erznoznik city jacksonville argued february decided june jacksonville ordinance making public nuisance punishable offense movie theater exhibit films containing nudity screen visible public street place held facially invalid infringement first amendment rights pp ordinance discriminating among movies solely basis content effect deterring theaters showing movies containing nudity however innocent even educational censorship content otherwise protected speech justified basis limited privacy interest persons public streets offended viewing movies readily avert eyes pp ordinance justified exercise city police power protection children viewing films even assuming purpose restriction broader permissible since directed sexually explicit nudity otherwise limited pp ordinance justified traffic regulation purpose invalid strikingly legislative classification since singles movies containing nudity movies might distract passing motorist pp possibility narrowing construction ordinance appears remote particularly appellee city offered several distinct justifications broadest terms moreover deterrent effect legitimate expression form movies real substantial pp powell delivered opinion douglas brennan stewart marshall blackmun joined douglas filed concurring opinion post burger filed dissenting opinion rehnquist joined post white filed dissenting opinion post william maness argued cause filed brief appellant william lee allen argued cause appellee brief harry louis shorstein briefs amici curiae urging reversal filed james bouras motion picture association america irwin karp authors league america justice powell delivered opinion case presents challenge facial validity jacksonville ordinance prohibits showing films containing nudity movie theater screen visible public street place appellant richard erznoznik manager university theatre jacksonville march charged violating municipal code exhibiting motion picture visible public streets female buttocks bare breasts shown ordinance adopted january provides theaters films visible public streets public places shall unlawful hereby declared public nuisance ticket seller ticket taker usher motion picture projection machine operator manager owner person connected employed theater city exhibit aid assist exhibiting motion picture slide exhibit human male female bare buttocks human female bare breasts human bare public areas shown motion picture slide exhibit visible public street public place violation section shall punishable class offense trial upheld ordinance legitimate exercise municipality police power ruled infringe upon appellant first amendment rights district appeal first district florida affirmed relying exclusively chemline city grand prairie sustained similar ordinance florida denied certiorari three judges dissenting noted probable jurisdiction reverse ii appellee concedes ordinance sweeps far beyond permissible restraints obscenity see miller california thus applies films protected first amendment see joseph burstyn wilson jenkins georgia nevertheless maintains movie containing nudity visible public place may suppressed nuisance several theories advanced justify contention appellee primary argument may protect citizens unwilling exposure materials may offensive jacksonville ordinance however protect citizens movies might offend rather singles films containing nudity presumably lawmakers considered especially offensive passersby considered analogous issues pitting first amendment rights speakers privacy rights may unwilling viewers auditors variety contexts see kovacs cooper breard alexandria cohen california lehman city shaker heights see generally haiman speech privacy right spoken nw rev cases demand delicate balancing th sphere collision claims privacy free speech free press interests sides plainly rooted traditions significant concerns society cox broadcasting cohn ability government consonant constitution shut discourse solely protect others hearing dependent upon showing substantial privacy interests invaded essentially intolerable manner broader view authority effectively empower majority silence dissidents simply matter personal predilections cohen california jacksonville ordinance discriminates among movies solely basis content effect deter theaters showing movies containing nudity however innocent even educational discrimination justified means preventing significant intrusions privacy ordinance seeks keep films seen public streets places offended viewer readily avert eyes short screen theater obtrusive make impossible unwilling individual avoid exposure redrup new york thus conclude limited privacy interest persons public streets justify censorship otherwise protected speech basis content appellee also attempts support ordinance exercise city undoubted police power protect children appellee maintains even though prohibit display films containing nudity adults present ordinance reasonable means protecting minors type visual influence well settled state municipality adopt stringent controls communicative materials available youths available adults see ginsberg new york nevertheless minors entitled significant measure first amendment protection see tinker des moines school relatively narrow circumstances may government bar public dissemination protected