NEW ISSUE: 100 years of Elmhurst's York Theatre

Plus: Co-Prosperity features artists in Gaza. [View this email in your browser]( | [chicagoreader.com]( by Maja Stachnik|October 3, 2024 Good morning. In case anyone missed the date, happy [Mean Girls Day]( Might have to plan a rewatch (or finally catch this year’s musical version—I’ll watch Reneé Rapp in anything). Reader rules: [on Thursdays, we wear yellow.]( Keep reading on for a look at this week’s issue, out today. [an old photo of a theater with two cars parked in front of it]( Elmhurst's York Theatre circa 1925 with its original facade [Credit: Elmhurst History Museum archives] [Explore a century of follies and film at the Elmhurst History Museum]( One of the oldest operating cinemas in Chicagoland region is celebrating 100 years of operating with an exhibit highlighting the foundational history of movie theaters, from their origins as vaudeville theaters and playhouses up to the current state of theatrical exhibition, including nods to the success of “Barbenheimer” and the role of streaming. This week’s cover of the Reader features Elmhurst’s York Theatre, which has withstood the test of time alongside Oak Park’s Lake Theatre and Downers Grove’s Tivoli Theatre. All three are operated by Classic Cinemas. Daniella Mazzio mentions that nearly every town on the Union Pacific West Metra line, walking distance from the York Theatre, was once home to at least one movie theater, though the various downtowns have changed a lot in the last few years. [READ MORE](  ARTS & CULTURE - “Life for artists in Gaza has never been easy.” Co-Prosperity’s newest endeavor runs for the next two Saturdays (or by appointment)—it features work produced in Gaza prior to October 2023, work created by artists after leaving Gaza, and work produced by artists who remain in Gaza waiting for a ceasefire. [“Landscapes From Under the Rubble”]( is curated by Palestinian designer and visual artist Linda Abdullah.  ON CULTURE – DEANNA ISAACS - The Reader’s culture columnist [Deanna Isaacs writes about]( Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism chair of social justice and professor Steven Thrasher. Thrasher’s fall quarter classes have been cancelled pending investigation after his involvement in the pro-Palestine encampment on campus, days after Cook County prosecuters dropped misdemeanor charges against him. At time of press, [an open letter supporting Thrasher]( had gathered almost 2,800 signatures, primarily from academics, medical professionals, and journalists.  FILM & TV - The Reader’s [resident Moviegoer (aka Kat Sachs)]( has spent much of her week at [Films by Women/Chicago ’74]( taking place at the Gene Siskel Film Center, Block Cinema at Northwestern, and Doc Films at the University of Chicago. Screenings included Michelle Citron’s 1978 film Daughter Rite and a double feature of Dorothy Arzner films at Block Cinema. [She reports]( an especially noteworthy short that preceded the Arzner films: Siew-Hwa Beh’s The Stripper (1971). If you’ve got a (literal) minute to spare, the striptease with an unexpected twist is “surrealistic and irreverent.” Sachs also watched Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis (2024), ending with the conclusion: “that man truly does not care what anyone else thinks.”  MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE - Pearl clutchers beware! [After a two-year hiatus, Cupcakke tours to support a delectably raunchy new album.]( You may find yourself singing along, engaging in a feverish twerk, and cackling and/or gasping at Cupcakke’s lyrics—all in the span of one short tune. Rally your freaky friends and cop tickets to this local stop on her tour supporting her latest album, June’s Dauntless Manifesto. [Cristalle Bowen] Cupcakke performs at the Promontory this Friday night. - [Twin Talk achieve the freewheeling beauty of their live show on a new studio album.]( Despite its title, Twin Talk Live isn’t actually a concert album; it’s a studio creation born out of five improvised jam sessions. That loose-limbed approach yields glorious collaborative fruit, and each member’s instrumental prowess is on full display. [Brad Cohan] Before their appearance at the Hyde Park Jazz Festival this Saturday, they’ll be celebrating their record-release at Constellation on Friday night (tickets are $15). [a group of people on a purple background](  CONTESTS & GIVEAWAYS We’re giving away plenty of cool tickets this month: win a pair of tickets to see [The Golden Girls Meet The Skooby Don’t Gang: The Mystery of The Haunted Bush]( at the Chopin Theater, or check out [Richard Marx]( at Genesee Theatre! Both giveaways are accepting entries until October 7 at 11:30 PM.  BEHIND-THE-SCENES As I mentioned, [this week’s cover]( captures the York Theatre in suburban Elmhurst, illustrated by children’s book and editorial illustrator [Julia Kuo](. If you only click one link in this newsletter, don’t miss [this truly stunnning cover]( (kudos to our art department!). Her website features a fun graph [showing how long it takes to put together a picture book](. Kuo’s work appeared in the Reader back in 2019 for [a Leor Galil piece about industry plants](. 📰 LATEST ISSUE: OCTOBER 3, 2024 📰 [READ ONLINE]( | [COVER]( | [DOWNLOAD PDF]( [Facebook icon]( [Instagram icon]( [X icon]( [LinkedIn icon]( [Threads icon]( [YouTube icon]( [logo] You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from the Chicago Reader. Want fewer emails from us? [Click here to choose what you want us to send you](. Or, [unsubscribe from all Reader emails](. We’ll miss you! [Sign up for emails from the Chicago Reader]( | [Forward this e-mail to a friend]( © 2024 Chicago Reader. All rights reserved. Chicago Reader, 2930 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 102, Chicago, IL 60616