1920s, Censorship, and Hollywood

Join us at Subtext Bookstore on Wednesday, November 4th at 7 PM for an event with Glenn R. Miller, who will be discussing his recent release, Rough Cuts.

It's 1926, and the world of film is about to change forever.

On the cusp of "talkies," directors and actors fear their greatest days might soon be behind them. Patrick J. Shepard, a director at the end of his career, has just completed his masterpiece, his vehicle for eternal fame. But there's one problem: Ohio.

Harold Dawdry, the young, second-string minister at a small church in a corner of Ohio, has been appointed to the State Film Censorship Board. He regards this appointment as his ticket to the power and relevance he desperately craves. And there is one director who has particularly rankled his delicate sensibilities: Patrick J. Shepard. The minister feels Ohio is best served if Shepard makes drastic cuts to his final film.

The silent film era is about to get loud.

"If you love history with a comic edge, this one is for you." -Randy Susan Meyers, internationally bestselling author of The Many Mothers of Ivy Puddingstone

Glenn R. Miller is the author of two novels, Doorman Wanted (Koehler Books, 2024) and Rough Cuts (Koehler Books, September, 2026). He launched his professional career by working on television soap operas and game shows on the back lots of NBC Burbank. He holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and has served as a CBS-affiliate news producer, an executive speechwriter, and creative director at production agencies within the Twin Cities. His published writings range from a regularly featured column in the Minneapolis-based Southwest Journal, NPR’s Marketplace, Writer's Digest, LitHub, and others.

Registration is encouraged:

Parking: Street parking is $1.25/hour after 6 PM. Union Depot Parking Lot A and B have the best rates, at $4-8/hour. You can learn more here: https://www.uniondepot.org/parking/daily/ . The closest ramp, Victory Parkings Lawson Ramp is $8/hour. You can learn more here: https://www.victoryparking.com/lawson-ramp