By Jan Wahl—
Some of the best advice I ever received includes the words “stay curious.” No matter the age or circumstances, feeding the brain is important and fun. For years, I have done this as a professor at the Fromm Institute at the University of San Francisco (USF). And where else can I be called Professor Wahl?
The Fromm Institute is in a standalone building on the USF campus. It was started in 1976 by educators and philanthropists Hanna and Alfred Fromm. It’s an institute for lifelong learning, and the subjects are dynamic and academic: courses in literature, history, politics, science, film, and the arts. It’s for adults 50 and older, providing a vibrant community for intellectual engagement. All of us teach our passions, with courses running eight weeks long.
Beginning September 14, 2026, I’ll be teaching a class titled Songs, Supporting Players, and Scandals in American Film. Since last year’s class had dancing as a topic, I thought I would start with songs, so we will have clips and info on everyone from Garland to Gaga. Sometimes it’ll be a humorous song or a ballad used to move a romance along.
Next up will be supporting players: someone charismatic like the Bay Area’s own Eve Arden, the eccentric Parker Posey, the twisted Steve Buscemi, or any number of colorful characters. Sometimes stars turn into character players by becoming the drunk, the nosy neighbor, or the murderer. After this class, you’ll never look at casting a movie the same way again.
One doesn’t talk about Hollywood without talking about scandal; it’s been around Tinseltown since the beginning of film and continues to this day. We’ll travel from morphine addiction to alcoholism, from crazy courtroom cases to unresolved murders. It’s not true that all publicity is good publicity, and some of these cases have been hidden for years.
My class will be online, and you can learn more at the Fromm website
(https://bit.ly/4wMOAmq). Be sure to check out the other classes. Two that I particularly look forward to are Around the Political World with John Rothmann, and The Election and Girls in the Band: Women in Jazz with Professor Sonny Buxton, who has long named Ella Fitzgerald among his core group of cherished jazz artists. You might remember Rothmann from his many years at KGO and Buxton, who “retired” after 28 years on KCSM. They both remain active and are skilled instructors.
There are so many other courses to choose from too, each costing $175 for eight-class sessions. Fromm Executive Director Derek Leighnor helps select an amazing variety of subjects taught by articulate, experienced professors. He stresses that Fromm is academic, so, instead of providing yoga, it provides the philosophy of yoga, the lyrics and hidden meanings of Cole Porter, rather than how to play his music. Fromm gets us out of isolation and into learning. Who could ask for anything more?
Jan Wahl is a Hollywood historian and film critic on various broadcast outlets. She has two Emmys and many awards for her longtime work on behalf of film buffs and the LGBTQ community.
Off the Wahl
Published on August 13, 2026
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