Arnie Bernstein

While America's Civil War was fought on Confederate battlefields, Chicago played a crucial role in the Union's struggle toward victory. <em>The Hoofs and Guns of the Storm</em> takes you through a whirlwind of 19th century events that created the foundation for modern-day Chicago. Discover: <ul> <li>The role Chicago played in Abraham Lincoln's unlikely bid for the Presidency </li> <li>Mary Todd Lincoln's trials and tribulations after her husband's assassination </li> <li>The hell on earth 6,000 Confederate prisoners went through at Camp Douglas, a P.O.W. prison just south of the city </li> <li>The Sanitary Fair and the women behind the war efforts </li> <li>How Chicago's Union Blue was streaked with hints of Confederate Gray </li> <li>Abolition leaders and the Underground Railroad </li> <li>John Wilkes Booth's acclaimed performances at the McVicker's Theater, and what this vainglorious actor and future assassin had to say about Lincoln in 1863 </li> </ul>

From the earliest film studios, when one out of every five movies was made in Chicago, to today's thriving independent film scene, the Windy City has been at the forefront of American moviemaking. <p><em>Blues Brothers. Within Our Gates. Hoop Dreams. The Gore-Gore Girls. My Best Friend's Wedding. Call Northside 777. His New Job. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.</em> They are all pieces in Chicago's rich film history.</p> <p>Join writer/film historian Arnie Bernstein as he honors Chicago and Chicagoans for their active role in a century of filmmaking. Exclusive interviews with current directors, actors, writers, and other film professionals; visits to movie locations and historical sites; and fascinating tales from the silent era are all a part of this spirited and definitive look at our &quot;Hollywood on Lake Michigan.&quot;</p> <p>From alleyways to the lakefront, from the El tracks to suburban streets, Chicago is a sprawling backlot of cinematic creativity and stories. See the Windy City like you've never seen it before&mdash;both on screen and on the set&mdash;in the first book ever to chronicle the engaging history of Chicago and the movies.</p>