Chicago Movie Tours
@chimovietours.bsky.social
🎬 Chicago film, expert insight. PhD-led tours and talks that help you discover the city through movies (and a little TV). chicagomovietours.com
RIP, Diane Ladd—who, even though she was only 8 years older than he—played Chevy Chase’s mother in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”
November 3, 2025 at 8:45 PM
RIP, Diane Ladd—who, even though she was only 8 years older than he—played Chevy Chase’s mother in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”
New newsletter (on Hollywood kitties!) drops tomorrow—be a cool cat and subscribe here: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe 😎
October 28, 2025 at 6:00 PM
New newsletter (on Hollywood kitties!) drops tomorrow—be a cool cat and subscribe here: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe 😎
Thank you, Base Club Chicago, for hosting me this weekend—and for being so eager to learn about all the movie ties to Chicago's major World's Fairs! 🎡🎥
October 20, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Thank you, Base Club Chicago, for hosting me this weekend—and for being so eager to learn about all the movie ties to Chicago's major World's Fairs! 🎡🎥
In tomorrow's newsletter, Frank Lloyd Wright didn’t just build masterpieces—he showed movies inside them too. 🎬 Subscribe to join my recent road trip! chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
October 14, 2025 at 8:51 PM
In tomorrow's newsletter, Frank Lloyd Wright didn’t just build masterpieces—he showed movies inside them too. 🎬 Subscribe to join my recent road trip! chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
This old ad for Hamlin’s Wizard Oil hides a surprising secret—it helped bring The Wizard of Oz to the Chicago stage. Subscribe to get the full scoop in tomorrow's newsletter! chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
October 7, 2025 at 8:45 PM
This old ad for Hamlin’s Wizard Oil hides a surprising secret—it helped bring The Wizard of Oz to the Chicago stage. Subscribe to get the full scoop in tomorrow's newsletter! chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
ICYMI, here's the House of Tomorrow, currently under construction but still interesting to tour. That white garage-looking base was actually an airplane hangar! I've included a contemporary photo as well so you can see the round home in a finished state. (2/3)
October 2, 2025 at 3:14 PM
ICYMI, here's the House of Tomorrow, currently under construction but still interesting to tour. That white garage-looking base was actually an airplane hangar! I've included a contemporary photo as well so you can see the round home in a finished state. (2/3)
From steel to cypress logs, Chicago’s 1933 World’s Fair houses were built to last—sorta. Want the full story (and more pics)? Step back in time with me in tomorrow's newsletter! chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
September 30, 2025 at 8:21 PM
From steel to cypress logs, Chicago’s 1933 World’s Fair houses were built to last—sorta. Want the full story (and more pics)? Step back in time with me in tomorrow's newsletter! chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
If you’re a fan of the 1933-34 Chicago World’s Fair, I highly recommend this bus/walking tour by Indiana Landmarks. It’s expertly organized, informative, and scenic. I’ll include more pics and info in Wednesday’s newsletter! (Subscribe: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe) 1/2
September 27, 2025 at 8:44 PM
If you’re a fan of the 1933-34 Chicago World’s Fair, I highly recommend this bus/walking tour by Indiana Landmarks. It’s expertly organized, informative, and scenic. I’ll include more pics and info in Wednesday’s newsletter! (Subscribe: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe) 1/2
Thanks, Bridgeview Public Library, for hosting my newest program, From Ferris to the Frontlines: Chicago's Art Institute and Grant Park in the Movies! I'm looking forward to coming back in November to talk about Chicago's ties to "The Wizard of Oz." 💙
September 17, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Thanks, Bridgeview Public Library, for hosting my newest program, From Ferris to the Frontlines: Chicago's Art Institute and Grant Park in the Movies! I'm looking forward to coming back in November to talk about Chicago's ties to "The Wizard of Oz." 💙
Chicago: built on deep-dish, hot dogs…and the muddy shortcut behind me? 🤔 Get more fun Chicago stories (and movie tie-ins!) in my Wednesday newsletter, out now. Subscribe: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
September 10, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Chicago: built on deep-dish, hot dogs…and the muddy shortcut behind me? 🤔 Get more fun Chicago stories (and movie tie-ins!) in my Wednesday newsletter, out now. Subscribe: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
What ties "Sixteen Candles" to a leaning tower? Hint: it’s not birthday cake. 🎂 More in tomorrow's newsletter! Subscribe: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
September 2, 2025 at 4:30 PM
What ties "Sixteen Candles" to a leaning tower? Hint: it’s not birthday cake. 🎂 More in tomorrow's newsletter! Subscribe: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
Only a few major structures from the 1893 Chicago World's Fair survive. One of them is the Viking ship pictured below—which I recently got a chance to tour! More info and pics in today's newsletter. Subscribe here: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
August 27, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Only a few major structures from the 1893 Chicago World's Fair survive. One of them is the Viking ship pictured below—which I recently got a chance to tour! More info and pics in today's newsletter. Subscribe here: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
Imagine pouring your heart into a script—only to get a rejection letter with a tiny checkmark next to “Not Interesting.” Chicago did not play around with its silent movie preproduction process! 😆
August 22, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Imagine pouring your heart into a script—only to get a rejection letter with a tiny checkmark next to “Not Interesting.” Chicago did not play around with its silent movie preproduction process! 😆
Heads-up, Gen-X! Join James Hughes, son of filmmaker John Hughes, for a look at his father's life, work, and legacy.
