Category Archives: Movies

High Fidelity

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Ellen Ross

This post is dedicated to my friend Rickey Freeman. Connoisseur of vinyl. Owner of 3500 albums…and counting. Have you seen the movie High Fidelity? In it, Rob Gordon- deftly played by John Cusack- is the owner of Championship Vinyl, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Music, New Orleans, pop culture, University of Wisconsin | 12 Comments

Chicago Film Festival

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Ellen Ross

Dear Readers, it’s been awhile since you and I have had a movie date. So today I thought it would be fun to take a gander at our toddlin’ town’s very own star turns. The city of Chicago is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Movies | 8 Comments

Best-Dressed

Posted on June 21, 2015 by Ellen Ross

Happy Father’s Day, Dear Readers. Hope it’s a great one for all of you. And in honor of my father today, I thought I’d treat you all to the movies. Our dad, Ben Roffe, loved the movies. And he loved … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Movies | 19 Comments

Gender Bender

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Ellen Ross

In case you don’t recognize us, that’s Ted McGinley on the left and yours truly on the right. The year was 1994 and we were on the set of Married with Children. If you can tear your gaze away from … Continue reading →

Posted in Gender politics, Movies, pop culture | 12 Comments

Exit Plan

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Ellen Ross

This past Tuesday, May 19, would have been Nora Ephron’s 74th birthday. My heroine. Gone way too soon. But I read recently that she had kept a file on her computer labelled “Exit.” (She herself had pilfered the idea from … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Movies, pop culture, Tributes | 18 Comments

“Fuck You” Money

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Ellen Ross

This is the new Rolls-Royce Wraith. The Wraith is a V-12, 642 horsepower, two door sports coupe with 2+2 seating and suicide doors. It is controlled by an eight-speed automatic transmission. Combined fuel economy is fifteen miles per gallon. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Money, Movies, Music, pop culture | 18 Comments

Meet-Cute

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Ellen Ross

Yes, that’s the great Billy Wilder. Legendary cinema screenwriter, brilliant director, auteur. Although he didn’t invent the “meet-cute,” (when boy meets girl in an adorable way on the big screen) here’s one clever example he came up with for that … Continue reading →

Posted in Dating, Movies, pop culture | 2 Comments

Easter Parade

Posted on April 5, 2015 by Ellen Ross

Happy Easter and Happy Passover, Dear Readers. In honor of Spring, I thought I’d tell you a love story. A true one. About the man who wrote the song “Easter Parade.” Mr. American Songbook- Irving Berlin. You are all familiar, … Continue reading →

Posted in Composers, Movies, Music | 8 Comments

It Happens Every Spring

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Ellen Ross

Photograph: Fred Nachman Last Sunday, my brother Kenny and I were driving up Lake Shore Drive. It was a very blustery day. Cold and gray. An unpleasant kind of day. And then, all of a sudden, Kenny lit up like … Continue reading →

Posted in baseball, Movies, pop culture, Sports | 23 Comments

Bafflegate

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Ellen Ross

Definition of baffle gate: A gate that permits passage in one direction only. I must confess that since I moved back to Chicago, I don’t ride the subway/El very much. I find it claustrophobic. And I’m not all that keen … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Movies, pop culture | 12 Comments