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Museum of Broadcast Communications

The Museum of Broadcast Communications preserves and showcases the history of broadcasting through exhibits, educational programs, and public events, fostering an appreciation for the impact of media on culture and society.

Explore what&rsquo;s next in media. At the Future of Media College &amp; Career Fair, you&rsquo;ll meet professionals from radio, television, podcasting, and digital platforms who shape the stories we see and hear every day.&nbsp;

Future of Media College & Career Fair

Celebrate Oscar Sunday with legendary Chicago film critic and broadcaster&nbsp;Nick Digilio, hosted live by&nbsp;WGN Radio&rsquo;s Rick Kogan,&nbsp;Chicago Tribune columnist and cultural icon. For more than four decades, Nick has entertained audiences through his 35-year career at WGN Radio, where his movie reviews and commentary made him one of Chicago&rsquo;s most trusted voices in film. Today, he continues that legacy through his two hit podcasts,&nbsp;The Nick D Podcast&nbsp;and&nbsp;That Show Hasn&rsquo;t Been Funny in Years: An SNL Podcast.This special live event will feature Nick&rsquo;s Oscar predictions, insights from his four decades reviewing films, and reflections from his new book, 40 Years, 40 Films. This deeply personal collection features essays on his favorite film from each year, along with his Top 10 lists and stories from his lifelong journey as a passionate moviegoer and respected critic. The program includes a live on-stage conversation, audience Q&amp;A, and book signing.

Oscar Sunday at the Museum with Nick Digilio and Rick Kogan

During our Winter Wednesdays, Illinois Resident receive Free admission which includes access to all museum exhibits. Advance online ticket reservations are required, and a $4.50 convenience fee per order applies to cover ticketing and processing costs. Walk-up entry is not available for free admission; visitors arriving without advance reservations will be charged regular admission at the door.

Winter Wednesdays

&nbsp; The Museum of Broadcast Communications celebrates the pioneers, personalities, and programs that have shaped American culture for more than a century. From The Tonight Show and Bozo&rsquo;s Circus to I Dream of Jeannie, The Loop, and the celebrated Radio Hall of Fame Gallery, our exhibits bring to life the stories and artifacts that defined generations of entertainment.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Your membership helps preserve this history&mdash;and ensures that future generations can learn, laugh, and be inspired by the power of broadcasting.

The Museum of Broadcast Communications celebrates the pioneers, personalities, and programs that have shaped American culture for more than a century. From The Tonight Show and Bozo’s Circus to I Dream of Jeannie, The Loop, and the celebrated Radio Hall of Fame Gallery, our exhibits bring to life the stories and artifacts that defined generations of entertainment. Your membership helps preserve this history—and ensures that future generations can learn, laugh, and be inspired by the power of broadcasting.

Museum Of Broadcast Communications's Memberships

Visit the Museum of Broadcast Communications for a focused group trip into the history of broadcasting. This visit offers guided time with our exhibitions, featuring landmark radio, television, and digital media moments that have shaped culture and public conversation. Please complete this form to reserve your spot&nbsp; Your registration helps us plan schedules, group sizes, and any educational materials so we can provide a thoughtful, engaging experience for everyone attending.

MBC Group Trip

VISITE HOY EL MUSEO DE LA TELEVISI&Oacute;NExplore exhibiciones ic&oacute;nicas:La evoluci&oacute;n de la televisi&oacute;n nocturnaEl centenario de Johnny CarsonAniversario 65 de JeannieBozo&#39;s Circus a sus 60 a&ntilde;os5 d&eacute;cadas de The LoopEl set original de Svengoolie HORARIO DE OPERACI&Oacute;NDomingo 12PM-6PMMi&eacute;rcoles 12PM-6PMJueves 12PM-8PMViernes-S&aacute;bado 10AM-6PM&nbsp;&Uacute;LTIMA ENTRADA UNA HORA ANTES DE CERRAR

Admission (copy)

