re: #87 A Three Hour Tour

Yes, I spent my childhood and adolescence following various free speech and obscenity debates.

Were you stationed in Norfolk when the vice squad raided a midnight showing of “Taxi zum Klo” at the Naro Theater?

Okay, so I had to look that up. That raid was in 1980, so yes, I was in Virginia Beach. That said, I’ve never heard of the film. There is a blurb about it in the Virginian Pilot, along with the history of the theatre.

75 years - The Naro Expanded Cinema (December 23, 2011)

Nor has every film met the standards of society’s definition of vice.

A 1980 German work, “Taxi zum Klo,” was the most controversial film, Vourlas recalls.

The film was about a homosexual teacher who cruised restroom toilets at night for partners.

“It was named the best film of the year by the Boston Film Society,” Vourlas said.

The film showed for one night and the house was packed with 500 men.

But it was a night to remember.

The vice squad and a magistrate from the city showed up.

“They confiscated the film and we got charged, but the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor,” Vourlas said. “It made national news.”

and

The Naro opened as The Colley Theater on Feb. 24, 1936. It was built for $75,000, a small fortune for that era.

The opening night picture was a Shakespearian adaptation, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland and Dick Powell.

(more)