Book a Talk | Chicago Movie Tours
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Book a Talk

Join the libraries, schools, colleges, film clubs, senior centers, and other venues discovering Chicago through film!

Available Talks

All of Chicago Movie Tours' talks are adaptable for in-person, online, or hybrid programming. See pricing.

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America's Most Famous Diner, Chicago Style

Visit a Chicago mural that spoofs one of American art's most well-known paintings by inserting celebrity likenesses

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Beyond the Blues Brothers

Celebrate the 1980 Chicago-based movie in all its iterations

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Chicago Murals and Movie Stars

Explore the lives of three stars via massive murals in Chicago 

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Chicago, Christmas Movies, and Class

Consider what three Chicago-based Christmas movies say about social class

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Classic Movie Theaters in Chicago's Rogers Park

Uncover the histories of three movie theaters in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood

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Countdown to the Oscars: Illinois Winners, Scandalous Moments, and Oscar Bait

Celebrate Illinois' Oscar winners, scandalous moments, and "Oscar bait" as you countdown to this year's Academy Awards

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Festivus 101: A Celebration for the Rest of Us

Become an expert on Festivus and its place in pop culture, Chicago's included

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Gender in Hollywood: Women

Encounter four ways Hollywood has traditionally represented women onscreen

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How Are Movie Worlds Created?

Explore settings, props, actors, costumes, makeup, and lighting

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Inside Gene Kelly's House

Visit one of Hollywood's best song-and-dance man with a tour to his homes

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Mardi Gras and Movies in the Midwest

Explore the history of Mardi Gras and its onscreen depictions, including some from Chicago film companies

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Singin' in the Rain and Chicago

Celebrate six Chicago actors and the Hollywood musical for which they are most remembered

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The Oscars and Chicago

Review Oscar's history as it relates to Hollywood and Chicago

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Art of Ferris Bueller

Learn about artwork featured in the movie 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'

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Black Movie History in Chicago: Cinematic Milestones and Sacred Grounds

Explore Black film history in Chicago through select movies and sites that connect them

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Chicago and The Wizard of Oz

Discover Chicago's connections to 'The Wizard of Oz'

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Chicago, Movies, and the 1918 Pandemic

Learn about three Chicago movie theaters that survived the 1918 flu pandemic

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Comedy in Chicago: The Marx Brothers and Bob Newhart

Learn about the Chicago connections of a few giants of American comedy

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Dirty Dancing on Abortion

Revisit the abortion plot in Dirty Dancing, without which the entire movie falls apart

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Film Noir: Hollywood's Darkest Timeline

Get an overview of Hollywood’s darkest timeline: film noir

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Hollywood Bites: From Golden Age Glamour to Rom-Com Delights

Discover a Chicago restaurant booth frequented by classic movie stars, and analyze food in "When Harry Met Sally"

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How Do Movies Guide Your Eyes?

Get introduced to cinematography to experience movies on a new level

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Loop Landmarks on Film

Walk Chicago’s Union Station and Grant Park while hearing about their links to movies

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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

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St. Patrick's Day in The Fugitive

Learn why Chicago dyes its river green, how the movie The Fugitive took advantage of this event, and what impact the colorant may have on river wildlife

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Why Is Movie Sound So Powerful?

Analyze the relationship between sound and image

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Behind the Scenes: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Yule love it! Unwrap the holiday magic and dive into the world of the Griswold family

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Brief History of Hollywood Film

Learn about three eras of Hollywood's history, from 1893-1970

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Chicago's World's Fairs and the Movies

Discover how Chicago helped advance film and create movie stars

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Cinematic Canines and Circus Stars in Chicagoland Cemeteries

Delve into the intersection of film history, animal performers, and cemetery lore

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Contagion and Chicago

Learn about Chicago-area locations from the pandemic horror movie 'Contagion'

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Fashion, Ferris Wheels, and Film: Dressing Women for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair

Examine women's fashion at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair while considering the iconic Ferris Wheel and fair's photography rules

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Gender in Hollywood: Men

Explore four typical depictions of men in Hollywood film

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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"

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How Do Movies Link All Those Images?

