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

Explore Black film history in Chicago through select movies and sites that connect them Black Movie History in Chicago: Cinematic Milestones and Sacred Grounds Explore Black film history in Chicago through select movies and sites that connect them All Talks About This hour-long talk is perfect for Black History Month or any time of year you’d like to highlight the vital contributions of African Americans to film history. In the first half of the program, you’ll discover Something Good—Negro Kiss , a silent film capturing what is believed to be the first onscreen kiss by a Black couple. The movie traces its origins to a nineteenth-century Chicago studio, whose remnants you’ll visit virtually through original HD video. Chicago’s cinematic legacy continues beyond the studio lot. You'll also learn about Burr Oak Cemetery and its significance to Black history here in Chicago and beyond. Again, through HD video, you’ll walk the cemetery’s hallowed grounds as you learn about groundbreaking films such as Cooley High (1975) and Boyz n the Hood (1991). This presentation is a meaningful way to celebrate Black filmmakers and stories—whether during Black History Month or throughout the year. Request Talk

Explore makeup from cinema's earliest days to the present, including 1920s Chicago’s famed toupee maker and his Hollywood-inspired creations 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 All Talks About Dab on some blush and adjust your hairpiece! Let's take a jaunt through cinema history—with special focus on movie makeup and toupees in 1920s Chicago. Join Kelli from Chicago Movie Tours as she traces makeup from cinema’s earliest days to the present. In this hour-long talk (and virtual tour), you will: Get an overview of movie makeup —its purpose, functions, and why it was mandatory in early film Visit (via original HD footage) a Chicago street and building where toupees were made and sold Meet Chicago’s premier 1920s toupee maker and see how he adapted to trends in both Hollywood and local fashion View historic ads and fan magazine photos that reveal changing standards of male and female beauty By the end, you’ll discover how makeup and toupees have helped define movie history—and why this unique, image-filled program is one you won't want to miss. Request Talk

Art of Ferris Bueller is not currently available for booking. Art of Ferris Bueller Art of Ferris Bueller is not currently available for booking. All Talks About The Art of Ferris Bueller is not currently available for booking. If you’d like to be notified when it returns, please reach out via our contact form . Thanks! Request Talk

Explore Contagion’s Chicago locations, film history, and eerie parallels to real-world pandemics The Making of Contagion: Chicago as Pandemic Stage Explore Contagion’s Chicago locations, film history, and eerie parallels to real-world pandemics All Talks About Step into the chilling world of Contagion (2011) and discover why Chicago proved the perfect backdrop for this pandemic thriller. In this immersive talk, you'll explore four Chicago-area filming locations through exclusive HD video footage, and experience 3D views of additional sites via Google Maps. Along the way, you’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories about the movie’s Chicago-based production and learn striking ways the real-world COVID-19 pandemic mirrored the making of this haunting film. The hour-long talk also examines Contagion as a narrative and horror movie, highlighting how director Steven Soderbergh uses the city’s landscapes, freezing temperatures, and viral imagery to amplify tension and dread. From ruthless behavior to viral infection, you’ll see how various forms of “coldness” perfectly serve the story and cinematic style. 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 Bozo Show This is an extreme close-up of Bucket #2 from The Grand Prize Game. The ball-in-a-bucket game was featured regularly on The Bozo Show , a highly popular and long-running children's television program that aired on WGN-TV in Chicago and nationally via Superstation WGN. The Grand Prize Game was created in 1962 by Don Sandburg , a producer and writer for The Bozo Show , and Bob Bell , who played Bozo the Clown. In the game, a boy and girl from the studio audience tried to toss ping-pong balls into six numbered buckets, each set farther away. Prizes increased in value with each successful bucket, culminating in a cash bonus, Schwinn bicycle, and a trip. A lucky home viewer whose postcard or envelope was drawn from the Bozo Drum won duplicate prizes of everything each in-studio player won. Fun memories for both Chicago-based kids and those watching outside the Windy City! A more somber memory of The Grand Prize Game comes from November 22, 1963. A news bulletin reporting that John F. Kennedy had been shot in Dallas, TX, interrupted WGN’s Bozo's Circus (as the show was then called) at the start of The Grand Prize Game. Years later, The Grand Prize Game would be licensed out for both home and coin-operated versions, the latter of which you can see here . 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

