Siskel and Ebert Statue Campaign Seeks $230,000

A fundraising effort aims to bring a life-sized bronze statue of the late critics to Prudential Plaza in Chicago.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Car Culture

Empty Chicago plaza of grey granite with a row of dark theater seats beside a reflecting pool, with glass office towers behind under overcast light. — Fundraisers seek $230,000 to place a life-sized bronze statue of late critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert at Prudential Plaza in Chicago. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should private donations fund a public statue of Siskel and Ebert in Chicago?

Steve King and Johnnie Putman hosted a live show from WGN Skyline Studios, where a fundraising campaign was promoted to bring a life-sized bronze statue of Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert to Chicago. The proposed statue would depict the two critics in their thumbs-up pose, with theater seats for visitors.

Why it matters

The campaign would add a public landmark honoring two of Chicago's best-known film critics, with the families of Siskel and Ebert supporting the project. Its $230,000 goal is the financial benchmark that will determine whether the statue moves forward.

The fundraising campaign has a $230,000 goal, and a Heritage Auctions fundraiser features more than 300 Hollywood collectibles. The total amount raised so far and the statue's completion timeline were not reported.

The players

Steve King

Steve King is a host who co-hosted a live show from WGN Skyline Studios.

Johnnie Putman

Johnnie Putman is a host who co-hosted a live show from WGN Skyline Studios.

The details

The show was broadcast live from WGN Skyline Studios after an extended delay, and the duo packed a five-hour show into a three-and-a-half-hour time slot following Chicago Blackhawks hockey on WGN. The program also covered the 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Plus and reported that Tesla's Cybertruck production run has ended.

November 9, 2026: Live show broadcast from WGN Skyline Studios following Blackhawks hockey.

Season Trajectory

The proposed statue extends the legacy of Siskel and Ebert's televised film criticism, which made the two Chicago critics nationally recognized figures. The campaign follows a pattern of cities memorializing local media personalities with public monuments.

Chicago residents and visitors who want to see the statue would gain a new public landmark at Prudential Plaza if the campaign reaches its goal. The campaign's progress will determine when the statue is installed and where people can view it.

The takeaway

The campaign to honor Siskel and Ebert shows how a city can memorialize its media figures through public art, and readers interested in supporting it can follow the fundraising progress as the $230,000 goal is tracked.