Learn the basics of movie editing

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Makeup, Costume, and Toupees in 1920s Chicago

Explore makeup and costumes from cinema's earliest days to the present

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Roller Coasters, Racism, and Chicago Home Movies

Reconsider Chicago amusement parks through the lens of home movies and a dunking booth game

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The Breakfast Club and Chicago

Through location and music, discover how 'The Breakfast Club' defines a generation of moviegoers.

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Women and Early Cinema in Chicago: Untold Stories Behind the Silent Screen

Explore hidden stories of women who shaped early Chicago cinema, with HD footage of key locations where they lived and worked

Choose Talk

Want to attend a talk?

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About 

Chicago Movie Tours' talks—whether in-person, virtual, or hybrid—incorporate HD videos, photos, clips and screenshots, maps, newspapers, movie fan magazines, animated slideshows, and expert commentary to bring the subject matter to life.

 

Topics are selected to draw audiences to your community and then leave them wanting to learn more.

 

Finally, these programs, whether virtual or in-person, always encourage audience contribution and Q&As/discussions.

Pricing

All programs start at $300. For in-person programs, price is based on mileage and travel time.

 

Discounts are available if you book multiple Chicago movie talks or if you partner with another organization to share costs.

Pricing

Hear from Our Fans

Todd
Kelli's virtual tour entitled While You Were Sleeping in Chicago: Virtual Holiday Stroll is an enchanting visit to the lovely village of La Grange, Illinois. I've taken every one of her five annual visits to this quaint town which comes alive with spirit and joy as well as fantastic lights and decorations every Christmas season. You'll visit the wonderful home where Sandra Bullock's character is welcomed into a family's gift opening party; see the iconic, 100-year-old La Grange Theater with its refurbished marquis; a magnificent Episcopal Church on the National Registry of Historic Places; several Frank Lloyd Wright designed homes built near the end of the 19th Century; and finally get a glimpse of the elevated train station in downtown Chicago with its architecturally innovative canopies which mimic the waves of nearby Lake Michigan. Throughout this visually stunning tour, Kelli manages to sprinkle in fascinating tidbits about the actors and filming of one of Hollywood's enduring romantic comedies. I can't wait to see what new wrinkles Kelli adds to the sixth annual tour next Christmastime!
Peter
Excellent tour on Planes, Trains and Automobiles!
Todd
If you've never taken a virtual Chicago Movies Tour with Kelli Marshall, you're in for a real treat! Kelli's contagious enthusiasm and seemingly endless knowledge of the film industry and Chicago's rich history always combine to offer an unforgettable experience. Her latest virtual tour offered the usual high number of fascinating tidbits and revelations surrounding the background and removal of three controversial Christopher Columbus statues. Like all of her well-organized presentations, Columbus Controversies - Chicago Statues and a Hollywood Makeover left me better informed and eager to learn more about movies and their connections to Chicago.
Michael
Kelli did a great job. Enjoyed the Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and the Trappings of Home virtual tour.
Dan P
Never can give a 5-star review, always room to improve, love the format and hope to do it again. Spent the evening listening to movie facts about a 80's movie classic, [Planes, Trains and Automobiles.] The info about John Hughes and the movie stats made this interesting. Want to do more movies.
Michelle
Kelli's presentation on Batman was very interesting, with film clips and fun facts about how the movie was made in Chicago, the stunts they used, the locations and areas they used, very informative.
Michelle
Very interesting Facebook presentation of "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" with details and tidbits of how the film was made, the characters and its sentiments during the holiday.
EDWARD A JOURDAN
Very enjoyable [Columbus Controversies: Chicago Statues and a Hollywood Makeover]
Peter Babiak
I have been a patron of Chicago Movie Tours for over four years now, and I have always found Kelli's tours to be entertaining, engaging and informative! I always look forward to every tour!

Happy Customers

Hit the button below to join this growing list of happy customers and partners.

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