[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> IT'S THE PRICE OF GASOLINE HAS GONE UP VERY, VERY DRAMATICALLY.

>> POLITICIANS EYE RELIEF BUT THAT COMES WITH CONSEQUENCES.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY A CASINO ALONG THE CHICAGO RIVER IS WORRISOME WHY THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CASINO SITES.

THE LAKEVIEW WAS A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR THEATRE FANS THE HISTORY BEHIND IT IN AN ALL NEW "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> AND THE ARTISTRY OF MINIATURE INTERIORS AT THE ART INSTITUTE.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> REACTION FLOWS IN TO WTTW'S INVESTIGATION INTO G.O.P.

GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE RICHARD IRVIN AND HIS RECORD OF TAKING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BUSINESSES GETTING MILLIONS WORTH OF CONTRACTS FROM THE CITY OF AURORA WHERE HE IS CURRENTLY MAYOR.

IRVIN'S G.O.P.

PRIMARY OPPONENTS WEIGHED IN TODAY.

QUOTE GARY RABIN SAYS RICHARD IRVIN TURNS OUT TO BE MORE LIKE MICHAEL MADIGAN THAN THE REFORMER THE STATE BADLY NEEDS.

THE LAST THING OF ILLINOIS NEEDS IS ANOTHER GOVERNOR IN PRISON.

DARREN BAILEY SAYS CAREER DEMOCRAT RICHARD IRVIN'S PAY TO PLAY APPROACH IS ONE OF THE MANY RED FLAGS SURROUNDING HIS CAMPAIGN.

CAN YOU NOT CLEAN UP THE CORRUPTION BY SENDING SOMEONE WHO MADE A CAREER THROUGH CORRUPT AND SELF-SERVING MOVES.

>> JESSE SULLIVAN SAID WE HEAR THAT ILLINOISANS ARE SICK AND TIRED OF CAREER POLITICIANS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WOULD USE PUBLIC OFFICE TO BENEFIT THEMSELVES AND FRIENDS.

THE WTTW INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED A DISTURBING PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR AND MAYOR IRVIN HAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO ANSWER.

ATTORNEY PAUL SCHIMPF IS RUNNING IN THE FIELD AND CAN YOU READ WTTW'S FULL INVESTIGATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> MEANWHILE, GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER CLAIMS REPUBLICANS HAVE POLITICIZED ILLINOIS' APAROLE BOARD MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO GET MEMBERS APPOINTED IN RESPONSE TO BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC SENATORS VOTING AGAINST HIS NOMINATION OF ELEANOR WILLSON TO THE BOARD IN A 31-15 VOTE.

WILLSON IS A LONGTIME CONSULTANT AND GODMOTHER TO FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S DAUGHTERS.

>> TO HAVE REPUBLICANS ATTACK THEM AND THEIR CHARACTER AND THEIR BIOGRAPHIES, TO HAVE REPUBLICANS TRYING TO TEAR APART THIS AGENCY OF GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS WHAT THE GQP HAS BEEN ABOUT, TEARING GOVERNMENT APART.

>> OL JAMES ANOTHER NOMINEE RESIGNED YESTERDAY SHORTLY BEFORE HIS NOMINATION WAS CONSIDERED.

THE 15 SEAT BOARD IS DOWN TO SIX MEMBERS.

>> THE EMMETT TILL ANTILYNCHING ACT IS SIGNED INTO LAW.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HELD A WHITE HOUSE SIGNING CEREMONY EARLIER TODAY FOR THE BILL WHICH MAKES LYNCHING A FEDERAL HATE CRIME.

THE SENATE PASSED THE BILL EARLIER THIS MONTH.

IT WAS NAMED AFTER EMMETT TILL THE BLACK CHICAGO TEENAGER KIDNAPPED AND TORTURED AND MURDERED IN 1955.

ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH THE SPONSOR ATTENDED THE SIGNING SAYING QUOTE WHEN I THINK OF WHAT THIS MEANS, THAT WE CAN FINALLY PROVIDE JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIMS OF THIS HAIN NOWS ACT THAT WE WILL BE RECKON WITH OUR NATION'S LEGACY OF LYNCHING AND SEND A STRONG MESSAGE THAT WE WILL NOT STAND FOR THE CRIMES I AM ELATED.

>> THE F.D.A.

APPROVES A SECOND PFIZER AND MODERNA BOOSTER SHOT FOR PEOPLE 50 AND OLDER AHEAD OF WHAT COULD BE A RISE IN COVID CASES DUE TO THE BA.2 OMICRON SUBVARIANT THIS OPENS THE PATHWAY FOR A FOURTH DOSE OF THE VACCINE FOR THOSE IN THE AGE GROUP FOUR MONTHS OUT FROM THE PREVIOUS BOOSTER.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION HAS YET TO COMMENT ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO'S SCHOOL OF BUSINESS HAS BEEN NAMED THE TOP BUSINESS SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY.

U CHICAGO TIED FOR FIRST PLACE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA'S WHARTON SCHOOL IN THE RANKING FROM U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT.

NORTHWESTERN'S KELLOGG SCHOOL TIED FOR THIRD WITH STANFORD.

IT RANKED A TOTAL OF 134 INSTITUTIONS.

>> AND UP NEXT, PRICE RELIEF AT THE GAS PUMP.

WE SHARE DETAILS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY...

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE THE PRICE OF GAS IS HIGHER THAN A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND IT'S SEVERAL BUNGS MORE A GALLON ON AVERAGE THAN A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

HOW MUCH IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO TAXES AND IS THERE ANYTHING OFFICIALS CAN DO ABOUT IT?

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE.

AMANDA?

>> YEAH, PARIS ANSWER WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT IS COMPLEX BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT POLITICIANS ARE CERTAINLY TALKING ABOUT.

BY THE WAY, INCREASING PRICE OF GAS NOT JUST ANECDOTAL PUT A STRAIN ON THE INTERNATIONAL SUPPLIES THE PRICE WAS GOING UP AFTER DIPPING WHEN THE PANDEMIC HAD BEGUN.

A LOT OF FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO WHAT YOU PAY AT THE PUMP.

THERE ARE GLOBAL EVENTS, DISTRIBUTION, MARKETING AND, YES, TAXES.

AND HERE IS A LOOK WHAT YOU PAY AT THE PUMP IF YOU GO TO A GAS STATION HERE IN THE CITY.

FEDERAL TAX OF 18.4 CENTS A GALLON AND AN ILLINOIS TAX 39.2 A GALLON AND COOK COUNTY 6 CENTS A GALLON AND CHICAGO'S TAX 8 CENTS A GALLON THAT ADDS UP TO 72 CENTS PER GALLON IN STATE, LOCAL, FEDERAL TAXES.

BY THE WAY, THAT IS EXCLUDING STILL THE SALES TAX.

ALL THOSE TAXES I TALKED ABOUT THOSE ARE FLAT TAXES PER GALLON KNOWN BROADLY AS MOTOR FUEL TAXES.

WHICH REPORT FROM THE STATE'S FISCAL FORECASTING AGENCY PUT IT IS ARE NOT IMPACTED IF THE CRUDE COSTS OF GAS ARE HIKED.

BECAUSE OUR MOTOR FUEL TAX RATE IS BASED ON CONSUMPTION NOT ON PRICE THE INCREASE IN MOTOR FUEL PRICES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS DOES NOT EQUATE TO A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN MOTOR FUEL TAX REVENUES.

BUT THERE IS MORE.

THERE'S ALSO A SALES TAX ON GASOLINE.

IN ILLINOIS SALES TAX RATE OF 6.25%.

AND WITH THAT, THE HIGHER THE PRICE OF MOTOR FUEL THE HIGHER AMOUNT THAT THE STATE COLLECTS.

NOW, LET'S GO BACK TO THE FIRST GROUP OF TAXES.

SOME DID INCREASE RECENTLY.

