Historic Omaha
An illustrated history of Omaha and the Douglas County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
An illustrated history of Omaha and the Douglas County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
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village in 1936, but it was an event two years<br />
later that was to bring it everlasting fame.<br />
The MGM movie Boys Town was filmed on<br />
location, and citizens of <strong>Omaha</strong> and the<br />
surrounding areas flocked to see stars like<br />
Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney in action.<br />
Dozens of Boys Town boys served as extras.<br />
The movie premier was held in downtown<br />
<strong>Omaha</strong>, and the streets overflowed with<br />
proud <strong>Omaha</strong>ns hoping to catch a glimpse of<br />
the stars of the movie. It went on to set box<br />
office records, and Spencer Tracy received an<br />
Oscar for his portrayal of Father Flanagan.<br />
Flanagan’s home for boys continued to<br />
bring attention to <strong>Omaha</strong> and Douglas County<br />
during the 1940s. During World War II, over<br />
✧<br />
Above: Florence Field at Thirty-first to<br />
Thirty-sixth Streets, from Redick to Scott,<br />
was the site of the Fort <strong>Omaha</strong> Balloon<br />
Training School in 1918.<br />
COURTESY OF THE DOUGLAS COUNTY HISTORICAL<br />
SOCIETY COLLECTIONS.<br />
Below: Officers of the balloon school at Fort<br />
<strong>Omaha</strong> with their mascot in 1918.<br />
COURTESY OF THE DOUGLAS COUNTY HISTORICAL<br />
SOCIETY COLLECTIONS.<br />
CHAPTER III<br />
53
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