May 19, 1974 photo and description via Adrian Brisee.

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Photo and description via Adrian Brisee.

May 19, 1974. Harlan, Iowa - “I’m setting my standards at the box office”, says Al Woodraska, owner of the Harlan Theater, the only movie house in town. “That’s what pays the bills.”

To help pay the bills, Woodraska is showing X-rated movies once a month. “Midnight Plowboy” did a good business in April. “Teenage Bride” is the next X-rated attraction.

Harlan is a farm town and county seat, community of white houses and front porches pocketed in the gentle hills of western Iowa. The telephone book lists 20 taverns, 28 churches, and 43 farm equipment and feed dealers Last year X-rated movies drew pickets from the local Baptist Church and city counsel condemnation in this town of 4,049. This year there hasn’t been a ripple. “Last Tango in Paris” critically acclaimed and X-rated set a box office record of $379.90 in four days - at the Harlan Theater in March. Harlan and its theater are far from unique. With increasing frequency, X-rated films are flashing flesh across the screens in small town America.