Famous people or things from or invented in Omaha or NE

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NovakOmaha
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Post by NovakOmaha »

I posted this a long time ago.

When my wife was pregnant with out first child I said to her "We're never going to be able to just get in the car and go somewhere so I'm taking you on a little trip".  She is originally from Michigan and her only view of Nebraska was Omaha and I-80 to football games in Lincoln.  We drove to northeast Nebraska, first on highway 275 to Norfolk, then up highway 81 to Peirce, Ne., where there is a great winery.  We stayed in a B&B the first night.  The next day we went to Ash Fall State Park.  If you've never been there it's amazing.  A volcano erupted thousands of years ago & the ash fell there and killed the prehistoric animals.  We then drove to Crofton, Ne. and stayed the night in the Argo Hotel, now a B&B in Crofton, Ne.  There was a street festival & it was really fun.  Northeast Nebraska is hilly and in some ways resembles the German countryside.  A whole different side of Nebraska.  I've been to central & far western Nebraska but Northeast Nebraska is beautiful in a different way. The next day we drove up to South Dakota & over to Sioux Falls and then down i-29 back to Omaha.  It was a fun trip.  After the kids were born travel means loading more hardware in the minivan than the President travels with.  We used to be able to travel with a couple of back packs.  Those were the days.

My point is this:  How many Omahans have seen their own state?  Again, all in your frame of reference.  People from outside of Nebraska have a funny view of Nebraska, and most Omahans have a funny view of Nebraska outside of Omaha.  I'll say this.  The people in Crofton were thrilled and happy to meet us and made us feel very welcome.  Of course, meeting my very pregnant wife may have played a part in their friendliness as well.  Who knows.
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Post by Coyote »

Along the same lines... Growing up we would visit family in Estes Park every summer, but would Hi-Tail the long 9 hour trip down I-80 every year.
It wasn't until I moved back to Omaha in 2002 that I actually stopped into North Platte and went to Buffalo Bills estate, Drove along Highway 30, went to the sandhills...
Bought a book Nebraska: Off the Beaten Path, ate at a 5 star restaurant in Beatrice, went to Czech Days in Wilbur, the Apllejack Festival in NE City...
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RNcyanide
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Post by RNcyanide »

NovakOmaha wrote:I posted this a long time ago.

When my wife was pregnant with out first child I said to her "We're never going to be able to just get in the car and go somewhere so I'm taking you on a little trip".  She is originally from Michigan and her only view of Nebraska was Omaha and I-80 to football games in Lincoln.  We drove to northeast Nebraska, first on highway 275 to Norfolk, then up highway 81 to Peirce, Ne., where there is a great winery.  We stayed in a B&B the first night.  The next day we went to Ash Fall State Park.  If you've never been there it's amazing.  A volcano erupted thousands of years ago & the ash fell there and killed the prehistoric animals.  We then drove to Crofton, Ne. and stayed the night in the Argo Hotel, now a B&B in Crofton, Ne.  There was a street festival & it was really fun.  Northeast Nebraska is hilly and in some ways resembles the German countryside.  A whole different side of Nebraska.  I've been to central & far western Nebraska but Northeast Nebraska is beautiful in a different way. The next day we drove up to South Dakota & over to Sioux Falls and then down i-29 back to Omaha.  It was a fun trip.  After the kids were born travel means loading more hardware in the minivan than the President travels with.  We used to be able to travel with a couple of back packs.  Those were the days.

My point is this:  How many Omahans have seen their own state?  Again, all in your frame of reference.  People from outside of Nebraska have a funny view of Nebraska, and most Omahans have a funny view of Nebraska outside of Omaha.  I'll say this.  The people in Crofton were thrilled and happy to meet us and made us feel very welcome.  Of course, meeting my very pregnant wife may have played a part in their friendliness as well.  Who knows.
I have been out to Petersburg, Ord, Burwell, Calamus Resevoir, Lake McConaughay[sp?] and Chadron. I would love to see Scottsbluff, Chimney Rock, and the various fossil sites.
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Post by S33 »

Didn't Jim Flowers invent the "Thigh Master?"
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RNcyanide
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Post by RNcyanide »

S33 wrote:Didn't Jim Flowers invent the "Thigh Master?"
I thought that's just what he calls himself...
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Post by MadMartin8 »

NovakOmaha wrote:I posted this a long time ago.

