From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Sept. 19, 1973:

The Lawrence City Commission this week voted 3-2 to have the city staff prepare an ordinance banning smoking in theaters. Commissioners Fred Pence and John Emick voted against the proposal, which had been originally brought to the commission by non-voting student commissioner Rod Stuart three weeks earlier. Commissioner Barkley Clark made his motion at the recent meeting after learning that Fire Chief F. C. Sanders said that smoking in theaters was not dangerous. “It’s interesting to me that the junior high and high school students are concerned about this,” Clark said, noting that other cities such as Kansas City, Mo., had ordinances against smoking in all “public accommodations.” “More and more people are respecting the rights of non-smokers,” agreed Mayor Nancy Hambleton, who seconded Clark’s proposal. Commissioner Emick voiced his opposition, recalling that there had once been a special balcony section for smokers in theaters. “I tell you, you’re going to drive a lot of people up the walls who smoke cigarettes. You’re going to drive them home to television,” Emick stated, adding later that he would “like to be sure there is a problem before we do something about it.”