Norwood Cinema Granted One-Year License Amid Board Division Over X-Rated Film Restrictions-October 2, 1974

In a tight 3–2 vote last night, the Board of Selectmen agreed to grant new Norwood Cinema owner Roger A. Lockwood a standard one-year operating license rather than subjecting the business to weekly renewals.

License Vote and Content Restrictions

The debate over the license length hinged primarily on the regulation and exhibition of adult films. Under the terms of the approved license, Lockwood is strictly prohibited from showing any X-rated films without prior approval from the board.

Selectman William F. Butters, joined by Selectman Charles L. Rich, strongly opposed the annual license, arguing it stripped the board of necessary oversight. “Granting an annual license throws the board’s responsibility to restrict X-rated films right out the window,” Butters argued. He issued a stern warning to the cinema owner: “There might be some night when you come in for license renewal when all the members are not here and I will vote against you and you might not get your license back.”

Conversely, Selectman John F. Lydon, joined by Chairman Joseph W. Wall and Selectman Joseph F. Curran, maintained that the restrictions placed on the annual permit provided just as much legal protection as weekly check-ins. “We have as much protection here as we will on a weekly license,” Lydon said.

Lockwood, whose cinema reopened last weekend after the previous owner filed for bankruptcy the prior year, assured the board that showing adult films was not part of his business plan: “It is not my policy to show an X-rated film… I certainly feel restricted.” When asked if weekly renewals would pose a hardship, he dismissed the idea as “a nuisance—I don’t see any need for it.”

Electric Light Deposit Unchanged

While Lockwood secured his one-year license, he was unsuccessful in his bid to ease a $2,400 electric light deposit requirement. Selectmen voted against allowing him to spread the payments across four $600 monthly installments. However, prompted by a warning from the Chamber of Commerce that steep deposit burdens could stifle local business growth, the board directed Town Manager John P. Mogan to review the town’s current deposit formula for potential reductions that could benefit multiple local merchants.

Other Municipal Actions

• Airport Runway Threshold: Selectmen voted 4–1 (with Butters opposed) to approve an airport commission request to seek $800 at the upcoming special town meeting. The funds will establish a runway threshold on Runway 10 at Norwood Airport—approved by the Federal Aviation Administration—prohibiting planes from landing on the first 1,000 feet to mitigate noise over the Rock Street and Winfield Street residential areas.
• Police Firepower Review: Firearms specialist John O’Keeffe of Norwood presented professional recommendations to selectmen on upgrading police department firepower in the wake of recent bank robberies, suggesting the department consider transitioning from standard .38 revolvers to magnum automatic pistols, though noting substantial changeover costs.
• Administrative Hiring Debate: A debate arose over hiring out-of-town residents versus locals when Town Manager Mogan recommended a Braintree resident for office manager in the electric light department. Chairman Wall objected in favor of qualified Norwood applicants, but the board resolved the matter by agreeing to interview both the Braintree candidate and the top-ranked local candidate.
• Meeting Schedule Change: Selectmen voted to experiment with shifting regular meeting times to 4:00 p.m. starting October 22, and officially accepted Mogan’s recommendation to create a new municipal parks department.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger