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How a Chicago company made Gene Wilder’s most beloved movie role possible

Mourning the death of Gene Wilder, it’s worth remembering that perhaps his most beloved role owes a debt to a Chicago company.

Without Quaker Oats, there’s no “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” True fact.

The oatmeal company — since 2001 part of PepsiCo but then on its own — didn’t just pay to produce Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” for the big screen.

Quaker insisted on getting ...