KELLI MARSHALL is a public speaker, educator, and small business owner who helps visitors and residents discover Chicago through its rich cinematic history.
Before starting Chicago Movie Tours, Kelli spent more than a decade as a professor of film and media studies. With hundreds of lectures, presentations, and invited talks under her belt, Kelli has honed her ability to present complex material in an engaging, straightforward manner. This skill—combined with memorable stories, humor, relaxed participation opportunities, and plenty of visual and aural aids—has earned Kelli several teaching awards and positive reviews.
Kelli’s writings on film and television have been featured in books, peer-reviewed journals, and the popular press. Her expertise has also been highlighted on podcasts, local TV, and international radio programs, covering such topics as The Wizard of Oz, Singin’ in the Rain, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Seinfeld.
For fun, Kelli runs and walks local races, renovates her Chicago bungalow (c. 1924), wrangles her two rescue pups, and curates a Gene Kelly fansite.
Kelli holds a Ph.D. in Humanities, an M.A. in English, and a B.A. in English with minors in history and French.
