Women and Early Cinema in Chicago - FREE In-Person Talk with Chicago Movie Tours
Details
Women and Early Cinema in Chicago: Untold Stories Behind the Silent Screen – FREE In-Person Talk with Dr. Kelli Marshall, Founder of Chicago Movie Tours
Explore hidden stories of women who shaped early Chicago cinema, with HD footage of key locations where they lived and worked.
Please note that as this is a limited space event and thus an additional registration with the White Oak Library is required via the link below:
https://whiteoak.librarycalendar.com/event/women-early-cinema-kelli-marshall-67126
Time and Location
Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CDT
The lecture starts at 7:00 pm, but we recommend arriving a few minutes early to get seated.
White Oak Library District: Lockport Bra, 121 E 8th St, Lockport, IL 60441, USA
About
Discover untold stories of three women who helped shape early cinema in Chicago. Through HD footage of locations where these women lived and worked, you'll explore their often overlooked contributions to the early film industry.
Start in Chicago's western suburbs at a modest Frank Lloyd Wright home, where you'll uncover a woman's impressive connection to pre-cinema through her work at the Art Institute of Chicago. Then, stroll down a 140-year-old brick-paved road to the Morse Theatre to hear about its innovative female ownership and why it was once hailed as "the theatre of the future." Finally, visit the old Essanay studio lot in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, where a silent-era screenwriter worked before becoming one of Hollywood's most powerful gossip columnists.
Led by a PhD who taught film for more than a decade, this program offers a unique glimpse into Chicago's cinema history, highlighting three (of countless!) oft-overlooked women who made their mark on the early days of film.
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Chicago Movie Tours
This program features our friend Dr. Kelli Marshall, the founder of Chicago Movie Tours
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Thanks!
Robert Kelleman
[rkelleman@yahoo.com](mailto:rkelleman@yahoo.com)
202-821-6325 (text only)