*Before attending Parkway Picture Show,

VISIT Bronzeville Historical Society

12PM - 2PM - 4455 S. King Drive - Suite 103

In partnership with South Side Home Movie Project, with support from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Parkway Picture Show and the Bronzeville Historical Society are thrilled to host a special screening showcasing select film reels from the Ramon Williams Collection. Ramon Williams, Black IBEW electrician and film hobbyist, was an early adopter of amateur filmmaking and invested in documenting the Bronzeville community in which he lived and filmed major Bronzeville social and civic events between the 1940s and 1960s, many of which happened at Parkway Ballroom. 

Parkway Ballroom was once the swing and sway palace of Bronzeville. From 1940 to 1974, the Ballroom was the destination of choice for Chicago’s African American community. At the Ballroom, social, civic, and industrial organizations held their annual fundraisers, membership teas and graduation balls; happy crowds danced the night away to the incomparable melodies of Count Basie, Sarah Vaughn and Nat King Cole, and families celebrated birthdays, weddings, and reunions. The Parkway Ballroom reopened in 2002 to serve this function in the community again, and now operates as Parkway Social Bronzeville; Bronzeville’s premier members only social club and coworking lounge.

The selections from the South Side Home Movie Project’s Ramon Williams Collection will be accompanied by refreshments provided by Cliff Rome (owner of Rome’s Joy Companies, including Parkway Social Bronzveille and commentary from Sherry Williams of the Bronzeville Historical Society and other guests to be announced soon!

FREE street parking,
PARKING LOT in rear of building