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The Beatles’ earth-shaking 1964 tour of North America turned the entertainment business on its ear and forever changed the landscape of concert touring. This multimedia lecture will cover perspectives from the group’s inner circle, the promoters, hucksters, AM radio “Boss” DJs, photographers and, of course, the fans. We’ll explore the inner workings of the tour — a staggering 32 shows in 26 venues in 24 cities in just 33 days — and some controversies and wild predictions that followed the Fab Four all over the continent.
Format: 50% Lecture, 10% Interactive discussion, 40% Multimedia
Can you tell the difference between a fin whale and a blue whale? How about a quick ID on a Pacific white-sided dolphin? Learn the basics for identifying some of the many spectacular marine mammals that live off the coast of California, as well as economical driving trips and the best landings for whale watching. Also, learn how to safely approach marine mammals for the best picture opportunities, and get photo tips from a professional marine life photographer.
Format: 40% Lecture, 60% Visual presentation
Remember some of the words used and jokes made when we were growing up? Can you imagine the reaction if such language were used today? How did we become so sensitive as a society? As we struggle to be both social and socially sensitive, what topics are off limits? Are there words we should never use? Are there still “safe spaces” where we can speak freely? Explore how conversation has evolved over the last few decades, and how to safely have a polite conversation. With humor and caution, we’ll identify topics that are still safe, and those you should avoid like the plague.
Format: 70% Lecture, 30% Interactive discussion
This solo performance celebrates actor-educator Rob Crisell’s more than two decades of devotion to the works of William Shakespeare. Using humor, wit, stuffed animals, a slide show, and a few surprises, Crisell shows you how to “crack Shakespeare’s code”; the importance of verbs; and how Shakespeare influenced Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and others. He’ll also share his personal Shakespearean journey, which began with a disinterest in high school, avoidance in college, and finally falling in love with the Bard during a year in northeast Pennsylvania. Prepare for Shakespeare to be exciting, approachable, intelligible, and memorable.
Format: 70% Lecture/Performance, 10% Interactive discussion, 20% Audience participation
Lydia Knapp Horton and the Wednesday Club established San Diego’s Carnegie Library, and architect Hazel Wood Waterman designed the club’s building (Ivy Lane at Sixth). Anna Held’s Green Dragon Colony in La Jolla was filled with artists and musicians — mostly women — including philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, who lived there while her house was being built. Kate Sessions provided landscaping for the city. Katherine Tingley created the theosophical Lomaland community in Point Loma. We’ll look at the lives of these and many other women who left their indelible mark on San Diego.
Format: 70% Lecture, 30% Interactive discussion
Yes! Humans really are causing earthquakes! Discover how the recent oil and gas revolution has led to unintended earthquakes of unprecedented proportions across the United States, including our own backyard. Learn about the history of man-made earthquakes and — through a live demonstration — the physics of the problem. We’ll also discuss how our scientific understanding of the subject matter has evolved with time.
Format: 80% Lecture, 10% Interactive discussion, 10% Demonstration
Does a poem always have to rhyme? Not if you’re a modernist poet. They threw rhyme schemes out the window, as demonstrated by William Carlos Williams, one of America’s foremost modernists: “so much depends/upon/a red wheel/barrow/glazed with rain/water/beside the white/chickens.” Learn all about the modernists and why Williams thought a poem was “a little machine.”
Format: 40% Lecture, 40% Interactive discussion, 20% Hands-on activity
June 12 - June 12
Ever wondered how radio, the oldest of the electronic mass media, can live in the era of the internet, podcasts, social media, and the smartphone? Explore the enduring pull of storytelling by learning about the history of radio through active listening to “old-time radio drama” and modern classics. You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at how KPBS manages content across multiple platforms, including radio, and how decisions are made about content presentation. Includes a tour of the KPBS facilities. Class meets in the lobby of the KPBS building.
Format: 60% Lecture, 40% Interactive discussion
Our nation’s seventh president, hero of the Battle of New Orleans and co-founder of the Democratic Party, fought Indians, barely survived a duel, and stood firm against South Carolina’s threat to secede. Considered the “people’s president,” Andrew Jackson opposed the National Bank, defied the Supreme Court, and supported the Indian Removal Act. Learn about the fascinating life of our first populist president, how he set precedents for the use of presidential power, and how it affects the presidency even to this day.
Format: 70% Lecture, 30% Interactive discussion
“My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!” said Mandy Patinkin (repeatedly) in his iconic role in The Princess Bride. Now you too can fight like Inigo. Have a great time learning basic sword fighting techniques for stage and screen — from safety skills, to cuts, thrusts, parries, and attacks. By the end of the workshop, you’ll be able to do a slow, modified sword fight. Physical requirements are the ability to move and stand throughout most of the 2-hour class sessions, and easily get from a seated to standing position.
Format: 15%, Lecture, 10% Interactive discussion, 75% Hands-on activity