The History of Doo-Wop

6 Mondays, October 2–November 6, 10am–12pm

Doo-wop was the most popular black music style in the 1950s. Its origins go back as far as the 1930s with male gospel quartets and vocal groups like the Mills Brothers and the Ink Spots. The use of nonsense syllables sung by background singers such as shoo bee doo wop bah dah, the use of a falsetto voice above the melody, and a pronounced bass voice became the basis of this genre. In this course, we trace its development beginning in the 1950s with the Ravens, The Spaniels, The Cadillacs, and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. This is followed by Dion and the Belmonts, the Penguins, and the Skyliners through the late 1950's and early 1960's. We also look at influential disc jockeys and record promoters who made these sounds mainstream.

REG# 393513 | INSTRUCTOR: Marvin Rosenberg

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $115 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $34

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 114.

Ukraine at War {New Course}

6 Wednesdays, October 2–November 13 (no meeting Oct. 23), 1–3pm

Since Vladimir Putin ordered his tanks across the Ukrainian frontier in February 2022, little has gone to plan. Russia’s blitzkrieg failed and the conflict became bogged down in months of grinding stalemate before Ukraine launched successful counter-offensives in the east and south. In this course, we explore the origins of the conflict including a glimpse into Russian history, the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe more than 30 years ago, and the heroism of the Ukrainian people. This course uses the Hybrid (Flexible) format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 393556 | INSTRUCTOR: Peter Cipkowski

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $115 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $34

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 119.

2024 Election Preview {New Course}

6 Thursdays, October 5–November 9, 1–2:30pm

The 2024 United States elections not only determine the presidency, but all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 34 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate, as well as state legislative races and ballot measures. In this course, we look at the expected competitive elections for 2024, including the presidential election, the March California primary, the California U.S. Senate race to replace Senator Feinstein, the impact of the Trump investigations, the impact of abortion on elections, the important propositions on the California ballot, and other issues that will affect the election. Each class meeting features a guest speaker as well as a discussion of the events of the day.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 393339 | INSTRUCTOR: Bob Stern

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $105 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $31

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

The Blues: How Three-Chords Became Rock 'n Roll

8 Wednesdays, Oct 18–Dec 13 (no meeting Nov. 22), 1–3pm

Rock ‘n’ roll exists because of the blues. Songs sung by enslaved Africans in the southern U.S. became gospel music, the acoustic blues of the Mississippi Delta, the electrified sounds of Chicago, and the rhythm and blues associated with Memphis. When this music became mainstream in the fifties, rock ‘n’ roll was born, creating careers for artists like Aretha Franklin, The Drifters, and a guy named Elvis. The blues inspired rock groups on both sides of the ocean, the soulful sounds of Motown and Philadelphia, and hip hop/rap music. In this course, we listen to music clips to understand the evolution of rock ‘n’ roll, and how it produced social change and technological advancement worldwide. Historic recordings are presented, including the Georgia Sea Island Singers recorded by Alan Lomax, Delta blues artists, Chicago blues, and Memphis R&B.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 393744 | INSTRUCTOR: Andrew Muson

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $135 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $40

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Art Deco Splendors of Downtown Los Angeles {New Course}

2 Tuesdays, November 7–14, 1–3pm

Downtown Los Angeles boasts an abundance of Art Deco structures which heralded the city’s growth in the 1920s and 1930s. In this course, we look at the Central Library, City Hall, the Oviatt Building, the Eastern Columbia Building, the Cal Edison Building, and others. These iconic buildings feature dazzling interior and exterior details, and incorporate a variety of symbolic sculptures, historical murals, paintings, and decorative objects. Archival and contemporary photos contribute to our discussion of the architecture, extensive art installations, and the city’s fascinating past.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 393748 | INSTRUCTOR: Eleanor Schrader

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $85 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $25

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

Andrew Jackson and Jacksonian Democracy

4 Mondays, November 20–December 11, 1–3pm

Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. He was a politician and leader who became a political and social icon for a generation of Americans in the first half of the nineteenth century and was one of the most transformative and controversial presidents in US history. In this course, we explore Jackson's early life and military career along with the political rise of the near West as a distinct region and a force in American society. With seminal crises involving the Second National Bank, Nullification, the Cherokees' Trail of Tears, and many other events, Jackson's presidential tenure represented a clear demarcation away from the patrician politics of the era of the founding fathers and towards a democracy that was, by turns, more inclusive, more populist, and more volatile.

This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.

REG# 393652 | INSTRUCTOR: Jared Day

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $100 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $30

REMOTE: Zoom information is emailed to students two days before the course begins.

The National Theatre: A Performance & History Study

5 Tuesdays, November 7– December 12 (no meeting Nov. 21), 1–4pm

The Royal National Theatre, commonly called The National, was founded in 1962 and stages over 20 productions a year, ranging from new plays to classics from the world repertoire. In this course, we view recent productions, including A Streetcar Named Desire, Angels in America, A View from the Bridge, and Romeo and Juliet. Screenings are followed by discussion to evaluate and analyze these dramatic works. We also explore the rich history of The National Theatre, consider the role it played in shaping British arts and culture, and look at contributions of three directors: Sir Laurence Olivier, Peter Hall, and Nicholas Hytner.

REG# 394682 | INSTRUCTOR: Marvin Rosenberg

BASIC MEMBER FEE: $130 | PLUS MEMBER FEE: $39

IN-PERSON: UCLA Extension Gayley Center, 1145 Gayley Ave., Room 114.