Search Results

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, Christmas Movies, and Class Consider what three Chicago-based Christmas movies say about social class 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 Bob Newhart Show The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978) stars comedian Bob Newhart as psychologist Bob Hartley, whose interactions with his wife, friends, patients, and colleagues spark humorous situations and witty dialogue, all filmed before a live audience. In the series, recurring jokes are often derived from Newhart’s stand-up comedy routines, particularly his one-sided telephone conversations . The show's opening credits—which you can watch below—pay homage to this comedic signature as they begin with Bob’s answering the phone with a simple "Hello?" Today’s screenshot shows you an extreme-long, low-angle shot of Newhart’s character passing by several landmark Chicago buildings. Here, Newhart's Bob Hartley is leaving his psychiatry practice for his commute home—which many have (rightly) described as bizarre. After all, if you were actually taking this route in Chicago, you'd be walking 7+ miles every day! Again, The Bob Newhart Show aired from 1972-78. But as you can see from these headlines, Chicagoans today are still perplexed by the out-of-the-way path Newhart’s character takes to get home: Chicagoans are still mad about ‘The Bob Newhart Show’ opening sequence Bob Newhart’s Bizarre Commute Home To Edgewater Took Him WAY Out Of His Way Crazy Commute (this blog post gives you a serious breakdown of the route, including a map !) Bob Newhart responds to critics of his opening credits commute from 'The Bob Newhart Show' Bob Newhart On The Glaring Error In “The Bob Newhart Show” Opening Credits 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! On the Run in Chicago: Behind the Scenes of The Fugitive Go behind the scenes of "The Fugitive" to explore its Chicago roots, on-set challenges, and lasting legacy in film and TV history 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! Why Is Movie Sound So Powerful? Analyze the relationship between sound and image 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. Wayne's World This screenshot comes from the most recognizable scene in the 1992 comedy Wayne’s World . The "Bohemian Rhapsody" scene features the film’s main characters, Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey), headbanging in a car with their friends as they lip-sync to Queen's rock ballad. The moment, which kicks off the movie, became a cultural phenomenon, and it boosted the track's popularity years after its original release. Although Wayne’s World is set in Aurora, Illinois (a far-western suburb of Chicago), virtually none of the movie was filmed here. It was shot in and around Los Angeles. Most of the Chicago-area footage Wayne’s World does include, you’ll find in the “Bohemian Rhapsody” montage. For example, as the characters sing and drive, look for: Ray Krey’s Wheels Automart Midwest Eye Clinic (with Native American figure atop) Scatchell’s Beef Stand Chicago Joe’s the Spindle Unfortunately, some of these locales, like the Spindle, no longer exist. Featured in today’s screenshot, the Spindle stood on Cermak Plaza at Harlem Avenue in Berwyn, Illinois , about 13 miles west of Chicago. It was created in 1989 by Dustin Schuler and has had several names: the Spindle Car Kabob Cars on a Spike In short, the Spindle was a 50-foot spike with eight cars ranging in styles from the 1960s to the 1980s impaled upon it. The sculpture was torn down in May of 2008, with demolition costing around $300,000. The good news: the Spindle, of course, still lives on in Wayne's World and, amazingly, within the Library of Congress . What’s more, as of this writing, you’ll can visit a tiny version of the sculpture in the parking lot of Paisan’s Pizzeria in Berwyn . 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! Comedy in Chicago: The Marx Brothers and Bob Newhart Learn about the Chicago connections of a few giants of American comedy Learn More View All Talks

Learn the basics of movie editing How Do Movies Link All Those Images? Learn the basics of movie editing All Talks About If you hold up a piece of film stock, you'll notice a series of images, one slightly different from the next. So how do those hundreds or thousands of separate images that comprise a movie ultimately make sense and then, hopefully, affect us emotionally as we watch? Learn the answer in this hour-long program on editing, where you'll be introduced to the basics of editing, including the shot, shot transitions, types of relationships between shots, and two common editing styles. 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! Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and the Trappings of Home Visit (virtually) the 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' house in suburban Chicago, hear behind-the-scenes stories, and explore the movie's complex theme of home 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. Ocean's 11 Only a fraction of Steven Soderburgh's Ocean's 11 filmed in Chicago. The scene below introduces Matt Damon's character, Linus. We see him first riding the 'L,' then walking underneath the tracks, and finally at Emmitt's Pub at 495 N. Milwaukee Ave. Sadly, the Irish pub closed in 2022 . But you can see it onscreen in Oceans 11 , Uncle Buck , Only the Lonely , and most recently, Justified: City Primeval . 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! Behind the Scenes with Chicago Movie Tours This talk is not currently available for booking. 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 Weather Man The Weather Man is a 2005 American comedy-drama film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Nicolas Cage. The film follows the story of David Spritz (Cage), a local television weatherman in Chicago who is going through a mid-life crisis. In the film, people throw food—like McDonald's pies!—at David to ridicule him and illustrate their dissatisfaction with his job as a weatherman. Perhaps the food-throwing also symbolizes the public's own discontent with life in general? 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 and Movies on the Mississippi River Visit Vicksburg, Mississippi, as you learn about its ties to Chicago and movies Learn More View All Talks