THE CITY'S WENT UP FROM 5 CENTS TO 8 CENTS A GALLON DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND ILLINOIS DOUBLED IN 2019 WENT FROM 19 CENTS TO 38 CENTS A GALLON.

PICKED UP MORE IN JULY AND IT IS SET TO INCREASE AGAIN THIS SUMMER BECAUSE OF A LAW GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNED IN 2019 THAT STATE'S CAPITAL BILL THAT TIES THE STATE MOTOR FUEL TAX TO INFLATION OR CPI.

THE CIVIC FEDERATIONS LAWRENCE MSALL SAYS ILLINOIS HAS A HIGHER TAX ON GAS BUT USUALLY PEOPLE DON'T NOTICE EVEN WHEN IT DOUBLED.

>> MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T COMPLAIN AND SEE A PRICE, RIGHT?

GAS PRICES WERE 2 OR 3 DOLLARS CHEAPER THAN THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.

WHAT IS DRIVING THE INCREASE IN THE PRICE AT THE PUMP IS NOT THE STATE'S GAS TAX, IT'S NOT THE CITY'S GAS TAX OR COUNTY'S OR EVEN THE INDEXING OF IT TO INFLATION.

IT'S THE PRICE OF GASOLINE HAS GONE UP VERY, VERY DRAMATICALLY.

SO, YES, WHEN THINGS ARE EXPENSIVE WHEN PEOPLE CAN'T AVOID PAYING THEM THEY PAY MORE ATTENTION.

>> AND IT'S NOT JUST YOU AND I PAYING MORE ATTENTION, BUSINESSES ARE OF COURSE AS WELL.

GOVERNMENTS YES.

POLITICIANS PAYING ATTENTION, TOO.

AND THAT IS WHY YOU'RE HEARING A LOT OF TALK ABOUT GAS TAX RELIEF.

THERE ARE CALLS FOR THE FEDS TO TEMPORARILY LIFT ITS TAX ON GAS.

THERE IS TALK ABOUT CHICAGO DROPPING THAT 3 CENTS INCREASE SO HEARING THAT HAD BEEN SET FOR THAT FOR YESTERDAY WASN'T ACTUALLY HELD.

AND THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSING SKIPPING WHAT IS LIKELY TO BE THE SUMMER'S TWO CENT INCREASE IN THE STATE MOTOR FUEL TAX.

MSALL SAYS WATCH OUT.

>> IT TOOK 40 YEARS FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO RAISE THE GAS TAX.

IN THAT TIME WE OFTEN DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT STATE AND LOCAL MATCH TO DO THE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS TO DO THE BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED.

AND NOW THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE SEEING SIGNIFICANT INFLATION, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OFF THE INFLATIONARY SHOCK ABSORBER WHICH ALLOWS THE FUNDS THE GAS TAX TO GROW WITH THE PRICE OF GASOLINE.

THAT CREATES A RISK.

>> I NOTED THAT CHICAGO'S HEARING ORIGINAL PLAN WAS POSTPONED.

I'M TOLD THE CITY IS EXPLORING OTHER OPTIONS AND NOT JUST THE CITY, COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE'S ALSO SAYS THAT THE COUNTY IS EXPLORING IDEAS.

WITH THAT, PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT IS LEFT IN THE TANK FOR THOSE IDEAS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[LAUGHTER] >> CHICAGO ENVIRONMENTALISTS HAD REASON TO CELEBRATE WHEN CITY OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED McCORMICK PLACE WAS OUT OF THE RUNNING AS A SENIOR SITE IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS FOR WILDLIFE AND CHICAGO'S CROWN JEWEL THE LAKEFRONT.

SOME ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE REMAINING THREE OPTIONS TWO OF WHICH ARE LOCATED ON THE CHICAGO RIVER.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER PATTY WETLI JOINS US WITH MORE.

SO REMIND US ABOUT THESE REMAINING SITES AND THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE CHICAGO RIVER.

>> ONE OF THE SITES IS ON A PARCEL CALLED THE 78 A HUGE AREA UP FOR DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE RIVER BETWEEN THE SOUTH OF CHINATOWN.