VISIT THE BROADCAST MUSEUM TODAY!Explore iconic exhibits:The Evolution of Late Night TVJohnny Carson The CentennialJeannie&rsquo;s 65th AnniversaryBozo&rsquo;s Circus at 605 Decades of The LoopSvengoolie&rsquo;s original set HOURS OF OPERATIONSunday&nbsp;12PM-6PMWednesday&nbsp;12PM-6PMThursdays 12PM-6PMFriday-Saturday&nbsp;10AM-6PM&nbsp;LAST ENTRY ONE HOUR BEFORE CLOSE

Admission

Third Thursdays FREE admission for Illinois residentsEnjoy 10% OFF in the Museum StoreExplore our award-winning exhibits, including:- The Evolution of Late Night Television- Johnny Carson: The Centennial- Five Decades of The Loop Radio: Where Chicago Rocked- Our digital Radio Hall of Fame Gallery- Bozo&#39;s Circus at 65, Svengoolie&#39;s Original Coffin&#39;s Final Resting Place, and so much more!Whether you&#39;re visiting for the first time or returning to see your favorites, Third Thursdays are the perfect opportunity to experience the Museum&mdash;for FREE..

Third Thursdays

JOIN AUTHORS Walter Podrazik and Harry Castelman for an engaging look at how television has shaped culture, community, and everyday life. Hear stories behind their landmark book Watching TV and explore how classic and contemporary programs reflect who we are. Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik have been chronicling American television for more than four decades, including the books Watching TV and Harry and Wally&rsquo;s Favorite TV Shows.Renowned for their colorful commentary, Harry and Wally provide an astute take on the sweep of TV in all of its forms, capturing the industry&rsquo;s colorful past, its fast-evolving present, and its possible futures. The two understand and appreciate the power of TV as a business, as a social and political influence, and as an often inescapable entertainment force. At the MBC, they will discuss how classic TV still matters today, highlighting programs and moments you may have forgotten, or never even knew about. From almost a century of American television, Harry and Wally will share the sublime, the serious, and the ridiculous. All a part of watching TV. ABOUT OUR HOST, Bill LeffBill Leff is a Chicago-born actor, writer, comedian, and former fifth-grade hall monitor. A Columbia College film graduate, Bill studied improv at Second City before moving into stand-up, performing nationwide for ten years. His television and film credits include A&amp;E&rsquo;s Evening at the Improv, Fox&rsquo;s Comedy Break, MTV&rsquo;s Half Hour Comedy Hour, WLS-TV&rsquo;s 190 North, WBBM-TV&rsquo;s The Magic Door, and featured roles in Major League and Major League 2. His voice has also been heard in numerous commercials. Bill has had a long radio partnership with Wendy Snyder. The two first teamed up as evening hosts at WLUP 97.9-FM in 1994, moved to mornings at WKQX 101.1-FM in 1996, and reunited at WGN Radio from 2013 to 2019. Today, Bill is the Cartoon Curator on MeTV&rsquo;s Toon In with Me and a member of the Svengoolie Sven Squad as Nostalgiaferatu. A lifelong lover of pop culture, Bill is an avid toy collector, sports enthusiast, and unapologetic fan of cartoons and cereal, without the milk. *event includes admission to the museum.*

Watching TV: An Afternoon with Walter Podrazik & Harry Castelman

Programme 4&nbsp;is a feature length &quot;broadcast&quot; of analog television built around the aesthetics of vintage local broadcasting, created by Rachel Lichtman and heavily inspired by the UHF programming of Chicagoland. Through fictional station IDs, commercials, interstitials, faux programming, musical performances, and surreal broadcast fragments from the fictional town of Golden Sands, the show explores nostalgia, consumer culture, humor, self-actualization, and the strange comfort of analog media environments. In an algorithmic age of endless scrolling, and post-internet exhaustion, the show becomes a lens through which to think about the emotional architecture of pre-digital life. These shows have been successfully touring the US in cinemas, venues, &amp; museums as immersive events, featuring Rhodes players, guest hosts, post-screening 70&#39;s style talk show panels, larger-scale variety pre-shows, and special surprise performances.&nbsp;

Museum of Broadcast Communications

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MBC Group Trip

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Admission

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Third Thursdays

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Watching TV: An Afternoon with Walter Podrazik & Harry Castelman

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Programme 4: A Feature Length Special Event

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Museum Of Broadcast Communications's Memberships

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