PROGRAM SCHEDULE   

The 250th anniversary of the American Revolution has sparked renewed interest in the causes of the war and the actions the patriots took during the early years of the conflict. Inaccurate historical accounts abound, perpetuating and expanding on stories while obscuring the truth. Robert Jacob will clarify it all, debunk some popular myths, and set the record straight.

From Coney Island to King's Island, Kennywood to Dollywood, Six Flags to Hersheypark, we'll look at the places that fulfilled our childhood thrills and lifelong memories. Colorful and nostalgic, this historic ride through the years is fun for everyone!

An exploration of neon as both craft and cultural icon, tracing its origins, design, and role in shaping the visual identity of American cities and highways.

Current U.S. policies toward Latin America and the Caribbean have renewed debate about America's historical role in the region. This presentation focuses on contemporary policies toward Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, and other nations, while considering how earlier periods of U.S. engagement, including Dollar Diplomacy, military interventions, and the Good Neighbor era, provide historical context. Participants will explore differing perspectives on the implications for U.S. interests and regional relations.

Stephenie Slahor, PhD will highlight 26 inventions, one for each letter of the alphabet, and the stories and people behind them.

This talk examines revolutions in warfighting and trade chokepoints, alongside the geopolitical consequences of the American, French, English, Chinese, and Russian revolutions. Additionally, it explores the four Industrial Revolutions—tracing the arc from steam mechanization to modern AI connectivity—as well as major civil rights milestones and global faith revolutions.

St. Petersburg in Florida has slowly but surely grown to be an art destination and has carved out a niche for itself that is quite unique in its state. Arriving in the city, you will notice an abundance of wonderful street art murals, an ongoing project which started in 2015. The Dali Museum houses an excellent collection of the Spanish Surrealist artist’s works in a beautiful building which references his paintings. There is also lots of glass art to be found, as for instance at the Chihuly Collection. The James Museum focuses on Western Art and then there is a brand new museum showcasing the American Arts and Crafts Movement. Besides the arts, there are also the beautifully designed parks and gardens, dating back to the city’s early history, all designed to make St. Pete stand out – we’ll take a close look at all it has to offer and the stories behind it!

St. Petersburg in Florida has slowly but surely grown to be an art destination and has carved out a niche for itself that is quite unique in its state. Arriving in the city, you will notice an abundance of wonderful street art murals, an ongoing project which started in 2015. The Dali Museum houses an excellent collection of the Spanish Surrealist artist’s works in a beautiful building which references his paintings. There is also lots of glass art to be found, as for instance at the Chihuly Collection. The James Museum focuses on Western Art and then there is a brand new museum showcasing the American Arts and Crafts Movement. Besides the arts, there are also the beautifully designed parks and gardens, dating back to the city’s early history, all designed to make St. Pete stand out – we’ll take a close look at all it has to offer and the stories behind it!

From the Carpenter Gothic Tenth Street Church of God, built in 1898, to the industrial-looking buildings on the new downtown pier, St. Petersburg has a rich architectural heritage. In this talk, Margo Hammond looks at the city through the eyes of the architects, with a tour that includes Mediterranean Revival mansions in Snell Isle, Bird-Cage houses in the Pink Streets, Craftsman bungalows in Kenwood, downtown arcades, an Art Deco grocery store and an octagon comfort station built as a warm up for a church commission in Byzantine and Romanesque Revival style. Both church and bathroom are still standing.

From the Carpenter Gothic Tenth Street Church of God, built in 1898, to the industrial-looking buildings on the new downtown pier, St. Petersburg has a rich architectural heritage. In this talk, Margo Hammond looks at the city through the eyes of the architects, with a tour that includes Mediterranean Revival mansions in Snell Isle, Bird-Cage houses in the Pink Streets, Craftsman bungalows in Kenwood, downtown arcades, an Art Deco grocery store and an octagon comfort station built as a warm up for a church commission in Byzantine and Romanesque Revival style. Both church and bathroom are still standing.

An engaging and accessible introduction to classical music for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Learn how composers use melody, rhythm, harmony, and emotion to tell stories through music while exploring some of the most beloved works in the classical repertoire.

If you enjoy nature walks and connecting with fellow OLLI members, join us as we explore the beautiful parks in Pinellas County. Schedules of parks will be sent out monthly. All levels of walkers are welcome. Please contact facilitator, Kathleen Passafiume at katbelinni@bellsouth.net for questions and updates.

Whether you are a seasoned pro, new and would like to learn, or somewhere in between, join us for Mahjong. We will meet twice a month to learn and play.

