Jul 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Anshe Emet Synagogue, 3751 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60613, USA Travel back to the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and experience the first Ferris wheel through film and virtual reality Jul 22, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CDT Women and Early Cinema in Chicago: Untold Stories Behind the Silent Screen / White Oak Library District: Lockport Bra, 121 E 8th St, Lockport, IL 60441, USA Register Jul 22, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CDT White Oak Library District: Lockport Bra, 121 E 8th St, Lockport, IL 60441, USA Explore hidden stories of women who shaped early Chicago cinema, with HD footage of key locations where they lived and worked Aug 06, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM The Breakfast Club: Chicago, Music, and a Generation Defined / Naperville Public Library - 95th Street, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Register Aug 06, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Naperville Public Library - 95th Street, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Discover how "The Breakfast Club" defined a generation through its architecture, music, and ties to Chicago Aug 17, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM The Breakfast Club: Chicago, Music, and a Generation Defined / White Oak Library District: Crest Hill B, 20670 City Center Blvd, Crest Hill, IL 60403, USA Register Aug 17, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM White Oak Library District: Crest Hill B, 20670 City Center Blvd, Crest Hill, IL 60403, USA Discover how "The Breakfast Club" defined a generation through its architecture, music, and ties to Chicago Registration links to dates in the far future may not yet be available. Check back, or subscribe to be notified . Host This Crowd Favorite! Chicago Murals and Movie Stars Explore the lives of three stars via massive murals in Chicago Learn More View All Talks

Revisit the abortion plot in Dirty Dancing, without which the entire movie falls apart Dirty Dancing on Abortion Revisit the abortion plot in Dirty Dancing, without which the entire movie falls apart All Talks About Dirty Dancing , the 1987 coming-of-age movie starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze, has resurfaced in the news in 2022 for three reasons: Grey is promoting her memoir Out of the Corner . This summer marks the film’s 35th anniversary . The Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade , the 1973 Court decision that affirmed the constitutional right to abortion. In light of these recent events—along with Millennium Park's summer film series (Aug. 2) and a live concert in Rosemont, IL (Nov. 11)—join Chicago Movie Tours in an exploration of Dirty Dancing as it relates to the issue of abortion. We’ll pay special attention to the movie’s representation of abortion, without which the whole story would collapse. Also, in the livestream, we’ll consider Dirty Dancing ’s premiere, its screenwriter’s intents, and its progressive messages for audiences in 1987—and today. Choose your date below to join the conversation! Registration closes 70 min. before the event is scheduled to begin. 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. What Women Want This is the first shot of What Women Want (2000), a romantic comedy starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. Along with others in this sequence, this week's shot tells us immediately that this story about men, women, and advertising takes place in the bustling city of Chicago. Also noteworthy: What Women Want remains the second-highest grossing romantic comedy to date . 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. Jul 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Private: Chicago's First Ferris Wheel in Film / Anshe Emet Synagogue, 3751 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60613, USA Learn more Jul 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Anshe Emet Synagogue, 3751 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60613, USA Travel back to the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and experience the first Ferris wheel through film and virtual reality Jul 22, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CDT Women and Early Cinema in Chicago: Untold Stories Behind the Silent Screen / White Oak Library District: Lockport Bra, 121 E 8th St, Lockport, IL 60441, USA Register Jul 22, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CDT White Oak Library District: Lockport Bra, 121 E 8th St, Lockport, IL 60441, USA Explore hidden stories of women who shaped early Chicago cinema, with HD footage of key locations where they lived and worked Aug 06, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM The Breakfast Club: Chicago, Music, and a Generation Defined / Naperville Public Library - 95th Street, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Register Aug 06, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Naperville Public Library - 95th Street, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Discover how "The Breakfast Club" defined a generation through its architecture, music, and ties to Chicago Aug 17, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM The Breakfast Club: Chicago, Music, and a Generation Defined / White Oak Library District: Crest Hill B, 20670 City Center Blvd, Crest Hill, IL 60403, USA Register Aug 17, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM White Oak Library District: Crest Hill B, 20670 City Center Blvd, Crest Hill, IL 60403, USA Discover how "The Breakfast Club" defined a generation through its architecture, music, and ties to Chicago Registration links to dates in the far future may not yet be available. Check back, or subscribe to be notified . Host This Crowd Favorite! Chicago Suburbs Onscreen: Forest Park and Oak Brook From “Harry and Tonto” to “The West Wing,” see how two of Chicago's western suburbs have played leading roles onscreen 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. My Best Friend's Wedding My Best Friend's Wedding is a romantic comedy that centers on Julianne (Julia Roberts), a food critic who realizes she's in love with her longtime best friend, Michael (Dermot Mulroney). Inconveniently, Julianne figures this out only a few days before Michael’s wedding to Kimmy (Cameron Diaz). Determined to win Michael’s love, Julianne tries to sabotage the wedding. The 1997 movie—which filmed on location all around Chicago —explores themes of love, friendship, and the complexities of unrequited feelings. This long shot of Julianne and Kimmy takes place inside the china department in the old Marshall Field & Co. department store on State St. (the store is now owned by Macy’s). Here, Julianne tries to convince Kimmy to get her wealthy father to offer Michael a job. This, she knows, will upset Michael and lead him, presumably, to break off the wedding. Julianne's scheme fails. A box office success in 1997, My Best Friend’s Wedding is notable for at least two reasons: First, the movie subverts rom-com tropes . Unlike most romantic comedies, in which the protagonist ends up with the person she loves, My Best Friend's Wedding defies expectations by not having Julianne "win" Michael in the end. Instead, Michael goes through with his marriage to Kimmy, leaving Julianne to come to terms with her feelings and behavior. For a mainstream Hollywood rom-com, the conclusion is rather bittersweet. Second, Julia Roberts plays a villain (of sorts). Considered “America’s sweetheart” at the time, Roberts does not play the typical lovable rom-com heroine in My Best Friend’s Wedding . She spends much of the film manipulating people to break up her best friend's wedding—unconventional actions not only for a protagonist in this genre, but also for Julia Roberts’ established 1990s star image. 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

