We prove three results concerning convolution operators and lacunary maximal functions associated to dilates of measures. First, we obtain an $H^1$ to $L^{1,\infty}$ bound for lacunary maximal operators under a dimensional assumption on the underlying measure and an assumption on an $L^p$ regularity bound for some $p>1$. Secondly, we obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for $L^2$ boundedness of lacunary maximal operator associated to averages over convex curves in the plane. Finally we prove an $L^p$ regularity result for such averages. We formulate various open problems.

To appear in the Marcinkiewicz Centenary Volume (Banach Center Publications 95)