 

J. Edgar Hoover was born in Washington D.C. in 1895 and never left. A lawyer by training he joined the Justice Department during World War I and by age 29 was running the Bureau of Investigation, the forerunner of the F.B.I. He served as its director until his 1972 death, amassing a personal power base that led many to claim he was the most powerful man in America. Though lauded for building the FBI into a world-class crime-fighting agency, after his death there were multiple revelations of his controversial and illegal actions that led to intimidation and coercion of some of the United States’ most noteworthy public figures, indiscretions that led to a change in the law limiting the Director of the agency to a maximum ten year term.

J. Edgar Hoover was born in Washington D.C. in 1895 and never left. A lawyer by training he joined the Justice Department during World War I and by age 29 was running the Bureau of Investigation, the forerunner of the F.B.I. He served as its director until his 1972 death, amassing a personal power base that led many to claim he was the most powerful man in America. Though lauded for building the FBI into a world-class crime-fighting agency, after his death there were multiple revelations of his controversial and illegal actions that led to intimidation and coercion of some of the United States’ most noteworthy public figures, indiscretions that led to a change in the law limiting the Director of the agency to a maximum ten year term.

Each week brings a fresh topic, lively debate, and the chance to explore new perspectives together.

If the Second Commandment forbids images, why are Christian churches full of art?  In this historical survey of Christian art, John Stewart will answer this question and show how the development of the Christian faith was reflected in the images it created, including the enormous influence of Greek and Roman art. As a docent and teacher at the Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Stewart will also examine how Dalí’s religious fits into the history of Christian art.

If the Second Commandment forbids images, why are Christian churches full of art?  In this historical survey of Christian art, John Stewart will answer this question and show how the development of the Christian faith was reflected in the images it created, including the enormous influence of Greek and Roman art. As a docent and teacher at the Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Stewart will also examine how Dalí’s religious fits into the history of Christian art.

Join OLLI Members for a free, weekly outdoor stroll along one of Pinellas County's award-winning beaches. All levels of walkers are welcome!

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A look at the wildly varied films of director and writer Billy Wilder. In his fabled career he took on all film genres, from the gritty film noir of Double Indemnity to the rollicking 20's fun of Some Like It Hot, the poignant drama of The Lost Weekend to the frolics of Irma La Douce, or such gems as the comical The Seven Year Itch, the wartime of Stalag 17 and the sheer dramatic perfection of Sunset Boulevard. 

A look at the wildly varied films of director and writer Billy Wilder. In his fabled career he took on all film genres, from the gritty film noir of Double Indemnity to the rollicking 20's fun of Some Like It Hot, the poignant drama of The Lost Weekend to the frolics of Irma La Douce, or such gems as the comical The Seven Year Itch, the wartime of Stalag 17 and the sheer dramatic perfection of Sunset Boulevard. 

Each week brings a fresh topic, lively debate, and the chance to explore new perspectives together.

Come revisit the Renaissance; the rebirth of classical learning, humanism, and art that spread across Middle Ages Europe. Revolutionary styles of art, a new look at the crossroads of religion and science, and the daring explorers all joined to bring in a modern way of life. Meet the great ones like Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo, and Isabella d’Este. How did this influential period of history come to be? The answers await you. 

What can dogs and elephants teach us about animal intelligence? Through examples from contemporary research, including studies conducted at Eckerd College and ZooTampa, Lauren Highfill explores cognition, cooperation, learning, and problem-solving in two highly social species. This presentation examines how scientists study animal minds and what these discoveries reveal about the evolution of intelligence.

This program explores the projects that shaped our region during the height of the Great Depression, like St. Pete City Hall and the Clearwater Post Office.

The pioneers of America’s movie business learned early on that success meant giving people what they wanted most: a good laugh. While the silent era produced many memorable solo comedians, producer Hal Roach changed the game in 1926 by pairing two of his comedy stalwarts in the same film. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy became the blueprint for the iconic comedy teams that followed, from Abbott and Costello to the Three Stooges and the Marx Brothers. Driven by the hilarious juxtaposition of mismatched personalities and physical types, these duos brought film comedy to new heights. Our sessions will explore the lives, careers, and lasting legacies of these legendary merrymakers.

The pioneers of America’s movie business learned early on that success meant giving people what they wanted most: a good laugh. While the silent era produced many memorable solo comedians, producer Hal Roach changed the game in 1926 by pairing two of his comedy stalwarts in the same film. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy became the blueprint for the iconic comedy teams that followed, from Abbott and Costello to the Three Stooges and the Marx Brothers. Driven by the hilarious juxtaposition of mismatched personalities and physical types, these duos brought film comedy to new heights. Our sessions will explore the lives, careers, and lasting legacies of these legendary merrymakers.

