Film & Music: History & Appreciation   

Step behind the curtain of one of Hollywood’s most beloved classics in this captivating lecture on The Wizard of Oz (1939). Discover the untold stories that shaped the magic, the on-set accidents and near-disasters, the surprising cast replacements, the unseen footage, and the behind-the-scenes intrigue that brought Dorothy’s journey to life.

Every reel of this Technicolor masterpiece hides astonishing secrets: from toxic makeup and blazing costumes to the mysterious fate of the Tin Man’s first actor. Packed with rare insights and fascinating trivia, this session will make you see The Wizard of Oz as you’ve never seen it before, where movie magic met real-life mayhem on the yellow brick road.

Take a cinematic journey through the lives and legacies of three unforgettable Hollywood greats: Meryl Streep, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio. With curated film clips, behind-the-scenes insights, and lively guided discussions, the classes will explore how each of these icons shaped American film and culture through their groundbreaking performances, creative vision, and lasting influence on the industry.

To sign up individually, follow the links below:

• Legends of the Silver Screen: Meryl Streep, Thursday, 4/23
• Legends of the Silver Screen: Martin Scorsese, Thursday, 5/21
• Legends of the Silver Screen: Leonardo DiCaprio, Thursday, 6/4

In this class, we will explore the extraordinary career of one of the most beloved and respected actors in film history, Meryl Streep. Celebrated for her transformative performances, technical mastery, feminist leadership, and emotional depth, Streep has built a body of work that spans genres, decades, and cultures. From her roles in Kramer vs. Kramer, The Deer Hunter, and Sophie’s Choice to The Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia!, and even playing the president in Don’t Look Up, we’ll examine how she balances craft and charisma while continually reinventing herself. Through curated film clips, historical context, and guided discussion, this course will explore Streep as an actor of unmatched range and a cultural force who reshaped expectations of women on screen.

In this class, we will pay tribute to one of the most influential filmmakers in American cinema, Martin Scorsese. Celebrated for his electrifying style, moral complexity, and deep passion for film history, Scorsese has spent decades exploring themes of crime, masculinity, faith, obsession, and redemption. From Taxi Driver and Goodfellas to Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Killers of the Flower Moon, we’ll examine how his dynamic camera work, editing rhythms, and long-standing collaborations have shaped modern filmmaking. Through curated film clips, historical context, and guided discussion, this course will examine why Scorsese remains both a master storyteller and one of cinema’s greatest directors almost sixty years after his directorial debut.

In this class, we will examine the evolution of Leonardo DiCaprio from teen heartthrob to one of the most critically acclaimed actors of his generation. Beginning with his early breakout roles and moving through acclaimed performances in films like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Titanic, The Departed, Inception, The Revenant, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and One Battle After Another, we’ll explore how DiCaprio built a career rooted in risk-taking and reinvention. Through curated film clips, historical context, and guided discussion, this course will highlight his intense, often method-influenced screen presence, frequent collaborations with major directors, and commitment to complex, often morally ambiguous characters, thereby solidifying his status as a modern legend of the silver screen.

This lecture traces the meteoric rise and lasting legacy of the "King of Rock and Roll." We explore how Elvis blended diverse musical styles to spark a global cultural revolution, inspiring a generation of legends like John Lennon, David Bowie, and Bruce Springsteen. The journey follows Elvis from his humble beginnings in poverty to his dual stardom in music and film, through the lean years of the British Invasion, and into his triumphant 1968 "Comeback Special." We conclude with his final era as a Las Vegas headliner—a period marked by massive success, personal struggles, and his untimely death at 42—to understand his permanent impact on popular culture.