PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389
A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
New Horizons Celebrating 50 Years
October 2025 | Vol. 50 | No. 10
Nebraska super film enthusiast Bruce Crawford still living silver screen dreams after 50 years
By Leo Adam Biga rowing up in Nebraska City in the 1960s Bruce Crawford fell in love with the magic of movies on television and at his hometown Pioneer Theatre. Where others’ interest left off his built until he struck up friendships with Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann in the ‘70s and special effects master Ray Harryhausen in the ’80s. He went on to produce radio film documentaries in the late ‘80s and to present classic film revivals in the ‘90s. The revivals, still ongoing, feature restored prints and guest stars. Each benefits a local charity. On October 24 Crawford presents his 53rd Omaha film event – the 1972 John Wayne classic, The Cowboys, at the Omaha Community Playhouse to benefit The Jet Award Foundation of Husker legend Johnny Rodgers. Special guest Robert Carradine made his feature debut in the pic. He follows a long line of guests: Harryhausen (Mysterious Island and Jason and the Argonauts); John Landis (Animal House); Patricia Neal (The Day the Earth Stood Still); Shirley Jones (Carousel). For The Shawshank Redemption revival last May Crawford brought actor Bob Gunton, who played the evil warden. Gunton was
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COURTESY PHOTO impressed by what he experienced. “I’ve been to dozens of gatherings related to Shawshank,” he said. “But Bruce Crawford’s screening was a real ‘barn burner.’ It was thrilling to be seated with 600 passionate fans, watching a pristine copy of the movie, in a spacious but cozy theater. Shawshank is the film I am most proud of being a part of, and to celebrate that with such an
enthusiastic crowd, well, it doesn’t get much better. Special shout out to Bruce Crawford – such a savvy filmgoer connecting so many for so many years to the world of movies.” The impresario in Crawford doesn’t stop at getting stars to come. He arranges for klieg lights and red carpet treatment as he and special guests arrive in formal attire via limos and paparazzi snap photos.
The lobby is festooned with posters and displays from the feature attraction. After the screening audience members are invited to line up to get autographs and take selfies with the guest star. Carradine comes from “Hollywood royalty,” said Crawford, referring to Robert being the youngest of an acting dynasty – from father John to brothers David and Keith. Carradine said on The Cowboys he suggested a line reading to Wayne, who proceeded to call his father “a ham” and reduced Robert to tears with choice expletives. He said the overall experience of the film was good and he loves sharing it with fans. Crawford will also be joined by Brian Downes, director of the John Wayne Birthplace & Museum in the iconic actor’s hometown of Winterset, Iowa. “Brian has the actual saddle John Wayne rode in The Cowboys and we’re going to have it on display in the lobby,” said Crawford. “That’s showmanship. Anybody can show an old movie or bring back a celebrity and have people talk. You’ve got to do more than that. To make it a real event you’ve got to make --Crawford continued on page 9.
Nebraska is aging and fast: What does this mean for you and me By Andy Bradley Contributing Writer umbers can be tedious and dull, like high school trigonometry and calculus classes. But when you pull aside the curtain and peek inside the data, you’re likely to unearth important, critical meaning behind the numbers. Your blood pressure, for example. Two numbers. 128. 76. The informed person understands that these two
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numbers, considered in state’s senior populacombination, represent tion will exceed 20 or symbolize the prespercent of the state’s ence of a healthy heart. total population in just Here’s another one five years. to consider. 30. More Interesting for sure. precisely, 30 percent. Startling, perhaps. But Astonishingly, that’s so what? We’ve heard the projected growth about the aging of in the percentage of American society for Nebraskans over age years. Perhaps we’ve 65 in the 10-year pegrown indifferent to riod between 2021 and this reality and even 2030, according to data more disinterested in from the U.S. Census the meaning behind the Bureau’s American numbers. Community Survey of So, what precisely 2021. This means the is the meaning behind Cornhusker --Nebraska continued on page 10.
Collecting sports cards in Omaha
Whether you’re focusing on your favorite player, team, or a specific era, the collecting sports cards offers a unique way to connect with the world of sports and potentially even invest in appreciating assets. Learn more about sports collections on Page 16.