{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-375.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-375.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-375.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-375.html"}],"law_id":82785,"edition_id":1,"section_id":82785,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-375","catch_line":"Obscene exhibitions and performances","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-230; 1960, c. 233; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 191; 1975, cc. 14, 15.","full_text":"It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to:\n\n1\n\nProduce, promote, prepare, present, manage, direct, carry on or participate in, any obscene exhibitions or performances, including the exhibition or performance of any obscene motion picture, play, drama, show, entertainment, exposition, tableau or scene; provided, that no employee of any person or legal entity operating a theatre, garden, building, structure, room or place which presents such obscene exhibition or performance shall be subject to prosecution under this section if the employee is not the manager of the theatre or an officer of such entity, and has no financial interest in such theatre other than receiving salary and wages; or2\n\nOwn, lease or manage any theatre, garden, building, structure, room or place and lease, let, lend or permit such theatre, garden, building, structure, room or place to be used for the purpose of presenting such obscene exhibition or performance or to fail to post prominently therein the name and address of a person resident in the locality who is the manager of such theatre, garden, building, structure, room or place.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":296744,"text":"It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":296745,"text":"Produce, promote, prepare, present, manage, direct, carry on or participate in, any obscene exhibitions or performances, including the exhibition or performance of any obscene motion picture, play, drama, show, entertainment, exposition, tableau or scene; provided, that no employee of any person or legal entity operating a theatre, garden, building, structure, room or place which presents such obscene exhibition or performance shall be subject to prosecution under this section if the employee is not the manager of the theatre or an officer of such entity, and has no financial interest in such theatre other than receiving salary and wages; or","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":296746,"text":"Own, lease or manage any theatre, garden, building, structure, room or place and lease, let, lend or permit such theatre, garden, building, structure, room or place to be used for the purpose of presenting such obscene exhibition or performance or to fail to post prominently therein the name and address of a person resident in the locality who is the manager of such theatre, garden, building, structure, room or place.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14633,"edition_id":1,"name":"Obscenity and Related Offenses","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14022,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:00","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:00","permalink":{"id":167843,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14633,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/8\/5","url":"\/18.2\/8\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14022,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Involving Morals and Decency","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","permalink":{"id":167393,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14022,"identifier":"8","token":"18.2\/8","url":"\/18.2\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":81551,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-372","catch_line":"\"Obscene\" defined","url":"\/18.2-372\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-372","metadata":false},{"id":86006,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-373","catch_line":"Obscene items enumerated","url":"\/18.2-373\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-373","metadata":false},{"id":82506,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-374","catch_line":"Production, publication, sale, possession, etc., of obscene items","url":"\/18.2-374\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-374","metadata":false},{"id":61326,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-374.1","catch_line":"Production, publication, sale, financing, etc., of child pornography; presumption as to age","url":"\/18.2-374.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-374.1","metadata":false},{"id":63653,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-374.1:1","catch_line":"Possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, and facilitation of child pornography; penalty","url":"\/18.2-374.1_1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-374.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":83319,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-374.1:2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-374.1_2\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-374.1_2","metadata":false},{"id":83624,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-374.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-374.2\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-374.2","metadata":false},{"id":77778,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-374.3","catch_line":"Use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children; penalties","url":"\/18.2-374.3\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-374.3","metadata":false},{"id":56184,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-374.4","catch_line":"Display of child pornography or grooming video or materials to a child unlawful; penalty","url":"\/18.2-374.4\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-374.4","metadata":false},{"id":82785,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-375","catch_line":"Obscene exhibitions and performances","url":"\/18.2-375\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-375","metadata":false},{"id":83162,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-376","catch_line":"Advertising, etc., obscene items, exhibitions or performances","url":"\/18.2-376\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-376","metadata":false},{"id":67022,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-376.1","catch_line":"Enhanced penalties for using a computer in certain violations","url":"\/18.2-376.