Don’t let the tourists have all the fun! Think of this class as your personal friend who's always finding new adventures. Whether you are a lifelong resident or new to the area, you'll discover new ways to love the communities surrounding Tampa Bay. What we'll explore:
Hidden Gems: Classic area restaurants and local favorites.Living History: Fun ways to experience our heritage, including walking and cigar factory tours. Day Trips: Perfect mini-getaways to explore just beyond your backyard. Join us and start checking items off your ultimate local bucket list!
 

Don’t let the tourists have all the fun! Think of this class as your personal friend who's always finding new adventures. Whether you are a lifelong resident or new to the area, you'll discover new ways to love the communities surrounding Tampa Bay. What we'll explore:
Hidden Gems: Classic area restaurants and local favorites.Living History: Fun ways to experience our heritage, including walking and cigar factory tours. Day Trips: Perfect mini-getaways to explore just beyond your backyard. Join us and start checking items off your ultimate local bucket list!
 

Once a month, members meet at an area museum to explore the arts together. Meeting times, locations and cost will vary by museum.

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The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military pilots in U.S. history and became one of the most respected fighter groups of World War II. Despite facing segregation and discrimination, they proved their skill and courage in combat, challenging racial stereotypes within the military and across the nation.

Their success helped lead to the integration of the U.S. Armed Forces, influencing President Harry S. Truman to issue Executive Order 9981 in 1948, ending segregation in the military. The Tuskegee Airmen also inspired the broader Civil Rights Movement and became lasting symbols of equality, service, and perseverance in American society.

Each week brings a fresh topic, lively debate, and the chance to explore new perspectives together.

Discover Outsider Art: Explore “Art Brut,” a world of raw, authentic expression by passionate, self-taught creators. From Swiss master Adolf Wölfli to Southern visionaries like Minnie Evans and Mose Tolliver, see how these artists redefined conventional art.

Discover Outsider Art: Explore “Art Brut,” a world of raw, authentic expression by passionate, self-taught creators. From Swiss master Adolf Wölfli to Southern visionaries like Minnie Evans and Mose Tolliver, see how these artists redefined conventional art.

Join other OLLI members at a variety of unique North/South Pinellas County restaurants. Participants order from the menu. Each member is responsible for his/her own meal cost and tip. Group size is limited, so register early.

Journey through the fascinating history of classical music from the Renaissance to the modern era while exploring the people, places, artistic movements, and cultural changes that shaped its development. Through engaging stories, guided listening, and historical context, this course examines how composers responded to the worlds around them—from the grandeur of royal courts and cathedrals to the revolutions, philosophies, and artistic movements that transformed Western culture over centuries. Participants will gain a deeper appreciation for major composers and musical styles while discovering how music connects to history, art, religion, and society. Designed for both newcomers and longtime music lovers, this course offers an accessible and enriching exploration of the enduring - and adapting - power of classical music.
 

World War II produced a number of remarkable generals, including two standouts: General George S. Patton of the U.S. Army and Field Marshal Erwin Rommel of the German Army. Their World War I experiences shaped their innovative approaches to warfare and redefined how modern armies operated. Patton and Rommel famously faced one another in North Africa and later in France. Both were masterful commanders, skilled leaders, and bold innovators. This course explores the lives, strategies, and legacies of these two extraordinary World War II generals.

World War II produced a number of remarkable generals, including two standouts: General George S. Patton of the U.S. Army and Field Marshal Erwin Rommel of the German Army. Their World War I experiences shaped their innovative approaches to warfare and redefined how modern armies operated. Patton and Rommel famously faced one another in North Africa and later in France. Both were masterful commanders, skilled leaders, and bold innovators. This course explores the lives, strategies, and legacies of these two extraordinary World War II generals.

Join us on the fourth Sunday of the month for a fun and challenging game at the historic Hollander Hotel in downtown St. Petersburg. Hotel and street parking are available. Arrive between 5 and 5:30 p.m. for dinner or be there by 6:00 p.m. when the trivia begins.

Register in advance, as we must reserve tables. OLLI is limited to two teams of eight players. If registration is full, reply to froehlichj@eckerd.edu to add your name to waiting list. If we have enough for another team, we will try to accommodate.

Members, you must be signed into your account to make the 'add to cart' button appear. If you are unable to register, either you are not logged into your account and/or your membership expires before the program date.

Think you know everything about Pirates? The facts are that the historical record on pirates is vague, contradictory, and rarely accurate. Digging deep into the true history of the Golden Age of Piracy and those who lived this life, Robert Jacob has unearthed a treasure of information that allows you to see, feel, and experience the true life and motivation of pirates in their Golden Age, from the rise of the Buccaneers on Tortuga, to the death of The Great Pirate Roberts. Pirate myths and traditions will also be discussed. 