AND ANOTHER IS ON THE RIVER WHERE THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" PRINTING PLANT IS.

AND THE THIRD IS ACROSS FROM SOLDIER FIELD.

STILL ALONG THE LAKE, BUT SETBACK A BIT.

AND THE CONCERN FROM SOME ENVIRONMENTALISTS IS THAT WHILE EVERYONE WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT A CASINO SPOILING THE LAKEFRONT, THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH WORK DONE TO GET PEOPLE TO THINK OF THE CHICAGO RIVER AS AN EQUAL NATURAL RESOURCE.

FISH ARE BACK.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OTTERS COMING BACK AND TO HAVE THE DEVELOPMENTS LIKE CONCRETE RIGHT UP TO THE LIP DOESN'T REALLY PROMOTE THE SUSTAINABILITY AND NATURAL ESTHETIC THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD FOR FOR DECADES AND NOTHING OF THE DANGERS THE CASINOS COULD POSE TO BIRDS SAME AS THE PROPOSALS SITES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ALONG THE LAKEFRONT.

>> AND PATTY IS THERE ASSURANCES FROM THE CITY THEY ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS FOR TWO OF THOSE THREE LOCATIONS SHOULD ONE OF THEM ALONG THE RIVER BE PICKED?

>> WELL, ALL OF THE LOCATIONS ACCORDING TO THE CITY HAVE HAD TO MEET OR EXCEED THE CITY'S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICY.

BUT WHAT ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY IS THAT THAT POLICY OFFERS DEVELOPERS A BUFFET OF OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM WHICH MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT MIX FOR THOSE SITES.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO BIRDS.

SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO SEE HOW MUCH INPUT PEOPLE CAN STILL HAVE ON THESE DEVELOPMENTS OR HAVE THEY JUST IS THE TRACK MOVING WAY TOO FAST FOR ANY OTHER SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO BE MADE TO THE DESIGNS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE MORE CONSIDERATION AMONG MANY AS THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR GO FORWARD PICKING A WINNER.

PATTY THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ PATTY'S STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> UP NEXT, AN ALL NEW "ASK GEOFFREY".

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> WHY DOES A BIN ANY'S BEVERAGE DEPOT LOOK LIKE A MEDIEVAL CASTLE?

IT'S A REMINDER OF THE BUILDING'S HISTORY DATING BACK TO THE 1920s.

GEOFFREY BAER IS HERE WITH MORE IN TONIGHT'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

GEOFFREY GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE, PARIS.

>> GREAT TO BE THERE IN EVANSTON ON ZOOM TOGETHER.

LET'S GET TO OUR QUESTION THIS IS FROM SHIRLEY FROM CHICAGO... >> WELL, I LOVED IT WHEN WE GOT THIS QUESTION BECAUSE I REMEMBER SEEING LOTS OF PLAYS AT THE IVANHOE THEATRE AS FAR BACK AS MY HIGH SCHOOL DAYS.

AND AS MEMORABLE THE PLAYS WERE, THE CREEPY CAT COMES IN THE BASEMENT WERE BIG ATTRACTION FOR ME.

WHEN TWO BROTHERS OPENED THE IVANHOE AS A RESTAURANT IN THE 1920s, IT LOOKED LIKE A CASTLE FROM EUROPE'S MIDDLE AGES HAD BEEN PLUNKED DOWN ON THE CORNER OF CLARK AND WELLINGTON IN THE LAKEVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE NORTH SIDE.

INSIDE, PATRONS COULD DINE AND DANCE IN ROBINHOOD'S SHERWOOD FOREST AND OTHER THEMED SPACES.

THE MENU SPECIALIZED IN GERMAN AND EUROPEAN DISHES DESCRIBED AS QUOTE INEXPENSIVE BUT NICE.

