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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 02-24 Maplewood council finalizes ban on X-rated outdoor movies THE REVIEW l',,•''ik ri p'4.--7.'.n\q40.7 r-t,nrA reNkirt. rP fi r e fcDzes ° bad /c 6 Xrated `t u s a v r , � t An ordinance which would ban X-rated The city attorneys, John Bannigan and "This ordinance shall take effect and be movies from outdoor movie theaters Don Lais,were instructed to bring back a in force from and after its passage and received final, and unanimous, approval more concise ordinance. That ordinance publication." from the Maplewood City Council last states: Mayor Robert Bruton still had some Thursday night. "The showing of motion pictures rated doubts about the enforceability of the The drafting of an ordinance to ban "X"by the Motion Picture Ass•;ciation is ordinance when he asked on what grounds pornographic movies was raised by hereby prohibited at Drive-In theatres the city would justify its adoption. Councihnan Norman Anderson, in April, wherein such show is visible from Attorney Lais told him that the ban when he reported that the Plaza theatre, property outside the premises of the would be imposed on grounds that an indoor moviehouse, had shown the X- drive-in theatre. The drive-in theatre showing X-rated movies constitutes a rated film "Flesh Gordon." He urged shall mean, and include, any land or public safety hazard. swift action to ban such flicks at outdoor premises, containing a stage or screen Councilman Burton Murdock, who was theaters. designed primarily for the presentation absent from Last Thursday night's and exhibition of motion pictures, still meeting, supported such a ban on An original ordinance was patterned pictures, slides or shows. • previous occasions.But he added that the after one in Modesto, California. That "No motion picture theatre owner nor counciI's action would only bring un- ordinance would have banned the showing employee or agent thereof shall permit needed publicity to a "dying" industry. of explicit portrayal and exhibition of persons under the Minnesota statutory human sexuality and nudity at the drive- age of majority to view any movie rated in theaters.But the council later rejected "X" by the Motion Picture Association, that draft of the ordinance on grounds nor to be in the room wherein such X- that it would probably be unenforceable. rated motion picture is being shown.