COLLEEN BARSTOW, INDEPENDENT CINEMA LEADER, DIES AT 64
Colleen Barstow, a longtime leader of independent cinema, died on January 10. She was 64.
Colleen Barstow was not only a driving force behind the Omaha-based family-run theater chain ACX Cinemas, but also a nationally respected leader in the independent cinema industry. At the time of her passing, she served as Treasurer of the Executive Board of Directors and Chair of the Independent Theatre Owners Committee for Cinema United. On Cinema United’s Executive Board, she represented independent exhibitors across the country with clarity, conviction, and compassion. She was on the Cinema United Board from 2022-2026 and was also instrumental in the North Central Cinema United conferences.
Colleen co-founded Main Street Theatres alongside her husband, Bill Barstow, in 1988 after answering a newspaper ad for a small, single-screen theater in Nebraska. What began as a leap of faith—financed through borrowed credit cards and fueled by determination—grew into ACX Cinemas, a seven-location cinema chain known for innovation, hospitality, and community engagement.
“Colleen was a tireless advocate for independent theatre owners,” remembers Cinema United CEO Michael O’Leary. “I had the privilege of working with her closely and she always brought energy, ideas, and commitment to everything she did on behalf of our industry. Of course, her greatest joy in life was her family – her husband Bill, her children, and beautiful grandchildren – to whom we extend our deepest condolences and support.”
From the earliest days, Colleen was the heart of the business. Born in Detroit, she was one of nine children. She left her job in banking to help build the company from the ground up—delivering film prints between theaters, managing operations, and raising a family alongside the work. Her children grew up in theaters, learning first-hand the values that would later shape ACX’s culture and leadership.
Colleen believed that the power of cinema extended far beyond the screen.
“To me, the movie is always secondary,” she said. “We like bringing people together. We like telling a story—and that story isn’t always the one on the screen.”
That belief guided her work both locally and nationally. She was a tireless advocate for independent theaters, encouraging collaboration over competition and urging exhibitors to engage deeply with their communities. She championed theaters as gathering places—homes for festivals, fundraisers, nonprofit events, and shared experiences.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Colleen played a critical role in industry advocacy, working alongside fellow exhibitors and Cinema United leadership to help secure federal relief funding for shuttered venues and independent theaters. Her steady leadership helped guide the industry through unprecedented disruption.
She is survived by her husband Bill Barstow; their three children, Michael Barstow, Andrea Barstow-Olson and Amy Evans; and four grandchildren. A funeral service will be held on Friday at the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska.