Each week brings a fresh topic, lively debate, and the chance to explore new perspectives together.

At the forefront of women’s Expressionist art was German artist Gabriele Münter, who for a time shared her 'Blue House' in Murnau, near Munich, with Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky. Her work was inspired by her partnership with Kandinsky, as well as the vivid palettes of Gauguin and the Fauves. Munter's vibrant canvases also drew heavily from local folk art, including traditional tole and reverse-glass painting.

At the forefront of women’s Expressionist art was German artist Gabriele Münter, who for a time shared her 'Blue House' in Murnau, near Munich, with Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky. Her work was inspired by her partnership with Kandinsky, as well as the vivid palettes of Gauguin and the Fauves. Munter's vibrant canvases also drew heavily from local folk art, including traditional tole and reverse-glass painting.

Come for the history, stay for the mystery! In this engaging, multi-layered talk, playwright Margo Hammond returns to share the secrets behind her second play, Fowl Play: Murder at Sunken Gardens. Part historical deep-dive and part masterclass in stagecraft, this lecture offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at transforming real local history into a compelling, comedic stage mystery. Whether you’re a theater lover or a Florida history buff, you'll walk away with practical insights into the play development process, and a deeper appreciation for St. Petersburg’s ecological history.

Come for the history, stay for the mystery! In this engaging, multi-layered talk, playwright Margo Hammond returns to share the secrets behind her second play, Fowl Play: Murder at Sunken Gardens. Part historical deep-dive and part masterclass in stagecraft, this lecture offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at transforming real local history into a compelling, comedic stage mystery. Whether you’re a theater lover or a Florida history buff, you'll walk away with practical insights into the play development process, and a deeper appreciation for St. Petersburg’s ecological history.

Meet the cryptids of Florida in this 90-minute talk of legends, including clips from films about and firsthand accounts of our Florida-only mythic creatures.

This talk analyzes the second Trump administration’s domestic and foreign policy. We examine executive power concentration, Project 2025, border security, and economic nationalism via tariffs, inflation tactics, and jobs reshoring. It further explores national security, tech/energy independence, and how transactional isolationism reshapes global alliances and the liberal world order.

Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night is arguably MoMA’s most beloved treasure, a painting many seek out for its inspiration and magic. In this course, we will take a closer look at this masterpiece, decoding its symbolism and exploring the earlier artists who influenced van Gogh's composition.

Beyond The Starry Night, we will tour MoMA’s collection to discover how other modern masters captured the night sky, including:

Henri Rousseau’s The Sleeping Gypsy

Paul Gauguin’s The Moon and the Earth

Robert Delaunay’s Simultaneous Contrasts, Sun and Moon

Marc Chagall’s I and the Village

Georgia O’Keeffe’s Evening Star

Modern artists looked at the moon and stars in incredibly diverse ways—as a heavenly sphere, a romantic enchanter, a light source, or a geometric shape. The comparisons are bound to spark fascinating discussions!

Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night is arguably MoMA’s most beloved treasure, a painting many seek out for its inspiration and magic. In this course, we will take a closer look at this masterpiece, decoding its symbolism and exploring the earlier artists who influenced van Gogh's composition.

Beyond The Starry Night, we will tour MoMA’s collection to discover how other modern masters captured the night sky, including:

Henri Rousseau’s The Sleeping Gypsy

Paul Gauguin’s The Moon and the Earth

Robert Delaunay’s Simultaneous Contrasts, Sun and Moon

Marc Chagall’s I and the Village

Georgia O’Keeffe’s Evening Star

Modern artists looked at the moon and stars in incredibly diverse ways—as a heavenly sphere, a romantic enchanter, a light source, or a geometric shape. The comparisons are bound to spark fascinating discussions!

From its emergence amid rapid cultural change in the early 20th century, country music has resonated with people who feel left behind by a shifting world. A keygenre of American roots music, it captures hardships of modern life while intentionally evoking emotional response. Whether facing troubled relationships,unemployment, homelessness, loneliness, or spiritual bereft, there is a country song for you. This course traces the history of country and American roots music through the stories and artistic developments of influential performers. Each session highlights key figures including the Carter Family, Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, and Dolly Parton.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR:Taylor Ackley, PhD

Taylor Ackley, PhD, is a scholar, composer, and performer ofAmerican Roots music. He holds a PhD and a master’s degreein composition, and a master’s in ethnomusicology from StonyBrook University. Ackley is an independent scholar andprofessional musician based in northwestern Montana and iswriting his first book,Hearing Class. A singer and multi-instrumentalist, he has performed nationwide, released fouralbums, and presented at major conferences in music,sociology, and ethnomusicology

