THE BOOTLEGGER

A Story of Small-Town America

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I'll be at New Copperfield's Book Service tomorrow signing copies of TALK ABOUT KELLY and THE BOOTLEGGER DVD. 

Ryan  —Dec. 22, 2017

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Click the link to watch:

1) Our brand new Official Film Trailer!

2) A new and improved version of The Bootlegger!

Watch On Demand on your computer, iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast.

After more than a year of feedback on the original theatrical release, I have made a whole slew of changes.

• New footage, photos, and sound bytes • New text to identify people and places • New visual treatment of photos/maps/headlines • And much more!

I’d say the film is about 20% better. What do you think?

Ryan  —Dec. 8, 2017

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Available in McDonough County

We ❤️ the local businesses, nonprofits, and organizations that have supported us over the years! Right now, DVDs of The Bootlegger and our book Talk About Kelly: interview transcripts are available at Colchester District Library, Macomb Square Music, and New Copperfield's Book Service. Making The Bootlegger: production scrapbook is available only at Colchester District Library. Every DVD and book sold puts money back into the local economy.  —Oct. 18, 2017

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An ongoing dialogue

Merchants and local man weigh in on Confederate flag as racist symbol

Part 1 of an excellent article by Michelle Langhout of The McDonough County Voice Newspaper (part 2 will be published on Tuesday). It contains quotes from John Hallwas's book The Bootlegger and from our new book Talk About Kelly.  —Oct. 1, 2017

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Sunday Special! It's our last day at Colchester Labor Day Celebration, and we are knocking $$ off all our DVDs and books. Prices may drop more and more as the day goes on....  —Sep. 3, 2017

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Video of our Booth

Our booth at Colchester Labor Day Celebration.  —Sep. 1, 2017

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Free t-shirt with any book purchase this weekend at Colchester Labor Day Celebration!  —Aug. 31, 2017

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"They're here!"

They're here!

• Talk About Kelly: interview transcripts • Making The Bootlegger: production scrapbook

Available tomorrow afternoon and all weekend long at our booth in the city park at Colchester Labor Day Celebration.

We'll also have discounted DVDs, t-shirts, posters, and soundtrack CDs.

See ya in the park!  —Aug. 30, 2017

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We have TWO new books coming out on September 1st!

Talk About Kelly: interview transcripts • 19 complete interviews (recorded 2011-2013) • 149 archival images • 308 pages • 6"x9" paperback • Black & white • $20

Making The Bootlegger: production scrapbook • A behind-the-scenes chronicle of THE BOOTLEGGER nonfiction film, 8 years in the making. • 165 pictures • Director's notes • Letters from the crew • Scripts in progress • Production timeline • And more • 256 pages • 8.5" x 11" paperback • Full color • $30

Copies will be available at our Colchester Labor Day Celebration booth.

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My table is all set up in Chandler Park for Heritage Days - Macomb, IL. Having a little blowout sale of $5 for DVDs and shirts, this weekend only. Small posters are free.  —Jun. 23, 2017

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Hey Hey! It's almost time for Heritage Days - Macomb, IL. I'll have a booth in Chandler Park all weekend. Stop by and chat, and get a sneak peak at Talk About Kelly, the upcoming companion book to the film. Of course, I'll also have DVDs, posters, shirts, and CDs for sale. Will there be a Heritage Days Discount? Yep.

- Ryan  —Jun. 15, 2017

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Special Features

Since Christmas, I've been working heavily on a book of special features called Talk About Kelly. It's got complete interview transcripts, behind-the-scenes production photos, director's notes, and gobs of other stuff. If all goes well, I'll be launching the book during Heritage Days (Jun 23-25) in Macomb. Just signed up for a spot in Chandler Park. Hope to see you there!

I'm really excited for this book. It's unusual to see a companion book for a tiny independent documentary like ours, but what the heck. I've collected a huge amount of material over the years, way more than I could fit into the film, and this is the best way for me to share it with you. A coffee table book!

I've archived, transcribed, punctuated, designed and edited this book myself, with support from Kate E Walker and Ted Carstensen. It'll also be self-published. At this point I'm using a service called CreateSpace (via Amazon), unless anyone knows of an affordable book printer?!? ....

Cheers! Ryan

—Mar. 29, 2017

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Documentary film brings bootleg-era legend to life

Local people from across the Tri-State Area Thursday filled the Round Room of the Keokuk Public Library in part to relive their own memories of the tale of Thomas Henry

Great article today by the Daily Gate City about a recent screening in Keokuk, Iowa.  —Feb. 23, 2017

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New book coming out this summer!  —Feb. 22, 2017

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Watch The Bootlegger Online | Vimeo On Demand

THE BOOTLEGGER is the story of Henry “Kelly” Wagle, a hometown gangster turned folk hero in the town of Colchester, Illinois (population 1,493). It is…

NEW: Watch The Bootlegger On Demand on your computer, iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast! —Jan. 6, 2017

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300+ Copies Sold in 1st Month

#TheBootlegger DVD has been out 1 month, and we've sold over 300 copies via 1 retail store, 1 public library, and #DIY mail order.