Monday 10 August 2026 - 1p (In-Person or via Zoom)

North Shore Senior Center (Northfield, IL)

It's Good to Be King: The High-Octane Humor of Mel Brooks

From the Borscht Belt to the Oscar stage, Mel Brooks has spent a century making the world laugh. Explore the life and legacy of this Emmy-, Grammy-, Oscar-, Tony-winning powerhouse who conquered Broadway, TV, and film and dive into his "fearless" brand of satire and look at how he turned taboos into comedy gold in classics like The Producers and Blazing Saddles. Celebrate a career built on wit, heart, and pure chutzpah.

Registration - $15 for members; $20 for non-members - click here to register.

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Thursday 24  September 2026 - 2p (In-Person)

Moderne Green Oaks (Lake Bluff, IL)

Fred Astaire: Style and Grace on Screen

“Can't sing. Can’t act. Balding. Dances a little.” – Hollywood lore says these were the notes some unnamed studio executive wrote after seeing a screen test for dancer Fred Astaire. Not only was Astaire one of the best dancers on screen, but he also changed the way dance sequences in movies were filmed. A discussion of his talent and presentation of some of his best dance numbers.​.

Program is for residents.

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Monday 28 September 2026 - 6:30p (In-Person)

Prospect Heights Public Library

Where No TV Show has Gone Before: The Making of Star Trek

Star Trek premiered on September 8, 1966. Cancelled after three seasons, it might have been forgotten, but Star Trek has gone where no TV show has gone before, spinning off 11 different series, a film franchise, and becoming a cult phenomenon. Learn how the series was created as well as the show’s cultural significance.

Click here for registration information. Registration begins on Aug. 20.​​

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Wednesday 30 September 2026 - 1p (In-Person)

Dickinson Hall Senior Center (Lake Forest, IL)

Hollywood Ghost Stories

Hollywood stars lived the finest homes, stayed at the swankiest hotels and worked at studios called the “dream factories.” And a few have remained, long after their deaths. Hear stories of the more famous haunts and hauntings throughout the City of Angels and elsewhere.

Need to be a member; see this page for membership information; additional class fees may apply

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Friday 2 October 2026 - 1p (In-Person)

Clarendale of Algonquin

Hollywood Ghost Stories

Hollywood stars lived the finest homes, stayed at the swankiest hotels and worked at studios called the “dream factories.” And a few have remained, long after their deaths. Hear stories of the more famous haunts and hauntings throughout the City of Angels and elsewhere.

Program is for residents.​

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Monday 5 October 2026 - 7p (In-Person)

Wood Dale Public Library

Hollywood Ghost Stories

Hollywood stars lived the finest homes, stayed at the swankiest hotels and worked at studios called the “dream factories.” And a few have remained, long after their deaths. Hear stories of the more famous haunts and hauntings throughout the City of Angels and elsewhere.

Click here for registration information. Registration begins on Sept. 1.

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Thursday 8 October 2026 - 1p (In-Person)

Schaumburg Township District Library

250 Years of Crime and Justice

Behind the grand narrative of America's 250-year history lies a parallel chronicle of infamy. Join us for a fascinating journey through the "crimes of the century" that stopped the nation in its tracks.

Registration - I'll post a link when it's available

 

Thursday 29 October 2026 - 7p (In-Person)

Elk Grove Village Public Library

The War of the Worlds Broadcast – The Night that Terrified America

On October 30, 1938, Orson Welles, director/star of the anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air, presented a production of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds. Learn about the production, the audience reaction, and the program’s aftermath. Portions of the program will also be played for the audience.

Registration - I'll post a link when it's available

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Friday 13 November 2026 - 1p (In-Person)

Clarendale of Algonquin

The Hollywood Canteen: The Original Dancing with the Stars

The Hollywood Canteen, founded by actors John Garfield and Bette Davis, was a haven for servicemen during World War II. For nearly three years, the biggest stars in Hollywood entertained, fed, and jitterbugged their way into the hearts of over five million servicemen and women.

Program is for residents.

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Monday 23 November 2026 - 1p (In-Person or via Zoom)

North Shore Senior Center

The Hollywood Canteen: The Original Dancing with the Stars

The Hollywood Canteen, founded by actors John Garfield and Bette Davis, was a haven for servicemen during World War II. For nearly three years, the biggest stars in Hollywood entertained, fed, and jitterbugged their way into the hearts of over five million servicemen and women.

Registration - $15 for members; $20 for non-members - click here to register.

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Monday 14 December 2026 - 1p (In-Person or via Zoom)

North Shore Senior Center

Total Collapse: A Deep Dive Into Disaster Movies

From towering infernos to world-ending asteroids, disaster cinema has captivated audiences for decades by turning our deepest fears into high-octane spectacles. We explore the evolution of the genre, examining how ground-breaking special effects and recurring tropes relect our societal anxieties. Join us as we dissect the survival stories and the cinematic artistry behind Hollywood's most iconic and heart-pounding catastrophes.

Registration - $15 for members; $20 for non-members - click here to register.

 

Monday 11 January 2027, 1p (In-Person)

Prospect Heights Public Library

Movie Magic: The History of Special Effects

Discover how cinematic illusions came to life! From George Méliès' hand-painted trick films and stop-motion monstres to photorealistic CGI, explore the evolution of visual and practical effects. Trace the iconic milestones, briliant innovators, and ground-breaking technologies that transformed movie magic and forever changed the way we experience storytelling on the screen.

Registration - I'll post a link when it's available

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Wednesday 10 February 2027, 1p (In-Person)

Prospect Heights Public Library

Chicago Mobsters and the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

Learn about the rise of organized crime in Chicago, leading to the gangland killing in a Clark Street garage on February 14, 1929.

Registration - I'll post a link when it's available

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Wednesday 10 February 2027, 7p (In-Person)

Warrenville Public Library

Chicago Mobsters and the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

Learn about the rise of organized crime in Chicago, leading to the gangland killing in a Clark Street garage on February 14, 1929.

Registration - I'll post a link when it's available

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