When my wife was pregnant with out first child I said to her "We're never going to be able to just get in the car and go somewhere so I'm taking you on a little trip".  She is originally from Michigan and her only view of Nebraska was Omaha and I-80 to football games in Lincoln.  We drove to northeast Nebraska, first on highway 275 to Norfolk, then up highway 81 to Peirce, Ne., where there is a great winery.  We stayed in a B&B the first night.  The next day we went to Ash Fall State Park.  If you've never been there it's amazing.  A volcano erupted thousands of years ago & the ash fell there and killed the prehistoric animals.  We then drove to Crofton, Ne. and stayed the night in the Argo Hotel, now a B&B in Crofton, Ne.  There was a street festival & it was really fun.  Northeast Nebraska is hilly and in some ways resembles the German countryside.  A whole different side of Nebraska.  I've been to central & far western Nebraska but Northeast Nebraska is beautiful in a different way. The next day we drove up to South Dakota & over to Sioux Falls and then down i-29 back to Omaha.  It was a fun trip.  After the kids were born travel means loading more hardware in the minivan than the President travels with.  We used to be able to travel with a couple of back packs.  Those were the days.

My point is this:  How many Omahans have seen their own state?  Again, all in your frame of reference.  People from outside of Nebraska have a funny view of Nebraska, and most Omahans have a funny view of Nebraska outside of Omaha.  I'll say this.  The people in Crofton were thrilled and happy to meet us and made us feel very welcome.  Of course, meeting my very pregnant wife may have played a part in their friendliness as well.  Who knows.

I've been all around the state. Scottsbluff, Chadron, Clarkson, McCook, Broken Bow, North Platte, Cairo, Alliance, and a score of other small towns. Nebraska doesn't get nearly the credit it deserves in terms of beauty. I love the Niobrara River valley especially...with Smith Falls.

In regards to friendliness and feeling "welcome", the only problems I've ever run into were in Lincoln when I was going to UNL. Mentioning you're from Omaha and they go into defensive mode and start blabbing about comparing cities (it only got worse after the PBA was passed)...it's the oddest damn thing, and it happened quite a few times. The other places in the state are full amazing places to see, and definitely to eat. So many wonderful backroads to take in this state where you can stumble upon something amazing.
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Post by MadMartin8 »

Omababe wrote:
MadMartin8 wrote:Now I'm just depressed.
In all fairness, I daresay that there are many here in the Omaha area, otherwise well-educated, who could not immediately identify such states as Delaware and New Jersey on a blank map!

I taught High School Geography here in Omaha for a very short while, so I know this. Although I will contest that living in Nebraska, many kids fly to places like the mountain west, the northeast, etc for vacation and thus have some semblance of recognition of these places on a map, and it has shown from what I've seen in terms of student understanding.
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Brad
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Post by Brad »

A nice drive if you are heading to the Nioabrara/Smith Falls is to head towards Broken Bow, then Arnold.  In Arnold, head north and its a cool drive.  Head towards Halsey and check out the Nebraska National forest, then over to 83 and up to Valentine.  I wish I could hop in the car right now!
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Post by MadMartin8 »

Brad wrote:A nice drive if you are heading to the Nioabrara/Smith Falls is to head towards Broken Bow, then Arnold.  In Arnold, head north and its a cool drive.  Head towards Halsey and check out the Nebraska National forest, then over to 83 and up to Valentine.  I wish I could hop in the car right now!

I've taken...I believe it was...Highway 2 out of Broken Bow, then north on...I believe.... Highway 83. I enjoyed the drive quite a bit.
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Brad
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Post by Brad »

MadMartin8 wrote:
Brad wrote:A nice drive if you are heading to the Nioabrara/Smith Falls is to head towards Broken Bow, then Arnold.  In Arnold, head north and its a cool drive.  Head towards Halsey and check out the Nebraska National forest, then over to 83 and up to Valentine.  I wish I could hop in the car right now!

I've taken...I believe it was...Highway 2 out of Broken Bow, then north on...I believe.... Highway 83. I enjoyed the drive quite a bit.
Yep, 2 runs from Broken Bow to Halsey, almost straight line.

However if you get off 2 and Merna, head west on 92 to Arnold, then in Arnold go north on Dunning Road, it goes up and kind of runs along the ridge line of some sandhills and is quite scenic.  I guess they have a car race on that road every year.  It goes north and eventually connects back in to highway 2.  Its a little out of the way, but something different.

83 is the North/South our of Valentine.  Took one of my favorite photos there.

Image
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Post by MadMartin8 »

Brad wrote:
MadMartin8 wrote:
Brad wrote:A nice drive if you are heading to the Nioabrara/Smith Falls is to head towards Broken Bow, then Arnold.  In Arnold, head north and its a cool drive.  Head towards Halsey and check out the Nebraska National forest, then over to 83 and up to Valentine.  I wish I could hop in the car right now!