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-376.1","metadata":false},{"id":59750,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-377","catch_line":"Placards, posters, bills, etc","url":"\/18.2-377\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-377","metadata":false},{"id":84687,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-378","catch_line":"Coercing acceptance of obscene articles or publications","url":"\/18.2-378\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-378","metadata":false},{"id":67563,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-379","catch_line":"Employing or permitting minor to assist in offense under article","url":"\/18.2-379\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-379","metadata":false},{"id":81187,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-380","catch_line":"Punishment for first offense","url":"\/18.2-380\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-380","metadata":false},{"id":64773,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-381","catch_line":"Punishment for subsequent offenses; additional penalty for owner","url":"\/18.2-381\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-381","metadata":false},{"id":72092,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-382","catch_line":"Photographs, slides and motion pictures","url":"\/18.2-382\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-382","metadata":false},{"id":70160,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-383","catch_line":"Exceptions to application of article","url":"\/18.2-383\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-383","metadata":false},{"id":66727,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-384","catch_line":"Proceeding against book alleged to be obscene","url":"\/18.2-384\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-384","metadata":false},{"id":74201,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-385","catch_line":"Section 18.2-384 applicable to motion picture films","url":"\/18.2-385\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-385","metadata":false},{"id":72244,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-386","catch_line":"Showing previews of certain motion pictures","url":"\/18.2-386\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-386","metadata":false},{"id":79274,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-386.1","catch_line":"Unlawful creation of image of another; 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penalty","url":"\/18.2-374.4\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-374.4","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":83162,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-376","catch_line":"Advertising, etc., obscene items, exhibitions or performances","url":"\/18.2-376\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-376","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-375\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1960, chapter 233; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15.<\/p>","references":[{"id":83162,"section_number":"18.2-376","catch_line":"Advertising, etc., obscene items, exhibitions or performances","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-376\/"},{"id":67022,"section_number":"18.2-376.1","catch_line":"Enhanced penalties for using a computer in certain violations","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-376.1\/"},{"id":59750,"section_number":"18.2-377","catch_line":"Placards, posters, bills, etc","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-377\/"},{"id":81187,"section_number":"18.2-380","catch_line":"Punishment for first offense","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-380\/"},{"id":64773,"section_number":"18.2-381","catch_line":"Punishment for subsequent offenses; additional penalty for owner","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-381\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":167881,"object_type":"law","relational_id":82785,"identifier":"18.2-375","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-375","url":"\/18.2-375\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-375\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-375","dublin_core":{"Title":"Obscene exhibitions and performances","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-375","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> Produce, promote, prepare, present, manage, direct, carry on or participate in, any obscene exhibitions or performances, including the exhibition or performance of any obscene <span class=\"dictionary\">motion<\/span> picture, play, drama, show, entertainment, exposition, tableau or scene; provided, that no employee of any person or legal entity operating a theatre, garden, building, structure, room or place which presents such obscene exhibition or performance shall be subject to <span class=\"dictionary\">prosecution<\/span> under this section if the employee is not the manager of the theatre or an officer of such entity, and has no financial interest in such theatre other than receiving salary and wages; or <a id=\"paragraph-296745\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-375\/#1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> Own, lease or manage any theatre, garden, building, structure, room or place and lease, let, lend or permit such theatre, garden, building, structure, room or place to be used for the purpose of presenting such obscene exhibition or performance or to fail to post prominently therein the name and address of a person resident in the locality who is the manager of such theatre, garden, building, structure, room or place. <a id=\"paragraph-296746\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-375\/#2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nOBSCENE EXHIBITIONS AND PERFORMANCES (\u00a7 18.2-375)\n\nIt shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to:\n\n1. Produce, promote, prepare, present, manage, direct, carry on or participate\nin, any obscene exhibitions or performances, including the exhibition or\nperformance of any obscene motion picture, play, drama, show, entertainment,\nexposition, tableau or scene; provided, that no employee of any person or legal\nentity operating a theatre, garden, building, structure, room or place which\npresents such obscene exhibition or performance shall be subject to prosecution\nunder this section if the employee is not the manager of the theatre or an\nofficer of such entity, and has no financial interest in such theatre other than\nreceiving salary and wages; or\n\n2. Own, lease or manage any theatre, garden, building, structure, room or place\nand lease, let, lend or permit such theatre, garden, building, structure, room\nor place to be used for the purpose of presenting such obscene exhibition or\nperformance or to fail to post prominently therein the name and address of a\nperson resident in the locality who is the manager of such theatre, garden,\nbuilding, structure, room or place.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-230; 1960, c. 233; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 191; 1975,\ncc. 14, 15.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}