American Cinema in 18 Films Part I: 1900-1966 NEW

Dates: 1/5/26 - 2/9/26

Time: Mondays, 6 - 8 pm

Location: Online Course (Zoom)

Instructor: Aaron Spears

Class #: W26-10

Want a wide-angle look at the history of Hollywood and the evolution of American films? This session is for anyone curious about how movies not only entertain but also reveal the values and ideas of their time. Each week we’ll watch a film and discuss its impact on American society.

The first session covers the birth of motion pictures through 1966, using 6 landmark films -- including Sherlock Jr., It Happened One Night and Sweet Smell of Success -- to show how cinema both mirrored and shaped the American experience.

Register

Registration opens on 12/7/2025 at 9 am

Clicking Register will take you to our third-party class registration site.

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Your Instructor

Aaron Spears earned a Bachelor’s degree in Film History from Wright State University and a Master’s in Library Science from Kent State University. He spent 13 years managing the Cedar Lee Theater, seven years on the Selection Committee for the Cleveland International Film Festival and the past 35 years watching every film he could get his eyes on. He currently programs films for Kanopy.