The public often sees the art world as the domain of wealth, trendsetters, and high rollers, yet deception wealth, trendsetters, and high rollers, yet deception lurks behind the façade. After weapons and drugs, artis the third most lucrative illicit trade, with reports suggesting that more than half of artworks are fake or misattributed. In this course, we will ask: When is a copy simply a copy, and when is it a forgery? What techniques do master forgers use? Does a collector hold true title, and how important is provenance? What can science tell us about art authenticity? We will uncover riveting stories of criminal art activity, gallery closings, and master forgeries.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Christine Maasdam

Christine Maasdam holds a master’s in humanities and abachelor’s in cultural geography. Maasdam studied art at TheCourtauld Institute, the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center, andthe University of Glasgow. She trained in art crime investigationand is a member of the International Foundation for CulturalProperty Protection. She holds Sotheby’s certifications in art lawand appraisal, serves as a museum education docent, and hasvolunteered on archaeological projects in Israel.

This course examines royal succession through acclaimed British films that explore power not as ceremony, but as moral and political crisis. We will trace the monarchy’s evolution from personal ruleto institutional authority, beginning with thePlantagenet struggles in Becket (1964) and The Lion in Winter(1968). We will then examine themoral costs of kingship and the performance of national leadership through two Shakespeare adaptations: Chimes at Midnight (1965) and Henry V (1989). The course will conclude with theTudor rupture: A Man for All Seasons(1966) and the consolidation of legitimacyElizabeth(1998).

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Bernard (Butch) Epps

Bernard (Butch) Epps earned his undergraduate degree from Loyola Marymount University, graduating cum laude as an award-winning film production major. He received his MFA from the UCLA School of Film and Television’s graduate Producers Program, where he specialized in story development and working with screenwriters. At UCLA, he served as academic liaison to the MFA Producers Program faculty, including studio heads, development executives, and industry professionals. Epps has taught film appreciation courses with a strong emphasis on story analysis.

In this course, we will examine the dramatic circumstances that gave rise to the Beat Generation in the 1940s. Together, we will examine three famous Beat works:Howl andOther Poems by Allen Ginsberg,On theRoad by Jack Kerouac, and Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs. We will focus on his torical events involving Beat writers, important passages of Beat literature, and the literary movement that spawned the1960s counter culture.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Kurt Hemmer

Kurt Hemmer is the editor of theEncyclopedia of BeatLiteratureand a professor at Harper College. Hemmer has produced award-winning documentaries on Beat poets with filmmakerTom Knoff and published extensively on Beat writers. He organized the Jack Kerouac Centenary Conference and serves as president of the Beat Studies Association. He is currently working on a biography of Beat poet Gregory Corso.

Harry S. Truman once described the presidency as “the most peculiar office in the world.” In this course, we will explore how the Founding Fathers left the office for future presidents to define, creating conditions for a dramatic expansion of executive power. We will examine how the presidency has come to dominate the three co-equal branches, with Congress and the Supreme Court at times ceding authority. We will consider how and why this shift occurred, how This peculiar office is won or lost, how they have exercised power, and how the rise of the administrative state has reshaped the balance envisioned by the framers.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: John White

John Kenneth White is a political scientist specializing in American political parties and the US presidency. White is the author of several books, including The New Politics of Old Values, Still Seeing Red, Barack Obama’s America, Grand Old Unraveling, and Democracy on the Edge, co-authored with Matthew R. Kerbel. He taught at The Catholic University of America and writes a biweekly column for The Hill, a Washington, D.C. based publication covering the White Houseand Capitol Hill.

Mexicans celebrate a remarkable diversity of peoples,music, food, festivals, and historical traditions, expressed through fiestas that bring communities together across the calendar year. In this course, we will explore Mexico City as a cultural and historicalcrossroads shaped by centuries of continuity andchange. We will trace the legacies of Indigenous civilizations, the transformations of Spanish colonial rule, the struggles for independence and revolution,and the emergence of modern democratic politics, culminating in the 2024 election of Mexico’s first woman president. We will see how culture, power, and celebration remain deeply intertwined in the life of this extraordinary city.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR:William Beezley

William Beezley is professor emeritus of history at the University of Arizona and a leading scholar of Mexican history and culture. Beezley received Mexico’s Ohtli Medal for promoting Mexican culture abroad. He has taught at several universities, held endowed chairs, served as a FulbrightSpecialist, and been a visiting professor inMexico. He directed the Oaxaca Graduate Institute and has appeared on PBS. His current research explores embroidery as a voice of Mexican women