THE RESTAURANT'S NAME CAME FROM A 17TH CENTURY NOVEL SET IN MEDIEVAL ENGLAND CALLED IVANHOE, A ROMANCE BY SIR WALLSTER SCOTT ONE OF THE OWNERS LOVED THE NOVEL.

>> NOW, YOU HAVE TO TELL ME ABOUT THE BASEMENT.

>> YOU BET.

THERE WAS SORT OF SUBTERRAINIAN REALM WITH ERIE TUNNELS LEADING INTO A RUSTIC BAR WITH WOODEN TABLES.

THERE ARE BONES EMBEDDED IN THE WALLS.

AND ACCORDING TO MANY SOURCES THE JOINT WAS A SPEAK EASY DURING PROHIBITION.

AND GETTING DOWN THERE WAS HALF THE FUN.

OUR SOURCES TOLD US THAT PATRONS WOULD STEP INTO A CRAMPED OPEN SIDED ELEVATOR AND WATCH THE BRICK WALLS DISAPPEAR AS THE SHAKEY CAR DESCENDED INTO THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH OR SO IT APPEARED.

THE ELEVATOR WOULD GO DOWN TO THE BASEMENT.

THE OPERATOR SHOOK THE CAR AND THE WALLS WERE A REVOLVING EFFECT.

>> SOUNDS LIKE THE COAL BIND AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

WHEN DID THE IVANHOE TURN INTO A THEATRE?

>> THAT HAPPENED IN 1966 AFTER A SON OF THE ORIGINAL OWNERS HAD TAKEN OVER THE BUSINESS.

INSPIRED BY DINNER THEATERS LIKE THE DRURY LANE WHICH WERE ALL THE RAGE BACK THEN THE IVANHOE'S OWNER CONVERTED A GARDEN NEXT TO THE RESTAURANT INTO A THEATRE SO PATRONS COULD HAVE A MEAL AND MOVE INTO THE THEATRE FOR A SHOW.

AND OUR WONDERFUL PRODUCER MARISSA NELSON FOUND A FORMER IVANHOE EMPLOYEE WHO SHARED THIS IMAGE OF THE FIRST THEATRE PROGRAM AND ALSO SHARED THIS GREAT PICTURE OF THE FIRST BACKSTAGE CREW AT THE IVANHOE.

THE IVANHOE WAS A THEATRE IN THE ROUND OR IT WAS A SQUARE SO THE AUDIENCE SAT ON ALL FOUR SIDES OF THE STAGE.

I REMEMBER THIS BEING REALLY INNOVATIVE A IDEA THAT DISTINGUISHED IT FROM THE MORE FORMAL VELVET CURTAIN DOWNTOWN THEATERS.

THE IVANHOE STARTED BY STAGING LIGHTER COMEDIES HEADLINED BY WELL-KNOWN TV AND MOVIE ACTORS BUT NOT A-LISTERS.

BUT THINGS CHANGED WHEN THE OWNER BROUGHT IN A PRODUCER/DIRECTOR GEORGE KEITHLY WHO WORKED ON BROADWAY AND WORKED WITH TENNESSEE WILLIAMS.

KEITHLEY SHIFTED IT TO SUBSTANTIAL CHALLENGING MAYS STARRING PROMINENT STAGE ACTORS LIKE RITA MORENO TO BE FEATURED IN TENNESSEE WILLIAMS THE ROSE TATTOO.

AND WITH KEITHLEY AT THE HELM THE IVANHOE HELPED TO GIVE BIRTH TO CHICAGO'S NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED STOREFRONT THEATRE SCENE KNOWN FOR ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES THEATRE THAT WAS ENTERTAINING AND ALSO MADE YOU THINK.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED RITA MORENO ON THIS SET WITH PONCE ANY OTHER WELL-KNOWN PERFORMERS?

THE THEATRE HAD A RANGE.

THE SUMMER BEFORE KEITHLEY ARRIVED THE IVANHOE FEATURED GLORIA SWANSON WHOSE CAREER HAD GONE FROM SILENT MOVIES TO THE SUNSET BOULEVARD.

SHE WAS IN A PLAY CALLED REPRIEVE.

