Outlaws, Rebels, & Vixens: Motion Picture Censorship in Milwaukee, 1914-1971

Book excerpt: For nearly 60 years, the Milwaukee Motion Picture Commission (MMPC) had the last word on what was suitable for exhibition at local movie theaters. Born of the high ideals of the Progressive Era, the MMPC evolved into one of the nation's strictest censor boards, and kept hundreds of scenes and films from playing in Milwaukee that ran elsewhere with little to no interference. From the bawdy antics of silent-era comedians to the unabashed sexuality of 1960s, the MMPC saw itself as a defender of Milwaukee's morality throughout a half-century of great change and tumult. As the first-ever book-length examination of a local film censor board, Outlaws, Rebels, & Vixens tells the long-forgotten story of the battle for Milwaukee's cinematic soul. Includes a full index of all films either censored or banned by the MMPC.