Noir City Chicago, 2023

Oh, how happy I was Sunday! I was among my people -- the classic movie faithful -- inside a venerable old movie palace -- Chicago's Music Box Theater (built in 1929) watching murder and mayhem at the Noir City Film Festival.

It was great to see members of my own little movie group in person (hugs all around, and I was happy to field questions about my Connie cat and why I wasn't wearing my usual: a Cubs t-shirt). Then we saw two not-often shown films from 1948 -- The Velvet Touch and The Big Clock. How exciting to see Theater #2 filled with Chicagoans enthusiastic about b&w films celebrating their 75th anniversay.

Two of my favorite things: Eddie & the curtain at The Music Box.

Best of all, I got to meet Eddie. SQUEE! Eddie Muller, TCM's Czar of Noir, spearheads the restoration of these classic dramas. And he's my TV boyfriend. I have a massive crush on him. I got Betty from movie group to take our picture together (she's a shameless star collector and I needed her to give me courage) and afterward, Eddie and I talked ... and talked ... about TCM and the corporate takeover. He was cautiously optimistic and I was beyond delighted to hear that. Even better, I was the one who cut the conversation short because there were other fans waiting to talk to him. Eddie thought I was smart and interesting! (Eddie liked me! Eddie liked me!)