JACKIE KENNEDY'S SISTER, LI RADS WILL MADE HER DEBUT AT THE IVANHOE IN THE PHILADELPHIA STORY AT THE URGING OF TRUMAN CAPOTE.

HER PERFORMANCE WAS SAVAGED BY THE CRITICS AND HER COSTAR.

AND THAT SHOW WITH JACKIE KENNEDY'S SISTER WAS FOLLOWED BY SHAHID HUSSAIN GABOR IN -- ZSAZSA GABOR.

AND A COMEDY THAT TOOK ON AMERICAN SOCIAL CLASS STRUCTURE AND THAT PLAY MADE A BIG IMPRESSION ON ME WHEN I SAW IT IN HIGH SCHOOL THE PLAY WAS PANNED WHEN IT MOVED TO NEW YORK.

>> AND THIS DINNER AND A SHOW THEATRE MODEL WAS THAT SUCCESSFUL?

>> WELL, SORT OF.

SINCE MOST OF THE DINERS WERE ALSO THERE TO SEE THE PLAY, THE RESTAURANT WOULD CLEAR OUT WHEN THE SHOW STARTED.

THIS EVENTUALLY LED TO THE SALE OF THE BUSINESS TO A NEW PRODUCER WHO RENTED OUT THE SPACE TO OTHER THEATRE COMPANIES AND TO CONCERT PROMOTERS WHO BROUGHT IN ACTS LIKE DOLLY PARTON AND DAVID STEINBURG.

>> FAST FORWARD TO MODERN-DAY HOW DID IT TURN INTO A LIQUOR STORE?

>> IN THE 1980s THE THEATRE WAS CHOPPED IN HALF CONVERTING IT TO I AN AMPHITHEATER AND THE RESTAURANT NEXT DOOR BECAME GOLD STANDARD LIQUORS AND SHELEY'S CHEESE SHOP AND THAT BUSINESS LATER CHANGED ITS NAME TOBIN ANY'S AS A NOTRE DAME TO THE OWNER AND FOUNDER.

HAROLD BIN 16.

AND WHEN THE THEATRE CLOSED BENNY'S TOOK OVER THE SPACE AND THEY RETAINED THE CASTLE LIKE EXTERIOR AND RESTORED THE KATTY COMBS AND USED THEM BEFORE COVID AS ON EVENT SPACE FOR WINE TASTINGS.

AND BY THE WAY, I LOVE THIS LAST FACT.

THE IVANHOE IS NOT THE ONLY CHICAGO CONNECTION FOR NOVELIST SIR WALTER SCOTT.

THE SUBURB OF KENILWORTH IS NAMED FOR ANOTHER ONE OF SCOTT'S BOOKS.

>> FASCINATING HISTORY THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE IVANHOE THEATRE AND WHILE YOU ARE THERE SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION TO GEOFFREY BAER.

AND WE SHOULD ALSO MENTION IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY, BENNY'S IS A SUPPORTER OF WTTW.

AND THERE'S MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" JUST AHEAD.

SO PLEASE STICK AROUND.

[♪♪♪] >> THEY ARE JEWEL BOXES FILLED WITH DELIGHTS IN THREE DIMENSIONS.

FROM THE CAPTAIN'S CABIN OF A 17TH CENTURY PIRATE SHIP TO A MEDIEVAL LIBRARY IN FRANCE, THE JAY KUPJACK ROOMS INSPIRED IMAGINATION.

>> YOU CAN SUSPEND YOUR DEBELIEF WHAT IS ABOUT AND FANTASIZE THE VIEWER CREATES THE SCENE.

THEY ADD THE STORY.

WE JUST CREATE A SCENE FOR YOU TO EXPLORE.

>> ALSO ON DISPLAY, A RECREATION OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT'S TENT FROM 300 BC.

THE WORKS WERE MADE BY JAY KUPJACK AND HIS BROTHER HANK.

THEY ARE THE SONS OF EUGENE WHO IN THE 1930s CREATED THE THORN ROOMS AT THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO.

