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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

The movie studio didn't want it, but Harrison Ford had other plans for his beard. Warner Bros. was not happy Harrison Ford insisted on donning a beard to play Dr. Richard Kimble in The Fugitive , the action-thriller partially filmed in Chicago. Says Ford, the studio "paid for the face they wanted to see, so they were very concerned about that."⁣ ⁣ But according to an interview from Los Angeles Daily News (29 Aug. 1993), Ford had two reasons for keeping the beard: ⁣ First, Kimble had "little time between the escape and the end of the movie to meet the obligation of disguise." Shaving off a beard would easily change his appearance, Ford believed.⁣ Second, the beard sets up Kimble as "slightly idiosyncratic, a character a bit outside the medical establishment, which comes to play later on in the story."⁣ Does Ford's beard here work for you?

One of Chicago’s newest museums encourages you to explore public housing history in the U.S. and an exhibit devoted to the TV series Good Times . Small exhibit in the National Public Housing Museum devoted to Good Times . (Photo: Chicago Movie Tours) I recently visited the National Public Housing Museum  located in Chicago's Near West Side . The museum opened in April 2025, and admission is free.   Inside, you learn about the histories of public housing in Chicago and nationwide—including discriminatory policies and practices like redlining  that help shape said housing developments and the families living within them. On view, you'll find everyday objects from public housing : a Pyrex dish, dog collar, wedding dress, and yellow rotary phone. Optionally, a Historic Apartments tour  allows you to visit recreated apartments that reflect different families’ experiences in public housing history between the 1930s and 1970s. That tour, which I enjoyed, is $25/person. Finally, if you're Gen X —or perhaps the owner of a tour company that researches Chicago-based movies and TV—then one exhibition inside the museum will likely catch your eye. Exterior, National Public Housing Museum. (Photo: Chicago Movie Tours) Seeing Yourself on TV Tucked away in the museum's lower level is a space devoted to Good Times , the 1970s sitcom about a Black family living in Chicago public housing. Good Times , which ran on CBS for five years (1974-79), centers on Florida and James Evans and their three children, James Jr. (J.J.), Thelma, and Michael. Throughout the series, the family attempts to overcome poverty in inner-city Chicago, always doing so with a sense of humor and impeccable comedic timing. That's not to say Good Times shies away from difficult topics. Racism, gang wars, unemployment, and evictions factor into storylines. And we should recall that real-life conflicts between producers and actors occurred as well, causing involuntary cast dismissals and voluntary resignations. Still, according to the National Public Housing Museum, "the first time public housing residents saw themselves on mainstream television" was on Good Times . The Evans family, from left: Ralph Carter (Michael), BernNadette Stanis (Thelma), Jimmie Walker (J.J.), Esther Rolle (Florida), and John Amos (James). (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) Where Does Good Times Take Place? Good Times never mentions the family's Chicago housing project by name. We are only given the address: 963 North Gilbert Avenue, Apt. 17C. (For the curious, here's the Evans' apartment floor plan .) But based on the following, we can deduce the fictional Evans family likely lived in Chicago's real Cabrini-Green public housing development . For example, Good Times ' opening credits reveal actual location shots of Cabrini-Green. The show's co-creator Eric Monte grew up in Cabrini-Green . Notably, Monte also wrote Cooley High  (1975), a film set and shot on location in Cabrini-Green. Adding to this, in the museum's small installation, you can watch clips from the series—all selected by  current Cabrini-Green residents . The National Public Housing Museum offers a thoughtful look at the lived experiences, systemic challenges, and cultural legacy of public housing in America. From personal artifacts and immersive apartment recreations to a nostalgic yet critical nod to Good Times , the museum invites you to reflect on the past while considering the future of housing and community.

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

Hang out with us! A podcaster, a blogger, and a tour guide discuss how they record Chicago's past and present film history Join us below for an exclusive livestreamed conversation on Chicago and movies! You'll meet our three guests—a seasoned podcaster, a location blogger, and a Chicago tour guide—and learn how they began their respective projects, currently decide on content, work with their chosen media, and more! This roundtable discussion (55 min.) was streamed live simultaneously on Facebook and YouTube. 👋 Say hello to our guests Tommy Henry, Chicago History Podcast Chas Demster, It's Filmed There, Filming Locations of Chicago and Los Angeles Kelli Marshall, Chicago Movie Tours

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.