On this day in 1972, Canberra's Sundown Drive-in Cinema was celebrating a successful showing of the city's first R rated film.
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The "R" (restricted) classification had come into effect in the ACT late in 1971, meaning that people between the ages of 16 to 18 would not be admitted to the showing of films with an "R" classification.
Mr R. Legg, the manager of Sundown Drive-in, described the response to the film as "unbelievable".
He estimated that about 500 cars had been turned away from the drive-in the previous nights, as they had queued at all entry points.
The film, I Married You for Fun, and its rating drew attention from many Canberrans, and police had to close one lane on Jerrabomberra Avenue as cars were lined up for kilometres.
The Canberra Times' report said the regulations did not stop 16- to 18-year-olds from attempting to view the film. Of the 500 turned away cars, about 45 of them were refused due to failing to comply with new regulations, containing youths under the age of 18.
The police had assisted in enforcing the regulations, checking cars in the drive-in throughout the night and only uncovering one underage person.
Police officers had also been on the gate to double-check that no persons between 16 and 18 had snuck into the premises to watch the film.
