History of the Barstow Family and Aksarben Cinema Pt. 1

Many of the folks who love Aksarben Cinema have been visiting this particular movie theater since the beginning when it opened on December 10, 2010. With that relationship comes a shared history that is definitely community-focused.

Bill and Colleen Barstow, originally from Detroit, found a home in Omaha after Bill ended up here by way of the Air Force in 1988. At the time Barstow was a Hurricane Hunter for the Air Force and did not intend to stay in Omaha. The Barstow’s, however, were smitten with the city and never left.

The beginning

It was then that Barstow made a life-changing decision as he was leaving the Air Force - he put a down payment on The Ritz, a movie theatre in Plattsmouth in 1989, on his credit card. A risk, no doubt, but one that would pay off both financially and emotionally. This was the first movie theatre the Barstow family owned and marked the beginning of their company Main Street Theatres, which now owns 46 screens.

           

Flash forward 20 years later, and construction begins on the state-of-the-art, digital presentation Omahans know and love today. In the summer and fall of 2009 construction was underway. After nearly a year and a half of construction, Aksarben Cinema held its grand opening on December 10, 2010 with rewards for many guests and giveaways at the door. This was the moment that Omaha had been waiting for and helped mark a new era for the former Aksarben Racetrack area.

What was showing that day?

• Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader
• The Tourist
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• Tangled
• Megamind
• Burlesque
• Faster
• Morning Glory
• Due Date
• Next Three Days

Today the theater still offers a variety of choices of movies and even more choices in concessions.

Active members of the community

Less than a year later Aksarben Cinema received the Together, Inc. Compassion Award, a prestigious honor rewarding leaders of an organization or business that have shown compassion for their community. Aksarben Cinema stands by their promise to contribute to a new organization each month.  Since opening they have raised over $71,000 from donations collected at the box office for organizations ranging from Angels Among Us, Together, Open Door Mission, Humane Society, and Project Harmony.