Chicago Movie Tours regularly runs virtual tours and programs. Check out these excerpts and then sign up for the full events! Virtual Tour Excerpts Kelli regularly runs virtual tours and talks. Check out these excerpts and then sign up for the full events! Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Load More

Celebrate the 1980 Chicago-based movie in all its iterations Beyond the Blues Brothers Celebrate the 1980 Chicago-based movie in all its iterations All Talks About Beyond the Blues Brothers celebrates the 1980 Chicago classic The Blues Brothers , by taking a deep—and entertaining—dive into its wild mix of movie genres. This interactive talk focuses primarily on how The Blues Brothers mashes together multiple Hollywood traditions—from the musical and the comedy to the action film and beyond—and why that genre chaos is perhaps central to the movie’s enduring appeal (and controversy). Along the way, we’ll explore the film’s origins in the Blues Brothers’ "Saturday Night Live" act, share behind-the-scenes production stories, and consider the movie’s lasting impact on Chicago-based filmmaking, including a special nod to Mayor Jane Byrne’s role in bringing the production to the city. Request Talk

Upcoming Talks See where Kelli will be speaking next—online and in person. Jul 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Private: Chicago's First Ferris Wheel in Film / Anshe Emet Synagogue, 3751 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60613, USA Learn more Jul 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Anshe Emet Synagogue, 3751 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60613, USA Travel back to the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and experience the first Ferris wheel through film and virtual reality Jul 22, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CDT Women and Early Cinema in Chicago: Untold Stories Behind the Silent Screen / White Oak Library District: Lockport Bra, 121 E 8th St, Lockport, IL 60441, USA Register Jul 22, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CDT White Oak Library District: Lockport Bra, 121 E 8th St, Lockport, IL 60441, USA Explore hidden stories of women who shaped early Chicago cinema, with HD footage of key locations where they lived and worked Aug 06, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM The Breakfast Club: Chicago, Music, and a Generation Defined / Naperville Public Library - 95th Street, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Register Aug 06, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Naperville Public Library - 95th Street, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Discover how "The Breakfast Club" defined a generation through its architecture, music, and ties to Chicago Aug 17, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM The Breakfast Club: Chicago, Music, and a Generation Defined / White Oak Library District: Crest Hill B, 20670 City Center Blvd, Crest Hill, IL 60403, USA Register Aug 17, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM White Oak Library District: Crest Hill B, 20670 City Center Blvd, Crest Hill, IL 60403, USA Discover how "The Breakfast Club" defined a generation through its architecture, music, and ties to Chicago Registration links to dates in the far future may not yet be available. Check back, or subscribe to be notified . Host This Crowd Favorite! Movie Makeup and Toupees in 1920s Chicago Explore makeup from cinema's earliest days to the present, including 1920s Chicago’s famed toupee maker and his Hollywood-inspired creations Learn More View All Talks