Ballantyne of Omaha names Marshall Geller to its Board of Directors.

OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Jan. 24, 1996) -- Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc. (AMEX: BTN), announced today that it has named Marshall Geller to its Board of Directors.

Mr. Geller fills a board seat left vacant by the resignation from the Company this month of Richard W. Noble, who also served as Chief Financial Officer. Brad French, Ballantyne's Secretary and Treasurer, has been named to the position of Chief Financial Officer.

Mr. Geller, 54, is currently the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Founding Partner of Geller & Friend Capital Partners, Inc., which was formed in November 1995. From 1991 to October, 1995, Mr. Geller was the Senior Managing Partner and founder of Golenberg & Geller, Inc., a merchant banking investment company. From 1988 to 1990, he was Vice Chairman of Gruntal & Company, a New York Stock Exchange investment banking firm. From 1967 through 1988, Mr. Geller was Senior Managing Director for Bear, Stearns & Company. While with Bear Stearns, Mr. Geller was the Managing Partner in charge of all areas of Corporate Finance, Public Finance, Institutional Equities and Debt for Bear Stearns' offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Hong Kong. He was also a director of Shun Loong-Bear Stearns Far East and Sun Hung Kai- Bear Stearns, both leading Chinese investment banking firms. Mr. Geller also helped pioneer the firm's equity and investment banking business in Japan, Hong Kong, and China.

Ronald H. Echtenkamp, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ballantyne, commented on the appointment, "Marshall Geller brings additional perspective and diverse entertainment and financial industry experience to Ballantyne's Board. We are delighted to be able to access his expertise on an ongoing basis as a Board member."

Marshall Geller currently serves as Interim Co-Chairman of Hexcel Corporation (NYSE:HXL). Mr. Geller was formerly Interim President and Chief Operating Officer of Players International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAY) and now serves on their board and is Chairman of the Investment Committee. Mr. Geller also serves on the board of Value Vision International, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVTVA), and serves as Chairman of their Investment Committee.

Mr. Geller has also served on the boards of other publicly-held and privately-held corporations as well as charitable organizations. He has worked with Government officials in Illinois and California studying and making recommendations for financial services regulations for the securities and real estate industries. He is a former partner in the Chicago Bulls professional basketball team and has owned interests in other sports franchises.

Geller & Friend Capital Partners, Inc., is a Los Angeles-based merchant bank specializing in serving the needs of middle market growth companies.

Founded in 1932, Ballantyne is the leading domestic supplier of commercial motion picture projection and specialty entertainment lighting equipment. The Company's products are utilized by the leading motion picture exhibition chains, including AMC, Cinemark, Cineplex Odeon and Regal Cinemas, and are used in such popular family entertainment sites as Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom, IMAX Ride theaters and Universal Studios. Its long-range follow spotlights are used in top arenas and venues around the country and the world. Ballantyne believes it has garnered approximately 65% of the domestic market for motion picture projection equipment and close to 85% of the domestic market for high-intensity, long-range spotlights. Ballantyne also produces a line of commercial food service equipment, including pressure fryers and slow-cook ovens, for use by the independent convenience store and fast food operators.

CONTACT: Ronald H. Echtenkamp

President and Chief Executive Officer

402/453-4444

or

David C. Collins, Joseph N. Jaffoni

Jaffoni & Collins Incorporated

212/505-3015