Stars come and go, and I’m not referring to the stars in the sky, though they probably come and go, too. Stars, as in the big names that made history: the politicians, the musicians and artists, and the athletes. Some “big” names made a brief appearance and then faded into oblivion; others lasted on the big-name list for years or faded only to be resurrected at a later date. They all have stories to share and that’s what Jack L Hawn has done in his collection of articles, Nostalgia: Stars of Yesteryear. His writing career spanned decades in the newspaper industry and the articles he wrote are part of the history these “big” names nurtured. From John F. Kennedy to the Andrews Sisters, and many more between and beyond, the stories celebrate a life that once was.

Jack L Hawn’s Nostalgia: Stars of Yesteryear is a fascinating look at the famous celebrities of years gone by. The book consists of fifty articles: stories, interviews, and features that the author wrote mostly covering sports and entertainment, but also including historical features. All these articles were published in the Los Angeles Times where the author worked until 1991. The articles paint a picture of life across the decades of the last half of the twentieth century. Varying in length, they are all written in newspaper, reporting style. At the end are some author’s notes, including a summary of one story he wrote in collaboration, a story that would have suited the TV show, The Twilight Zone. Overall, a fascinating read.

Nostalgia: Stars of Yesteryear is a work of non-fiction in the journalism, celebrity history, and memoir subgenres. Penned by author Jack L Hawn, this charming work is a collection of over 50 articles featuring famous celebrities from the past, transposed from newspaper clippings during the author's tenure covering sports and entertainment at the Los Angeles Times until his retirement in 1991. From big-band leaders like Les Brown to significant events such as Muhammad Ali's title loss, the articles range in depth and length, offering readers a glimpse into various facets of American history and pop culture, from World War II to the Rat Pack era. Hawn has curated a narrative of his own life taken through snapshots of celebrity news, and readers will be delightfully guided by the author's firsthand accounts and interviews with iconic figures from decades past.

The book's unique format, comprising articles originally published in newspapers, added an authentic touch to the narrative firmly rooted in the original period, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the total nostalgia of yesteryear. I was fascinated to learn more about the big names we all know and love, but there were also profiles of people I’d never heard of before that expanded my knowledge of the entertainment landscape of the era even further. Jack L Hawn's personal reflections and anecdotes enriched the narrative with more context around the articles and their purpose, but also because we see so much of his personality in the work as a result. As someone who appreciates both history and storytelling, delving into the lives and legacies of these stars from the past was both enlightening and enjoyable. Overall, I would certainly recommend Nostalgia: Stars of Yesteryear as a work of history and memoir that delivers everything it promises.