Category: Film

The Uptown Theatre, a Palace of Dreams

CHAPTER 33 of THE COOLEST SPOT IN CHICAGO: A HISTORY OF GREEN MILL GARDENS AND THE BEGINNINGS OF UPTOWN PREVIOUS CHAPTER / TABLE OF CONTENTS / NEXT CHAPTER “It outdoes your dreams,” the advertisements declared. “IT WILL HUSH AND THRILL YOU. It throbs with beauty—lovely enough to hold the heart of a woman all her life.… Continue reading The Uptown Theatre, a Palace of Dreams

Favorite Movies of 2023

1. Killers of the Flower Moon Another masterpiece by Martin Scorsese, whose cameo in the movie’s rather meta epilogue brought tears to my eyes—both times I sat through this three-and-a-half-hour epic in the theaters. I wasn’t sure at first why exactly that moment hit me so hard. I think it was the accumulated power of… Continue reading Favorite Movies of 2023

Building Chicago’s Riviera Theatre

Chapter 19 of The Coolest Spot in Chicago: A History of Green Mill Gardens and the Beginnings of Uptown <— PREVIOUS CHAPTER / TABLE OF CONTENTS / NEXT CHAPTER —> In the midst of Chicago’s turmoil over late-night cabarets, Tom Chamales expanded his local entertainment empire beyond Green Mill Gardens. In March 1916, the Chicago… Continue reading Building Chicago’s Riviera Theatre

Where Charlie Chaplin Slept, and Other Essanay Episodes

Chapter 9 of The Coolest Spot in Chicago: A History of Green Mill Gardens and the Beginnings of Uptown <— PREVIOUS CHAPTER / TABLE OF CONTENTS / NEXT CHAPTER —> When Green Mill Gardens opened its doors in 1914, the surrounding neighborhood was a hub for the fledgling movie industry. “The astonishing reality is that Chicago… Continue reading Where Charlie Chaplin Slept, and Other Essanay Episodes

Favorite Movies of 2022

1. Aftersun I loved this marvelous debut by director Charlotte Wells the first time I saw it (at the Chicago International Film Festival in October), but I didn’t quite put together all of Aftersun’s pieces until seeing it for a second time, when it felt even more devastating. Paul Mescal rightfully earned praise for his… Continue reading Favorite Movies of 2022

Favorite Movies of 2021

Another somewhat belated year-end list: Here are my favorite movies of 2021. 1. Memoria Director Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s masterpiece may seem at first like a puzzle film—one of those movies with hidden meanings that can be deciphered if you think about them hard enough. And maybe, to some extent, that’s what it is. After pondering the… Continue reading Favorite Movies of 2021

Looking for Hollywood history and David Lynch’s Los Angeles: Part 7

MISCELLANEOUS MOVIE LOCATIONS See an INDEX for this series of blog posts. In this part: The Firestone from Lost Highway / Echo Lake Park / Chili John’s / Handy Market / Point Dume / Lankershim Arts Center / Burbank Water and Power / The Music Box Steps / Venice Beach and Santa Monica / The… Continue reading Looking for Hollywood history and David Lynch’s Los Angeles: Part 7

Looking for Hollywood history and David Lynch’s Los Angeles: Part 6

SOUTH L.A. AND VICINITY See an INDEX for this series of blog posts. In this part: Doheny Mansion / “Winkie’s Diner” / The diner that inspired Winkie’s / “Eat at Judy’s” (Rudy’s) / The lot where Tyler Durden’s house was / Point Fermin Park / Pelican Cove Park During my visit to L.A., I spent… Continue reading Looking for Hollywood history and David Lynch’s Los Angeles: Part 6

Looking for Hollywood history and David Lynch’s Los Angeles: Part 5

DOWNTOWN L.A. See an INDEX for this series of blog posts. In this part: “Nite Owl Café” / Safety Last! / The door to Club Silencio / The Banks-Huntley Building / “Twin Peaks Savings & Loan” / The Tower Theatre / Hotel Barclay / Fire Station No. 23 / The Bradbury Building / The Million… Continue reading Looking for Hollywood history and David Lynch’s Los Angeles: Part 5