materials see interstate circuit city dallas rabeck new york case assuming ordinance aimed prohibiting youths viewing films restriction broader permissible ordinance directed sexually explicit nudity otherwise limited rather sweepingly forbids display films containing uncovered buttocks breasts irrespective context pervasiveness thus bar film containing picture baby buttocks nude body war victim scenes culture nudity indigenous ordinance also might prohibit newsreel scenes opening art exhibit well shots bathers beach clearly nudity deemed obscene even minors see ginsberg new york supra broad restriction justified governmental interest pertaining minors speech neither obscene youths subject legitimate proscription suppressed solely protect young ideas images legislative body thinks unsuitable circumstances values protected first amendment less applicable government seeks control flow information minors see tinker des moines school supra cf west virginia bd ed barnette thus jacksonville ordinance intended regulate expression accessible minors overbroad proscription oral argument appellee first time sought justify ordinance traffic regulation claimed nudity movie screen distracts passing motorists thus slowing flow traffic increasing likelihood accidents nothing record text ordinance suggests aimed traffic regulation indeed ordinance applies movie screens visible public places well public streets thus indicating traffic regulation even purpose ordinance nonetheless invalid singling movies containing even fleeting innocent glimpses nudity legislative classification strikingly underinclusive reason think wide variety scenes customary screen diet ranging soap opera violence less distracting passing motorist frequently upheld underinclusive classifications sound theory legislature may deal one part problem without addressing see williamson lee optical presumption statutory validity however less force classification turns subject matter expression bove else first amendment means government power restrict expression message ideas subject matter content police dept chicago mosley thus equal protection clause mention first amendment even traffic regulation discriminate basis content unless clear reasons distinctions see also cox louisiana opinion black cf williams rhodes shapiro thompson appellee offers justification aware distinguishing movies containing nudity movies regulation designed protect traffic absent justification ordinance salvaged rationale iii even though none reasons advanced appellee sustain jacksonville ordinance remains us decide whether ordinance invalidated face long recognized demonstrably overbroad statute ordinance may deter legitimate exercise first amendment rights nonetheless considering facial challenge necessary proceed caution restraint invalidation may result unnecessary interference state regulatory program accommodating competing interests held state statute deemed facially invalid unless readily subject narrowing construction state courts see dombrowski pfister deterrent effect legitimate expression real substantial see broadrick oklahoma see generally note first amendment overbreadth doctrine harv rev present case possibility limiting construction appears remote appellee explicitly joined test facial validity ordinance agreeing stay appellant prosecution moreover ordinance plain terms easily susceptible narrowing construction indeed state courts presented overbreadth challenge made effort restrict application compare coates city cincinnati brandenburg ohio cox new hampshire chaplinsky new hampshire circumstances particularly appellee offers several distinct justifications ordinance broadest terms reason assume ordinance decisively narrowed see gooding wilson cf grayned city rockford time hill moreover deterrent effect ordinance real substantial since applies specifically persons employed connected theaters owners operators theaters faced unwelcome choice avoid prosecution employees must either restrict movie offerings construct adequate protective fencing may extremely expensive even physically impracticable cf lake carriers assn macmullan powell dissenting iv concluding ordinance invalid deprecate legitimate interests asserted city jacksonville hold present ordinance satisfy rigorous constitutional standards apply government attempts regulate expression first amendment freedoms stake repeatedly emphasized precision drafting clarity purpose essential prerequisites absent accordingly judgment reversed footnotes appeals consider question reached contrary result see cinecom theaters midwest city fort wayne local ordinance deemed state statute purposes invoking jurisdiction see king mfg city council augusta rowan involved federal statute permits person receiving pandering advertisement believes erotically arousing sexually provocative instruct postmaster general inform sender mail sent future upheld statute emphasizing individual privacy entitled greater protection home streets noting right every person let alone must placed scales right others communicate see lehman sustained municipality policy barring political advertisements permitting nonpolitical advertisements city buses issue whether city created public forum thereby obligated accept advertising concluding public forum