Delve into the backstories, productions, and locations of Chicago-based horror films "The Fury" and "Child's Play" Horror Movies in Chicago: Child's Play and The Fury Delve into the backstories, productions, and locations of Chicago-based horror films "The Fury" and "Child's Play" All Talks About Explore Chicago’s starring role in horror cinema through two cult classics: Brian De Palma’s The Fury (1978), a supernatural thriller featuring psychic experiments and a climactic sequence at the indoor amusement park Old Chicago , and Child’s Play (1988), where the infamous killer doll Chucky wreaks havoc across the city. Along the way, Dr. Kelli Marshall uncovers the production histories, inspirations, and Chicago landmarks tied to these films, while briefly spotlighting other local horrors such as Candyman , Flatliners , and Contagion . This hour-long talk blends film history, creepy thrills, and Chicago’s cinematic legacy. 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. Adventures in Babysitting Today's #OneShotWed comes from Adventures in Babysitting , a 1987 teen comedy set and filmed almost entirely in and around Chicago. Here , Vincent D'Onofrio plays Dawson, the owner of a Chicago garage who—with his long blond hair and sledgehammer—resembles Sara's favorite superhero, Thor. In the original script, eight-year-old Sara was obsessed with She-Ra and He-Man. But the director, Chris Columbus, had never heard of the characters, so he changed them. Read more about that switch here . 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. Medium Cool Medium Cool is a unique Chicago movie to say the least. Directed by Chicagoan Haskell Wexler , Medium Cool is notable for blending fictional storytelling and documentary techniques that, astonishingly, climax right in the middle of the riots during Chicago's 1968 Democratic National Convention . As Roger Ebert once put it , “There are fictional characters in real situations...there are real characters in fictional situations.” Principal shooting for Medium Cool began in Chicago on July 29, 1968. When the upheaval started in late August, the cast and crew jumped into the chaos. They tried to blend in with the crowd as much as possible so others would not notice they were filming a movie. In the center of this screenshot, the woman in yellow is actress Verna Bloom. Her fictional character, Eileen, heads to the site of the DNC looking for assistance. Instead, she finds herself in Grant Park and off Michigan Avenue amidst (very real) riots. Note: the men in the background of this screenshot are not actors, but actual law enforcement. There, the character/actress—along with Wexler’s camera and, therefore, you, the viewer—witnesses genuine acts of police brutality. In fact, Wexler says he was tear-gassed by National Guardsmen during the shoot. You can watch most of the protest scenes in the (rather poor quality) montage below. 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

From Ferris Bueller to political drama, see the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park through the lens of film From Ferris to the Frontlines: Chicago's Art Institute and Grant Park in the Movies From Ferris Bueller to political drama, see the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park through the lens of film All Talks About The Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park are not just beloved city landmarks—they’ve also played unforgettable roles on the big screen. In this hour-long talk led by a film scholar with a PhD , explore how both public spaces have been represented in film, sometimes as places of whimsy, sometimes as sites of unrest. Specifically, you will: Stroll (virtually) along Michigan Avenue to visit the Art Institute of Chicago and its famous lions Explore how a beloved ‘80s teen comedy transformed a museum visit into a cinematic moment Step into Grant Park, a sprawling downtown green space rich in political and pop culture significance Learn how a recent historical drama restaged one of Chicago’s most turbulent protests View original HD footage you won’t find anywhere else—captured and curated just for this talk See familiar city landmarks in a new light—through the lens of film—as we engage in conversation about place and media. Request Talk

Yule love it! Unwrap the holiday magic and dive into the world of the Griswold family Holiday Chaos: Behind the Scenes of "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" Yule love it! Unwrap the holiday magic and dive into the world of the Griswold family All Talks About Set in the Chicago suburbs, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) follows the Griswold family as they attempt to create the perfect traditional Christmas celebration. However, as is usually the case with this fictional family, chaos ensues. Yes, everything that can go wrong does. Have you ever wondered what happened off-camera during the making of this iconic holiday film? Do you know where the movie was shot? Have you noticed the film's ties to Lethal Weapon , Betty Boop, and It's a Wonderful Life? In this Christmas event by Chicago Movie Tours, go behind the scenes of Christmas Vacation and dive into the world of the Griswold family. You'll challenge your knowledge of the movie and discover fun facts that will make you appreciate the film even more. You'll also hear about Chicago's (minor) role in creating the perfect backdrop for the Griswold's holiday misadventures. 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. Widows Widows is a 2018 heist movie about four women with nothing in common but a debt left behind by their dead husbands' criminal activities. Today's #OneShotWed reflects the funeral of one of those husbands. The TV show on which Widows is based, also called Widows , is set in London. But British director Steve McQueen wanted to adapt the story to Chicago. In his words: "I wanted a contemporary place, a modern city, and Chicago seemed to be that place. Politics, race, corruption, policing, gender, all those things, it was all there, in Chicago.” Read more about Widows ' Chicago connections . And watch Widows ! 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