Grayslake Area Public Library
Monday, Nov. 3, 2025
7:00 – 8:30 PM
Registration required: grayslake.librarycalendar.com/event/growing-hughes-james-hughes-50958
Grayslake Area Public Library
Monday, Nov. 3, 2025
7:00 – 8:30 PM
Registration required: grayslake.librarycalendar.com/event/growing-hughes-james-hughes-50958
August 13, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Heads-up, Gen-X! Join James Hughes, son of filmmaker John Hughes, for a look at his father's life, work, and legacy.
Grayslake Area Public Library
Monday, Nov. 3, 2025
7:00 – 8:30 PM
Registration required: grayslake.librarycalendar.com/event/growing-hughes-james-hughes-50958
Grayslake Area Public Library
Monday, Nov. 3, 2025
7:00 – 8:30 PM
Registration required: grayslake.librarycalendar.com/event/growing-hughes-james-hughes-50958
Thanks for having me, @orlandparklibrary.bsky.social—it was fun reminiscing about Ferris Bueller with you all! 😀
August 5, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Thanks for having me, @orlandparklibrary.bsky.social—it was fun reminiscing about Ferris Bueller with you all! 😀
In tomorrow's newsletter: my evening in Chicago with Morgan Freeman. (Y'all, he sat right behind me!)
Subscribe: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
Subscribe: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
August 5, 2025 at 4:30 PM
In tomorrow's newsletter: my evening in Chicago with Morgan Freeman. (Y'all, he sat right behind me!)
Subscribe: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
Subscribe: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
Walking tours are on pause this weekend while Lollapalooza takes over Chicago. See you next week! 👋
August 2, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Walking tours are on pause this weekend while Lollapalooza takes over Chicago. See you next week! 👋
You know the one: the movie you’ve basically memorized and can quote line for line. 😎 So tell us...
July 30, 2025 at 2:56 PM
You know the one: the movie you’ve basically memorized and can quote line for line. 😎 So tell us...
Thank you, Tinley Park Public Library, for hosting my Blues Brothers talk yesterday—what a fun and lively group! 😎
July 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Thank you, Tinley Park Public Library, for hosting my Blues Brothers talk yesterday—what a fun and lively group! 😎
Don’t let life move too fast—subscribe so you don't miss the backstory on this in tomorrow's newsletter. 👉 chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
July 15, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Don’t let life move too fast—subscribe so you don't miss the backstory on this in tomorrow's newsletter. 👉 chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
Thanks, Homer Township Public Library, for hosting my talk last night on Chicago's connections to "The Wizard of Oz." Always a great group! 💙🎥
July 8, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Thanks, Homer Township Public Library, for hosting my talk last night on Chicago's connections to "The Wizard of Oz." Always a great group! 💙🎥
#OTD in 1980, "The Blues Brothers" premiered in Chicago. Here, director John Landis stands before the Chicago Theatre's marquee that, in part, informs audiences his movie was "filmed in Chicago." (Image: Getty)
June 16, 2025 at 2:13 PM
#OTD in 1980, "The Blues Brothers" premiered in Chicago. Here, director John Landis stands before the Chicago Theatre's marquee that, in part, informs audiences his movie was "filmed in Chicago." (Image: Getty)
Thanks to Lisa at @wnpld.bsky.social for hosting my virtual tour last night—and thanks to the 80+ of you who registered! We had fun talking about the Marx Brothers’ and Bob Newhart’s Chicago connections.
June 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Thanks to Lisa at @wnpld.bsky.social for hosting my virtual tour last night—and thanks to the 80+ of you who registered! We had fun talking about the Marx Brothers’ and Bob Newhart’s Chicago connections.
Ladies’ Day on the Midway! 🙌🏼 Thanks, ladies, for joining me for today’s walking tour, From Fairground to Film Set: Chicago's Midway, Movies, and the 1893 World's Fair. What fun—and perfect weather! ☀️
June 1, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Ladies’ Day on the Midway! 🙌🏼 Thanks, ladies, for joining me for today’s walking tour, From Fairground to Film Set: Chicago's Midway, Movies, and the 1893 World's Fair. What fun—and perfect weather! ☀️
Want to see the movie cars I found at the Volo Museum this weekend—plus the stories behind them? They’re all in tomorrow’s newsletter. Subscribe now to get the inside look: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe
May 27, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Want to see the movie cars I found at the Volo Museum this weekend—plus the stories behind them? They’re all in tomorrow’s newsletter. Subscribe now to get the inside look: chicagomovietours.com/subscribe