established plurality concurring opinions recognized degree captivity resultant intrusion privacy significantly greater passenger bus person street see opinion blackmun douglas concurring see also public utilities pollak douglas dissenting also suggested government may proscribe properly framed law willful use scurrilous language calculated offend sensibilities unwilling audience rosenfeld new jersey powell dissenting cf ginzburg cases speaker may seek force public confrontation potentially offensive aspects work may content speech much deliberate verbal visual assault rosenfeld supra justifies proscription see redrup new york present case however appellant trying reach much less shock unwilling viewers appellant manages commercial enterprise depends success paying customers freeloading passersby presumably economically feasible screen theater shielded pay scenes nudity movie like pictures nude persons book must considered part whole work see miller california kois wisconsin respect nudity distinguishable kind public nudity traditionally subject laws see roth douglas dissenting one suggest first amendment permits nudity public places cf chief justice dissent response point nlike persons reading books passersby consider fragments movies part whole work simple reason see hear performance post emphasis original issue however viewing rights unwilling viewers rather rights operate theaters public attends establishments effect jacksonville ordinance increase cost showing films containing nudity see infra certain circumstances theaters avoid showing movies rather incur additional costs result persons want see films unable regard motion picture must considered whole isolated fragments scenes nudity deterrent although might result total suppression movies restraint free expression see speiser randall record indicate much cost block public view appellant theater costs generally vary circumstances one case expense estimated approximately quarter million dollars see olympic theatre city pagedale mo concerned case properly drawn zoning ordinance restricting location theaters nuisance ordinance designed protect privacy persons homes visual audible intrusions theaters ginsberg adopted variation adult obscenity standards enunciated roth memoirs massachusetts plurality opinion miller california supra abandoned test judging obscenity respect adults occasion decide effect miller ginsberg formulation clear however test obscenity minors nudity proscribed rather obscene expression must significant way erotic cohen california see paris adult theatre slaton brennan dissenting first amendment rights minors adults tinker des moines school stewart concurring state may permissibly determine least precisely delineated areas child like someone captive audience possessed full capacity individual choice presupposition first amendment guarantees ginsberg new york stewart concurring assessing whether minor requisite capacity individual choice age minor significant factor see rowan post office brennan concurring see part iii infra say narrowly drawn nondiscriminatory traffic regulation requiring screening movie theaters view motorists reasonable exercise police power see police dept chicago mosley cases cited respect present case arises posture differs challenges statute ordinance considered typically cases issue arises context statute ordinance applied allegedly unprotected activity thus able consider constitutionality statute applied well face narrowing construction occurs us limit ordinance movies obscene minors neither appellee florida courts suggested limitation perhaps rewriting ordinance necessary reach result case appellant theater manager hence statute deterrent effect acts upon personally seeking raise hypothetical rights others see breard alexandria justice douglas concurring join wholeheartedly view ordinance issue fatally overinclusive respects fatally underinclusive others doubt proper circumstances narrowly drawn ordinance utilized within constitutional boundaries protect interests captive audiences promote highway safety days heavy traffic reasonable attempt remove distractions might increase accidents legitimate interests however justify attempts discriminate among movies basis content pure movie apt distracting drivers impure one intrusive upon privacy unwilling captive audience ordinance regulates movies basis content whether obscenity standard criterion impermissibly intrudes upon free speech rights guaranteed first fourteenth amendments see lehman city shaker heights douglas concurring judgment public utilities pollak douglas dissenting adhere view state federal regulation obscenity prohibited constitution roth dissenting miller california dissenting paris adult theatre slaton dissenting chief justice burger justice rehnquist joins dissenting although pays lip service proposition case ultimately must depend specific facts ante strikes jacksonville city code mechanical application general principles distilled cases little either case accept neither approach result dissent analysis seems begin end sweeping proposition regardless circumstances government may regulate form communicative activity basis content absent certain special circumstances told burden falls upon public ignore offensive materials rather upon