In this course, we will explore the three fascinating realms of the cosmos: near by planets and moons; the stars; and the galaxies (the great island of stars that turn out to be the building blocks of the universe.) Our discussion will be in everyday language, without any math,and will be accompanied by remarkable color images from the latest space probes and the world's largest telescopes, including the latest breathtaking images from the James Webb Space Telescope.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Andrew Fraknoi, MS

Andrew Fraknoi, retired chair of the astronomy department at Foothill College, continues to teach noncredit astronomy courses at San Francisco State University and the University of San Francisco. He is lead author of OpenStax Astronomy, the most frequently-used, introductory astronomy textbook in North America. He appears regularly on radio, explaining astronomical developments in everyday language, and was named California Professor of theYear. He writes science fiction, has published eight stories, and has an asteroid named in his honor, recognizing his contributions to the public understanding of science.

This course traces Apple’s fifty-year history andits massive impact on personal computing,design, product culture, platforms andecosystems, and daily life. Each sessionfocuses on a different decade in Apple’shistory, from the birth of the PC in the late1970s to the latest Apple silicon, VR headsets,and future iPhones. We will learn how Applereshaped not just technology, but how peoplelive, work, and communicate.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: LeanderKahney

Leander Kahney is a veteran technology reporter who has covered Apple for more than 30 years. He has written six books about the company, including two NewYork Times bestsellers. He is the editor and publisher of Cult of Mac, a long-running Apple blog, and was previously news editor at Wired.com

In this course, we will step inside the fascinating world of kit homes and explore their history and cultural impact across North America, especially during their peak from 1905 to 1945. We will learn how to identify these mail-order houses and understand their cultural impact. We will dig into the industry’s rise and decline, industrial developments of kit homes, and their connectionst o race and gender in the early 20th century. By examining both the kit home industry and the people who lived in them, we will uncover why they remain an important part of the architectural and cultural landscape.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Nigel Tate

 

Nigel Tate is an urban planning student at Michigan State University and an architectural preservationist and historian. Tate has studied kit homes for more than a decade, delivered talks across mid-Michigan, and created a guide to kit homes in Grand Blanc, MI. His interest began with a childhood discovery and has grown into ongoing research and advocacy focused on identifying and documenting these distinctive homes.

 

This course continues our journey into how music becomes the emotional engine of film. This is not film school becomes the emotional engine of film. This is not filmschool — it is a celebration for film lovers who want to experience how music shapes story, character, and unforgettable moments. We will explore how instrumental scores and songs with lyrics work together to drive narrative, define identity, and capture cultural shifts. We will focus on films where songs take center stage, from iconic franchise themes to pop- and rock-driven storytelling.Spanning genres and eras, we will see how composers, songwriters, and performers expanded the language of film music.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Mike Agron

Born in Los Angeles’s entertainment scene, Mike Agron is a former high-tech executive and entrepreneur who now creates and delivers dynamic, story-driven seminars on music and entertainment. With a storyteller’s eye and a DJ’s ear, he has led 15 acclaimed seminar series, each spotlighting a different facet of music and entertainment.

This course introduces the scientific study of life,with an emphasis on real-world applications and the societal, social, ethical, and legal consequences of biological advances. We will place key biological principles within the context of issues that affect individuals and society,highlighting the connection between biology and everyday life. Designed for non-scientists with little or no recent college-level science experience, the course encourages discussion and reflection.Many topics are at the leading edge of scientific discovery, and we will examine the ongoing ethical and legal debates surrounding how and whether these advances should be applied.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR:Eric Simon, PhD

Eric Simon, PhD, is a professor of biology at New England College and holds a PhD in biochemistry from Harvard University. An avid traveler and award-winning nature photographer, he leads educational trips to destinations suchas Belize, the Galapagos, Tanzania, Cuba, the Amazon River, and Patagonia. Simon is also the author of a best-selling series of college biology textbooks—used in over 40 countries—with more than 2 million copies in print.

What really changes when we read beyond the abstract? In this interactive course, we wil lopen real research papers (many in health and nutrition) and explore what scientists actually look for. We will explore how small design choices can dramatically shape a study’s meaning, and why headlines rarely tell the fullstory. No technical background is required –just curiosity. By the end of the course, we will never read “studies show...” the same way again.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: John Hendrickson, PhD.

John Hendrickson, PhD, is a teaching professor in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University.He holds a PhD in chemistry and is the author of the textbook Chemistry in the World. His academic work centers on science communication and the reciprocal relationship between science and society.

