http://firemark.com/2009/12/15/smoking-bans-and-the-first-amendment-free-speech-goes-up-in-smoke-in-colorado/ Theatre, Film, TV & New Media Thu, 17 May 2012 23:30:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://firemark.com/2009/12/15/smoking-bans-and-the-first-amendment-free-speech-goes-up-in-smoke-in-colorado/comment-page-1/#comment-497 Cigar Bars and Smoking Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:26:09 +0000 http://firemark.com/?p=966#comment-497 These type of laws are really kind of stupid. NYC has had their smoking ban in effect for years, but it does not affect broadway shows. I saw A Moon For The Misbegotten with Kevin Spacey and he was allowed to smoke on stage and I am pretty sure they smoke in Jersey Boys as well. When it is written into a script that was written long before any smoking bans, the actors should be allowed to smoke. Plain and simple! These type of laws are really kind of stupid. NYC has had their smoking ban in effect for years, but it does not affect broadway shows. I saw A Moon For The Misbegotten with Kevin Spacey and he was allowed to smoke on stage and I am pretty sure they smoke in Jersey Boys as well. When it is written into a script that was written long before any smoking bans, the actors should be allowed to smoke. Plain and simple!

]]> http://firemark.com/2009/12/15/smoking-bans-and-the-first-amendment-free-speech-goes-up-in-smoke-in-colorado/comment-page-1/#comment-464 Mike Lash Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:25:36 +0000 http://firemark.com/?p=966#comment-464 Smoking is 'legal' except where it is banned to protect public health. Open flames may be legal in some contexts, but theaters know the fire codes prohibit such things onstage, regardless of the director's 'vision' for the play. Common sense and public safety put some boundaries on 'free expression'. Smoking is ‘legal’ except where it is banned to protect public health. Open flames may be legal in some contexts, but theaters know the fire codes prohibit such things onstage, regardless of the director’s ‘vision’ for the play. Common sense and public safety put some boundaries on ‘free expression’.

]]> http://firemark.com/2009/12/15/smoking-bans-and-the-first-amendment-free-speech-goes-up-in-smoke-in-colorado/comment-page-1/#comment-456 Gordon Firemark Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:42:15 +0000 http://firemark.com/?p=966#comment-456 Good point Robert, except that smoking itself is an otherwise legal act. Murder and heroin consumption are never legal acts. This is just another example of legislating morality. I'm not a smoker, and in fact dislike it when real smoke is used on stage, but I will always champion the right of the artist to express himself. Good point Robert, except that smoking itself is an otherwise legal act. Murder and heroin consumption are never legal acts. This is just another example of legislating morality. I’m not a smoker, and in fact dislike it when real smoke is used on stage, but I will always champion the right of the artist to express himself.

]]> http://firemark.com/2009/12/15/smoking-bans-and-the-first-amendment-free-speech-goes-up-in-smoke-in-colorado/comment-page-1/#comment-453 Robert Link Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:34:06 +0000 http://firemark.com/?p=966#comment-453 Presumably it is equally infringing on 1st Amendment rights to preclude actually shooting heroin or committing murder if the script calls for it? I think I'm with Justice Coats on this one. Presumably it is equally infringing on 1st Amendment rights to preclude actually shooting heroin or committing murder if the script calls for it? I think I’m with Justice Coats on this one.

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