Hollywood on Lake Michigan : 100+ Years of Chicago and the Movies

Ranging from the dawn of the silent era to today's blockbusters and independent films, this revamped second edition chronicles the significant contributions by Chicago and Chicagoans to more than a century of American filmmaking. Among the Windy City's unique honors in this history are the development of film technology by early major players Essanay Film Manufacturing Company and the Selig Polyscope Company; the first African American - owned and operated film studios; the birthplace of gore flicks; the origination and growth of movie palaces; and the importance of the Second City, Goodman, and Steppenwolf theaters as training grounds for the industry's best comedic and dramatic talent. Readers will relish behind-the-scenes stories of local favorites like The Blues Brothers and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, as well as recent box office smashes like Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Fully revised and updated, this premier guide to the Windy City's history in the film industry features new profiles of film locations, more photographs, and exclusive interviews detailing all aspects of the moviemaking process, making it the perfect guide for film lovers and Chicago history buffs alike. This revamped second edition is the premier guide to the Windy Citys history in the film industry. Ranging from the dawn of the silent era, when one out of every five films in the world was made in Chicago, to todays blockbusters and independent films, it chronicles the significant contributions of Chicago and Chicagoans to more than a century of American filmmaking. Among Chicagos unique honors in this history are the development of early film technology; the first African American-owned and operated film studios; the birthplace of gore flicks; the origination and growth of movie palaces; and the importance of the Second City, Goodman, and Steppenwolf theaters as training grounds for comedic and dramatic talent. It provides readers with behind-the-scenes stories of studio films, independent work, and cult classics and includes exclusive interviews detailing all aspects of the movie-making process. Fully revised and updated, this new edition of a hometown classic features new film locations, more photographs, and new interviews, making it the perfect guide for film lovers and Chicago history buffs. This revamped second edition is the premier guide to the Windy City's history in the film industry. Ranging from the dawn of the silent era, when one out of every five films in the world was made in Chicago, to todays blockbusters and independent films, it chronicles the significant contributions of Chicago and Chicagoans to more than a century of American filmmaking. Among Chicago's unique honours in this history are the development of early film technology; the first African American-owned and operated film studios; the birthplace of gore flicks; the origination and growth of movie palaces; and the importance of the Second City, Goodman, and Steppenwolf theatres as training grounds for comedic and dramatic talent. It provides readers with behind-the-scenes stories of studio films, independent work, and cult classics and includes exclusive interviews detailing all aspects of the movie-making process Author Arnie Bernstein combines history, site guide, trivia, photos, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and celebrity interviews to chronicle (for the first time) the significant contributions of Chicago and Chicagoans to a century of American filmmaking. Among Chicago's unique honors in this history are the development of early film technology, home to the first African American owned and operated film studios, the production site of one in five movies during the silent film era, the birthplace of "slasher" flics, the origination and growth of movie palaces and related theater amenities, the Second City, Goodman, and Steppenwolf theaters as the training ground for comedic and dramatic talent, and the current support for independent filmmaking (e.g. Hoop Dreams, Go Fish, Soul Food, love jones) and television series (Early Edition, Cupid, Turks).