A life-size Siskel and Ebert statue is in the works for downtown Chicago, with a local producer leading the charge to honor the legendary film critics.
Pam Kasper, a producer who has spent the past two years developing a Siskel and Ebert documentary with director Michael Bonfiglio, said the idea took shape after she visited the Roger Ebert statue at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign. She wanted a Chicago tribute recognizing both critics and their enduring connection to the city.
“We have so many tributes in Chicago to people who have had such an influence. But there wasn’t anything about Roger and Gene,” Kasper said, noting the pair stayed rooted in Chicago throughout their national fame. Siskel served as the Chicago Tribune’s lead film critic for three decades until his death in 1999, and Ebert reviewed films for the Chicago Sun-Times for 46 years until his death in 2013.
Kasper said the Siskel and Ebert statue is targeted for completion by 2028. She aims to raise $230,000 for the project and has partnered with Chicago Gateway Green to coordinate corporate sponsorships and public donations.
To support the effort, a Hollywood memorabilia auction will offer items donated by studios and celebrities. Prizes include an apron signed by the cast of “The Bear” and gifted by the show’s creator, Christopher Storer, a “Toy Story” Jessie doll signed by Evanston native John Cusack, a “Caddyshack” lobby card signed by Evanston native Bill Murray, and two “Mad Men” costume renderings signed by designer Janie Bryant.
Also up for bid are a cast member-led tour of the renovated “Brady Bunch” house in Los Angeles and a 30-minute Zoom call with Lee Eisenberg, a head writer for “The Office.”
Donations, auction entries and project updates are available on the initiative’s website. Fundraising launched Thursday.
Standing 6 feet, 5 inches, the Siskel and Ebert statue will be installed at Prudential Plaza, 130 E. Randolph St., chosen for visibility and for its proximity to the newsrooms where the critics once worked. Kasper said the plaza’s owners were immediately receptive to hosting the public artwork.
Siskel and Ebert statue design and film legacy
Illinois artist Preston Jackson, a sculptor, painter and professor emeritus of sculpture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, is creating the piece. Kasper said she wanted an artist who understood the critics’ legacy and had the skill to capture it.
Titled “Siskel and Ebert: Two Thumbs Up,” the composition will depict the duo side by side, each giving a thumbs-up, a nod to their signature movie-rating system that once powered film marketing campaigns. In front of the figures, two metal theater seats will allow visitors to sit, engage with the artwork and snap photos.
Kasper hopes the installation will introduce new audiences to the pair’s influence on film culture and criticism. She pointed to their spirited but respectful on-air debates as a model worth remembering.
“Everybody can help build this tribute to two men who are so important to our city,” she said, adding that the project is intended to be meaningful and fun for residents and visitors alike.
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