THOSE MINIATURES HAVE BEEN ON PERMANENT DISPLAY SINCE 1954.

MINIATURE ROOMS CAN TAKE MORE THAN A YEAR TO CREATE BUT WHEN IT'S THE FAMILY BUSINESS IT BECOMES SECOND NATURE.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A LOT OF WORK.

BUT THE DRAWERS OPEN ON THE CABINETS THERE IS NO APOULTRY IN THE CHAIRS.

IT IS EASIER TO MAKE A SMALL PIECE OF FURNITURE THAN A BIG ONE.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME SOME OF THE ROOMS MADE ARE ON DISPLAY IN A GALLERY SETTING.

>> WE HAVE A SHOW CALLED WONDER CAMPER WHICH IS CABINET OF CURIOSITIES A WORD THAT CAME TO BE IN 1600.

CABINET OF CURIOSITY CAN BE A ROOM OR A BOX THAT YOU PUT SOMETHING IN OR IT CAN BE AN OBJECT ITSELF.

SO THEY WERE THIS COMBINATION OF ART AND SCIENCE AND NATURE AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY PRECURSORS TO MUSEUMS.

>> THE SHOW INCLUDES A RECREATION OF THE STUDIO SPACE OF AN ARTIST WORKING IN PILSEN FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY.

>> WHEN VICTOR CAME TO MY STUDIO HE WAS ATTACHED TO MY STUFF.

AND HE DECIDED TO PATRICK CREADON 8 THE WALL I HAD.

AND I'M EXCITED YOU KNOW TO BE PART OF THE SHOW BECAUSE IT'S LIKE [INAUDIBLE] IT'S ALL OBJECTS.

>> THE REAL HONOR OF THIS SHOW IS TO FEATURE THE MINIATURE ROOMS.

WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN MAKING LITTLE WONDERS YOUR WHOLE LIFE IT IS NO BIG DEAL.

>> THE ACTUAL WORK ITSELF EITHER YOU CAN DO IT OR YOU CAN'T.

IT'S HARD TO TEACH SOMEBODY GOOD DESIGN SETS.

OR PROPORTIONS OR DEXTERITY.

>> NEITHER OF ONE OF US HANK AND I DID NOT PLAN ON BEING MINIATURISTS.

HE WAS GOING TO BE AN ARCHITECT AND I WAS GOING TO BE AN ENGINEER.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WE WERE.

AND NOW I'M TOO OLD TO DO ANYTHING ELSE.

>> THERE'S TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PAINTERS BUT THERE'S NOT TOOMIN TOUR ROOM ARTISTS.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS MARC VITALI.

THAT WAS A LOCAL MANGER WITH MINIATURES A CONNECTION TO THE THORN ROOM THE ON VIEW AT THE ART INSTITUTE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO OWN A MINIATURE ROOM SAVE YOUR MONEY.

THE ASKING PRICE STARTS IN THE LOW SIX FIGURES.

THE SHOW RUNS THROUGH THURSDAY AND THERE'S MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. AND ONE PERSONAL NOTE BEFORE WE GO.

WE LOST A MEMBER OF THE EXTENDED WTTW FAMILY EARLY THIS MORNING WITH THE PASSING OF DON VOIGHT.

DON SPENT YEARS HERE AS A DIRECTOR WORKING ON SHOWS LIKE SNEAK PREVIEWS AND "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AND OTHER PRODUCTIONS.

DON MET HIS WIFE MICHELLE HERE AT WTTW.

MICHELLE WORKED HERE FOR 45 PLUS YEARS AND CONTINUES HER WORK ON A PART-TIME BASIS.

DON WAS AN EXCELLENT DIRECTOR AND AN EVEN BETTER PERSON.

OUR THOUGHTS TONIGHT ARE WITH MICHELLE THEIR SON CHRISTER P AND HIS WIFE, AND GRANDSON VINCE AND THE REST OF DON'T FAMILY AND MANY, MANY FRIENDS.

AND NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE A "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

[♪♪♪]