purveyor take steps shield public view four short sentences without reasoned support ante concludes jacksonville ordinance pass muster tests therefore strikes none cases upon relies remotely implies ever intended establish inexorable limitations upon state power area many cases upheld regulation communicative activity purport define limits power lehman city shaker heights rowan post office breard alexandria kovacs cooper cases relied upon either expressly impliedly decided upon equal protection grounds although recognizing first amendment interests involved turned upon crucial question whether appropriate governmental interest suitably furthered differential treatment police dept chicago mosley see also fowler rhode island standard necessarily requires particularized review finally yet cases cited decided vagueness overbreadth cox louisiana application doctrines requires scrutiny specific statute activity involved rather reliance upon generalizations see short nothing prior decisions justifies disregard admonition nature forum conflicting interests involved remained important determining degree protection afforded first amendment speech question lehman city shaker heights supra plurality opinion blackmun rather applying principle contexts similar instant case members cautioned every medium communication law unto kovacs cooper supra jackson concurring tyranny absolutes relied upon meet problems generated need accommodate diverse interests affected motion pictures compact modern communities joseph burstyn wilson frankfurter concurring careful consideration diverse interests involved case illustrates inadequacy rigidly simplistic approach first place conclusion limited interest persons public streets stake supported one completely ignores unique visual medium jacksonville ordinance directed whatever validity notion passersby may protect sensibilities averting eyes may applied words printed individual jacket see cohen california flag hung apartment window see spence washington distorts reality apply notion outsize screen movie theater screens invariably huge indeed photographs included record case show screen petitioner theater dominated view public places including nearby residences adjacent highways moreover films projected screens combination color animation necessarily dark background designed results attracting holding attention observers see note motion pictures first amendment yale similar considerations led justice brandeis writing packer utah conclude public interest regulating billboard displays may apply forms advertising advertisements sort constantly eyes observers streets street cars seen without exercise choice volition part forms advertising ordinarily seen matter choice part observer young people well adults message billboard thrust upon arts devices skill produce case newspapers magazines must seeking one see read advertisement radio turned billboard street car placard distinctions clearly place kind advertisement position classified regulations prohibitions may imposed upon within class defensible conclusion jacksonville ordinance defective regulates nudity significance fact explained scenes nudity movie like pictures nude persons book must considered part whole work respect nudity distinguishable kind public nudity traditionally subject laws ante hand assuming arguendo play performed theater nude actors involving genuine communication ideas conduct public park street prosecuted ordinance prohibiting indecent exposure police power long interpreted authorize regulation nudity areas members public access regardless incidental effect upon communication nudist colony example lawfully set shop central park lafayette park places established public generally cf paris adult theater slaton roth douglas dissenting whether regulation justified necessary protect public mores simply insure undistracted enjoyment open areas greatest number people traffic safety rationale applies fortiori giant displays technology capable revealing emphasizing intimate details human anatomy sum jacksonville ordinance involved case although model draftsmanship narrowly drawn regulate certain unique public exhibitions nudity absurd suggest operates suppress expression ideas conveniently ignoring facts deciding case basis absolutes adds nothing first amendment analysis sacrifices legitimate state interests affirm judgment florida appeal example case similar one screen measured feet feet stood feet ground bloss paris township view case necessary deal issues discussed parts iii opinion justice white dissenting asserts state may shield public selected types speech allegedly expressive conduct nudity speaker actor invades privacy home degree captivity unwilling listener impractical avoid exposure averting eyes concludes limited privacy interest persons public streets justify censorship otherwise protected speech basis content ante broadside taken literally state may forbid expressive nudity public streets public parks public place since persons places time limited privacy interest may merely look way ready take step moreover analysis step unnecessary one holds part opinion ordinance unconstitutionally overbroad even exercise police power protect children fatally overbroad population generally part surplusage therefore dissent