People throughout time and across cultures have looked to the mountains as powerful symbols. TheBuddhists of the Himalayas, the Inca of the Andes,the Inuit of the far north, and the Romantics of Europe all created unique stories of what mountains mean and how they are to be approached. This course will provide an interdisciplinary exploration of the beliefs, traditions, and mythologies that have been inspired by the world’s mountains. Through richly illustrated lectures, short readings, and open discussion, this course will open a window into the world’s sacred mountains and encourage exploration of our relationship with the Earth’s highand wild places.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR:Jonathan Duncan

Jonathan Duncan is a photo journalist, writer, teacher, and public speaker with more than 25 years of experience. His work has been published in National Geographic,The Himalayan Journal,Sailing, Rock and Ice, and by the University of Utah Press. He has taught at the Art Institute of Portland, Western Washington University, and Westminster University.His work explores humanity’s complex relationship with the natural world, often in remote landscapes and cultures.

 

Route 66 is as much an idea as it is a place. Since its creation in 1926, America’s most famous highwayh as evolved from a 2,400-mile transportation corridor into a powerful symbol of nostalgia, travel, and the American road. Today, it functions as a kind of pilgrimage route, marked by neon signs, road side attractions, and preserved motels, cafés, and gas stations. In this course, we will explore the history, cultural meaning, and enduring appeal of Route 66.Together, we will examine its origins, rise and decline, late-20th century revival, the role of nostalgia and car culture, preservation efforts, and the possible futures of this iconic highway.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Peter Dedek, PhD

Texas State University whose work explores the cultural history of the built environment and the stories embedded in historic places. Dedek brings together cultural, design, and social history to illuminate how people shape, and are shaped by the spaces they inhabit. He is the author of Hip to the Trip: Route 66 Centennial Edition and The Cemeteries of New Orleans: A Cultural History, and wrote Historic Preservation for Designers,a guide integrating preservation with design.

America has provided fertile ground for new and alternative religions to sprout and grow. Some prosperand eventually become accepted as part of the normal religious landscape, some wither away and are forgotten, and some detonate, creating public scandal and in the worst cases, national tragedy. This course will examine New Religious Movements, popularly known as "cults", within the US context. We will examine these religious movements both from insider perspectives and outsider perceptions. We will analyze the history, practices, and beliefs of these organizations to better understand them and deconstruct misconceptions. This course covers the 18th and 19th centuries.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR:Kate Davis, PhD

Kate Davis, PhD, is an intersectional scholar and oral historian. Her work crosses between the fields of Religious Studies, Digital Humanities, and Gender Studies with a focus on North American religions. She holds a PhD in Religious Studies from Claremont Graduate University and is currently a visiting professor in Humanities and Theology at Alvernia University in Pennsylvania. Her first book, an ethnographic study of Mormonand Evangelical influencers, will be published next year.

From sleek new industrial materials to innovations in housing, mid-20th-century designers faced the challenge of shaping an aesthetic that reflected the ideals of post-World War II America. In this course, we will explore the optimism that defined the relationship between design and lifestyle during this period,particularly through the emergence of open living spaces in architecture.We will examine the influence of the Case Study Program and the work of leading designers, including Charles and Ray Eames, John Lautner, Eero Saarinen, E. Fay Jones, and Donald Wexler, while considering these developments within the broader context of rapid social and cultural change.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR:Eleanor Schrader

Eleanor Schrader is an award-winning educator, lecturer, andauthor. She lectures and leads tours worldwide on art andarchitectural history. She was named a distinguished instructor atUCLA Extension, where she teaches history of architecture,interior design, furniture, and decorative arts. She completedgraduate work in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby’s Institute inLondon and New York. She served as a design reviewcommissioner for the City of Beverly Hills and serves on the JohnLautner Foundation board of directors.

August Wilson was the first African American playwright to have a Broadway theater bear his name, a fitting tribute to a dramatist who brought African American culture and lived experience to the stage. In this course, we will read, watch, and examine the first five plays in Wilson’s American Cycle, a ten-playseries representing each decade of the African American culture’s 20th century. We will explore Wilson’s life and the influences behind his work while focusing on Gem of the Ocean, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Seven Guitars, tracing his powerful interpretation, celebration,and perseveration of African American culture

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OUR INSTRUCTOR: Ladrica Menson-Furr, PhD

Ladrica Menson-Furr, PhD, is assistant dean of undergraduate programs and associate professor of African American literature. Menson-Furr is the author of August Wilson’s Fences and August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, and has published on Zora Neale Hurston and Pearl Cleage. She has led academic programs in African American studies and served as a Provost’s Fellow and a Tennessee Board of Regents’ Maxine Smith Fellow.

Journey into the vibrant world of early 20th century art and witness the birth of abstraction.This transformative period reshaped the cultural landscape, from the bold colors of Fauvism, the fractured forms of Cubism, to the dream like realms of Surrealism. Each session focuses on the movements’leading artists including Matisse,Kandinsky, Picasso, Mondrian, Duchamp, and Dali.We will explore their aesthetic goals and the social and cultural currents that influenced them.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Lauren Weingarden

Lauren Weingarden is professor emerita of art history at FloridaState University. Her research explores the intersections of literature and visual art in 19th-century culture, with a focus on the American architect Louis Sullivan and French figures such as Charles Baudelaire and Édouard Manet. She has published extensively on these subjects and developed an interdisciplinary,embodied aesthetic model that invites viewers to re-experienceartists’ responses to modernity’s fragmentation and the fleeting qualities of nature, a perspective that shapes her teaching on Impressionism

There 1960s is a decade wrapped in myth and misunderstanding. In this course, we will cut through that haze by turning to something powerful and concrete: the speeches of the era. The times and the conditions demanded these significant speeches. Together, we will listen to the voices that moved a nation and shaped history. With recordings preserved through television, video, and YouTube, we will discover what these speeches still have to teach us today.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Arthur Benedict

Buck Benedict is a former lecturer at Wharton and the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught public speaking for 16 years. He also created and taught speech writing classes. He was awarded the first Excellence in Teaching Award at the Fels Institute and was nominated for the university-wide Provost Award for non-standing faculty.

Since the 1890s, when Americans were beginning to develop their own traditions in classical music, composers have recognized the dilemma of creating the American sound.We will explore how classical musicians, and Broadway and Hollywood composers, most of them Jewish, followed parallel paths in creating sounds that reflect these lands and its people.Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, William Grant Steel, Florence Price, Alex North, Elmer Bernstein and others will be the protagonists of this lecture.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Emanuel Abramovits

Emanuel Abramovits is a mechanical engineer and has been a concert promoter for over two decades. He is involved in events by international artists like Itzhak Perlman, Gustavo Dudamel, Sarah Brightman, Roger Hodgson, ASIA, Journey, and Kenny G. Abramovits has designed and staged original orchestral events,including an Event of the Year winner and several world premieres. He served as the cultural director at Union Israelita De Caracas, releasing books and organizing film cycles, concerts, and art exhibits.

This course is a history class with a laugh track. We will analyze the significant periods and players of the 20th and 21st Centuries against their historic context and legacy, using humor as the platform. We will discuss how comedy was shaped by and responsive to American society, and how comedians influenced and shaped American life.We will cover Silent Films,Vaudeville, Radio, Screwball and Romantic Comedies, Comedy Teams, and the Golden Age of Television.We will study how America laughed in each generation, and how the change in American character and persona shaped how they laughed and what (and whom) they laughed at.

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Eddy Friedfeld

Eddy Friedfeld is a film and entertainment journalist and historian. Friedfeld co-authored Caesar’s Hours with Sid Caesar, Directed by James Burrows with James Burrows, and worked with Mel Brooks on All About Me. He was senior consultant for the Emmy-nominated Make ’Em Laugh and aconsulting producer on Funny You Never Knew. He has produced tributes to major entertainers including George Carlin, Paul Newman, Dick Van Dyke, among others. He teaches at Yale, NYU, and the Tisch School of the Arts

We often only notice the global suppley chain when it breaks. Yet, for millennia, the movement of goods has been the silent engine of civilization. In this course, we will track the evolution of trade from an executive’s perspective. From the sunken treasures of Bronze Age merchant ships to the high-tech intermodal systems of today, we will explore the vessels that carried the world’s wealth and the complex networks that keep our modern shelves stocked. 

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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Scott Jones

Scott Jones brings a unique perspective to his lectures, combining 30 years of naval command, diplomatic service, and executive leadership in defense and maritime industries. Jones is a docent at the J. Paul Getty Museum, leading architecture and gallery tours. A retired Navy captain, he commanded three warships and a squadron, with assignments at the Pentagon and State Department. He later served as a senior executive fora defense corporation, a maritime shipping company, and ran his own consulting business.

Join OLLI Members for a free, weekly outdoor stroll along one of Pinellas County's award-winning beaches. All levels of walkers are welcome!

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If you enjoy nature walks and connecting with fellow OLLI members, join us as we explore the beautiful parks in Pinellas County. Schedules of parks will be sent out monthly. All levels of walkers are welcome. Please contact facilitator, Kathleen Passafiume at katbelinni@bellsouth.net for questions and updates.