Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert Chicago statue effort gets boost from memorabilia auction

More than 300 items have been gathered to raise funds for the bronze statue

Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert became two of the most recognizable names in film criticism, taking their work from rival Chicago newspapers to television and becoming a go-to source for moviegoers.

Now, a fan is working to honor the late critics with a bronze statue in Chicago.

Pam Kasper, a producer who has been developing a documentary about Siskel and Ebert, is leading the effort with the support of the critics’ widows.

“And I thought, these guys never left here," Kasper said. "They had such a huge impact on film, on criticism, on conversation. And they became national, if not global celebrities. But they always maintained their jobs at their newspapers and stayed in Chicago, raised their families here. And I thought that deserved some recognition."

Siskel and Ebert built reputations for telling audiences exactly what they thought about the movies they reviewed.

Kasper is now trying to raise $230,000 for the statue. With help from her collector boyfriend, she has gathered more than 300 items, many of them signed, for an auction to help fund the project.

Asked how much money she needs to raise, Kasper said, “$230,000. And I think that this auction is going to take care of a big chunk of that.”

Among the many items you can bid on are signed posters from "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," and a poster from "The Sound of Music that's signed by the entire cast, including Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.

And for fans in Los Angeles, there's an opportunity to tour the house from "The Brady Bunch."

"Christopher Knight, who played Peter Brady, is going to be your tour guide if you have the high bidder, you and three guests," Kasper said.

If the auction money and funds from corporate and and public sponsors comes through, the statue could be unveiled in Chicago in 2028.