There nothing like authentic audio and video to relive your experiences on the Chicago "L". Here you can see QuickTime movies of trains on regular operations, some special cars on exhibit and TV news stories on CTA milestones; audio .wav files of recognizable "L" sounds and special sections on feature films that included the "L" with video and audio files and special facts.

System Movies There's no better way to relive your memories of the "L" than with real film footage! This archive includes candid film of the "L" in action, news stories and tape and clips from education videos.

Sounds From train horns and beeps to station announcements, this archive has sound files that will be instantly recognizable to any seasoned "L" rider.

As a recognizable, intrinsic part of the landscape and culture of Chicago, many television shows and movies that take place in the Windy City have depicted the "L" as a way to ground their locales firmly in the "City of Big Shoulders". There are a long list of films and shows that include scenes on or footage of the "L". Below are a handful of those, with screenshots and other media depicting the rapid transit lines.

In addition to the movies and programs linked below, there are many others that include the "L". Among them are Risky Business, While You Were Sleeping, On the Line, Next of Kin, High Fidelity, Spider-Man 2, Running Scared, About Last Night, Midnight Run, Code of Silence, Above the Law, Gladiator, Adventures in Babysitting, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Flatliners, Excessive Force, Rapid Fire, and Medium Cool, as well as the TV shows ER, Chicago Hope, Good Times, The Bob Newhart Show, Early Edition, and Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Some of these may eventually be added to the site, but no timetable is set for this work. If there is another film or show you would like to recommend, feel free to contact us and we will add it to our list. If a film or show is listed above, we are aware of it.

The Fugitive This 1993 film about a man searching for his wife's killer while being hunted by a federal marshal features many scenes on the "L" and its trains, including fights, chases and more.
The Sting In this classic 1973 film starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, a young con man seeks revenge for his murdered partner and teams up with a master of the big con to win a fortune from a criminal banker. The story takes place in 1930s Chicago and features an excellent chase in an "L" station.
The Blues Brothers In this 1980 cult film starring John Belushi and Dan Akroyd, Jake and Elwood Blues go on a "mission from God" and put their band, the Blues Brothers, back together to raise money to save the orphanage they grew up in. The "L" serves as a backdrop to many scenes.
Mercury Rising In this 1998 film, Bruce Willis plays Agent Art Jeffries, an outcast FBI agent who is assigned to protect a 9 year old autistic boy who is the target of United States government assassins.
Just Visiting A 2001 American retelling of the 1993 French comedy Les Visiteurs, in which Jean Reno and Christian Clavier play a French nobleman and his servant Andre who find themselves in modern-day Chicago.
Ocean's Eleven The 2001 release of Ocean's Eleven is a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack heist movie, with George Clooney taking up the Frank Sinatra part as recently-paroled con man Danny Ocean. Here, Ocean rounds up a gang of eleven associates to stage simultaneous heists of three major Las Vegas casinos, including the Chicago pickpocket, Linus Caldwell, played by Matt Damon.
Risky Business The classic 1983 Tom Cruise movie about a suburban Chicago teenager who cuts loose when his parents leave on vacation. An unauthorized trip in his father's Porsche means a sudden need for lots of money, which he raises in a creative way. Then, he has a special experience on the "L"...
While You Were Sleeping A 1995 movie about a CTA station agent who, after saving the life of a regular customer she has a crush on, is mistaken for his fiancé. With a protagonist who's a CTA employee, how can you go wrong? Half the movie takes place on "L" trains and stations!
"ER" This popular NBC medical drama about a group of doctors and interns at a Chicago hospital often has scenes on, in or around the "L".
Miscellaneous Films and Shows Stored here are files from TV shows and films that are either not as well documented or simply don't have a lot shots of the "L", in either case, not enough to justify an entire section! Click here for pictures from: The Hunter Wayne's World