I am sad to report that despite pleas from Hollywood legends such as Charlton Heston, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, Janet Leigh and Robert Wise, on August 20, 2001, the owner, Nebraska Methodist Health System, Inc., demolished the Indian Hills for a parking lot. What was especially distressing was that on August 8, 2001, the Omaha Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission had voted unanimously to recommend that the Indian Hills be designated a “Landmark of the City of Omaha.” The owner moved to demolish the theater before the Omaha City Council could take action to stop it. This Cinerama theater was the last of its kind in the world. Preservation of the theater had been publicly supported by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Society of Cinematographers. The State of Nebraska Historic Preservation office had indicated that the Indian Hills was of such national importance that, although less than 50 years old, it would qualify for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places
I am sad to report that despite pleas from Hollywood legends such as Charlton Heston, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, Janet Leigh and Robert Wise, on August 20, 2001, the owner, Nebraska Methodist Health System, Inc., demolished the Indian Hills for a parking lot. What was especially distressing was that on August 8, 2001, the Omaha Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission had voted unanimously to recommend that the Indian Hills be designated a “Landmark of the City of Omaha.” The owner moved to demolish the theater before the Omaha City Council could take action to stop it. This Cinerama theater was the last of its kind in the world. Preservation of the theater had been publicly supported by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Society of Cinematographers. The State of Nebraska Historic Preservation office had indicated that the Indian Hills was of such national importance that, although less than 50 years old, it would qualify for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places