Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi (John Belushi’s brother) will perform at the first-ever Blues Brothers Con, which will be held at the Old Joliet Prison.
Dan Aykroyd will be performing with Jim Belushi (John Belushi’s brother) at the first-ever Blues Brothers Con in Joliet, Illinois. The Blues Brothers was one of the few successful movies based on characters from Saturday Night Live. John Belushi and Aykroyd, who played Jake and Elwood Blues, were still up-and-coming actors in 1980 when The Blues Brothers came out. However, John Landis’ film was able to pull in several iconic musicians such as Cab Calloway, James Brown, Ray Charles, and Aretha Franklin while also featuring several of Chicago’s famous landmarks. While not in Chicago, the Joliet Correctional Center, now simply known as the Old Joliet Prison, is one of the most famous shooting locations in the movie.
The Blues Brothers’ opening scene where Jake is released from prison was filmed at the Joliet Correctional Center. The scene starts with Jake being escorted down a hallway full of inmates, who were real prisoners paid for being in the movie, before walking across the prison yard to collect his belongings. This leads to one of the most iconic shots of the entire movie, where Elwood is waiting across the street to pick up his brother. A handful of movies and TV shows have been filmed at the Old Joliet Prison, but The Blues Brothers is the movie the prison is most known for.
Now, the Old Joliet Prison is hosting a unique event with the first-ever Blues Brothers Con. The inaugural event starts on August 19 (2-11 PM), which will feature a 90-minute performance from Aykroyd and Jim Belushi before continuing on August 20 (10:30 AM- 11 PM). The 16-acre prison complex will be filled with vendors selling food, drinks, artwork, and souvenirs from the event. The restaurants Bob’s Country Bunker and the Soul Café from The Blues Brothers are being recreated for the event, and even the Bluesmobile will be on display. A two-day general admission ticket costs $60 for adults and $20 for children.
The Old Joliet Prison opened in 1958, and as early as 1905, there were demands for the correctional center to be closed due to hazardous conditions. The complex remained operational until 2002 when it was finally shut down for good. The Old Joliet Prison has always been a popular tourist attraction, but due to the condition of the building, fans could only walk the perimeter of the complex. However, in 2018 the City of Joliet opened the prison to the public, offering guests paid guided tours of the building. While these tours have been offered for a few years, Blues Brothers Con will likely give the prison the most activity its seen in years.
Blues Brothers Con won’t see as many people as events like San Diego Comic-Con or other popular fan expos that feature dozens of high-profile celebrities. However, it will surely be a unique experience for all Blues Brothers fans. Even though the website’s description makes it sound like this will be an annual event, it’s unlikely Aykroyd and Belushi will attend every year to perform, making this inaugural festival a must for people who love the classic ’80s movie.
Source: Old Joliet Prison
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