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Published on Tuesday, 31 May 2011 16:42
The Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC) will be holding a special "Sneak Preview" Open House fundraiser in just over two weeks. Those attending will be able to gaze upon some rare broadcasting artifacts, meet with some top ranking Illinois politicians, and see for themselves just what the MBC will look like when it officially opens to the public early next year.
Not only will those attending be able to experience what the new MBC location will have to offer, but they will be able to see the official unveiling of the amazing new 17 foot tall sculpture that has been installed at the top of the Museum's grand staircase. Called the "MBC Roscor Media Tower," the sculpture made up of steel, neon tubing and electronic parts, resembles a multi-media John Hancock Building. The 1,200 pound work of art, created artist Mark Patsfall, features 36 video monitors that will be displaying classic television images, 24 hours a day, which will be able to be seen by those walking past the new building through its wall of windows on the State Street side.
Open House attendees will be able to see new Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Illinois Senate President John Calhoon and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, who will all be speaking at the event. Some very lucky attendees will even win the opportunity to play the original Grand Prize Game from Chicago's classic television show "Bozo's Circus."
UPDATE 6/1/11: Also making an appearance at the event will be a pair of Chicago TV icons, both known for their extreme facial makeup: Bozo the Clown and Svengoolie!
The MBC Sneak Preview Open House will take place on Thursday, June 16th from 6:00pm-9:00pm at the new Museum location, found at 360 N. State Street in Chicago. Food and drinks will be served. Tickets for this grand event cost $150 each. Sponsorship level tickets are also available. Tickets and more information can be found at this link
HERE. Money raised from this event will go toward the completion of the Museum's interior and aid in getting its doors open to the public, which is now targeted for the first quarter of 2012.
The non-profit MBC first opened to the public in June 1987, located at River City in the South Loop neighborhood. From 1992-2003, the Museum was located within the Chicago Cultural Center. Construction on the huge 62,000-square-foot facility at State and Kinzie Streets in downtown Chicago had been stalled for years due to promised funds that did not came forth, causing all work on the building to come to a halt in the spring of 2006. In June 2010, Governor Quinn was able to finally get the long-promised funds of $6 million dollars to the MBC, re-starting the construction and re-energizing the Museum. The new state-of-the-art facility now looks to finally become a reality for the general public to enjoy in just a matter of months.
The MBC will not only be home to thousands of rare television and radio physical objects, but also over 3,500 photographs and countless hours of classic broadcasts from America's television and radio stations. Additionally, the building will be home to the National Radio Hall of Fame.
More information about the new MBC, can be found on their website
Museum.TV.