I've taken...I believe it was...Highway 2 out of Broken Bow, then north on...I believe.... Highway 83. I enjoyed the drive quite a bit.
Yep, 2 runs from Broken Bow to Halsey, almost straight line.

However if you get off 2 and Merna, head west on 92 to Arnold, then in Arnold go north on Dunning Road, it goes up and kind of runs along the ridge line of some sandhills and is quite scenic.  I guess they have a car race on that road every year.  It goes north and eventually connects back in to highway 2.  Its a little out of the way, but something different.

83 is the North/South our of Valentine.  Took one of my favorite photos there.

Image

I'll definitely have to head that way next time! Usually "out of the way" doesn't exist when you're taking a true road trip.



And I love that picture, I may use that as my computer's background image (if that is okay of course).
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Brad
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Post by Brad »

MadMartin8 wrote:And I love that picture, I may use that as my computer's background image (if that is okay of course).
No problem.  

I just realized that its not on my website... I need to get it on there!
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Post by NovakOmaha »

jessep28 wrote:Everyone in Michigan says that they're going "up North" when traveling.
They do if they are going to Charlevoix or Traverse City or one of the other cities in the northern lower peninsula.  The lower peninsula is taller than wide, unlike Nebraska which is wider than tall, thus people from the southern part of the state go "Up North".  Up North is like outstate or greater Nebraska.  I have to say, in the summer going up north is pretty nice.  Michigan has more shoreline than any other state.  You really have a wide variety of beaches to visit.  You can't spit around here without hitting water.


Here's one I took with a cel phone camera about 5 years ago.  It's lake St. Claire, not even one of the great lakes but still a pretty big lake.  It's in the metro Detroit area.

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Post by jessep28 »

I was born in the Saginaw Bay area and lived there until Kindergarten. Living in a swamp, mosquito trucks were commonplace in the summer.
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Brad
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Re: Famous people or things form or invented in Omaha or Neb

Post by Brad »

Heard the song at many funerals, but never new "On Eagles Wings" was first played in Omaha.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20140330/N ... -s-funeral" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Famous people or things form or invented in Omaha or Neb

Post by skinzfan23 »

I read that in the paper....I didn't know that either.
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Post by skinzfan23 »

jcitta wrote:Columbus is home to Dorothy Lynch Salad Dressing.
Dorothy Lynch dressing is turning 50 years old this year.

Pop out the salad dressing bottle and celebrate, Nebraskans; Dorothy Lynch is marking 50 years
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Re: Famous people or things form or invented in Omaha or Neb

Post by bigredmed »

When I was a kid, you knew you were a mis-fit in Nebraska when you just couldn't choke down another bite of that |expletive|. Stunned that it has lasted 50 years.
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Re: Famous people or things form or invented in Omaha or Neb

Post by guy4omaha »

bigredmed wrote:When I was a kid, you knew you were a mis-fit in Nebraska when you just couldn't choke down another bite of that |expletive|.  Stunned that it has lasted 50 years.
I thought it was okay as a kid. Now I really like it a lot. What's next for me . . . ? A night out at Bishop's Buffet?
My son got a 27 on his ACT. No this score is not as high as what Jeff's son achieved. But one has to remember the paternal gene-pool my son has to overcome. On a PGPAB [Paternal Gene-Pool Adjusted Basis], my son's score is a 37 and Jeff's son's PGPAB ACT score is 19.
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Re: Famous people or things form or invented in Omaha or Neb

Post by Coyote »

guy4omaha wrote:
bigredmed wrote:When I was a kid, you knew you were a mis-fit in Nebraska when you just couldn't choke down another bite of that |expletive|.  Stunned that it has lasted 50 years.
 I thought it was okay as a kid. Now I really like it a lot. What's next for me . . . ?  A night out at Bishop's Buffet?
Funny though, how Bishops had such a prominent spot at the Westroads.
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Re: Famous people or things form [sic] or invented in Omaha

Post by Omababe »

Coyote wrote:Funny though, how Bishops had such a prominent spot at the Westroads.
Actually, I thought Bishops was very decent.

It was interesting to see Bishop's wither and die when the invasion of Duff's/Choice/OCB/Golden C occurred. I guess it was the quantity over quality, as Bishop's was priced ala carte and the others were all-you-can-gorge.
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Re: Famous people or things form or invented in Omaha or Neb

Post by l-dude »

How many remember Bishops downtown location (or alternatively, don't care)?
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l-dude wrote:How many remember Bishops downtown location (or alternatively, don't care)?
I remember going there as a kid, but I for the life of me can't remember where...
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Re: Famous people or things form or invented in Omaha or Neb

Post by bigredmed »

Coyote wrote:
l-dude wrote:How many remember Bishops downtown location (or alternatively, don't care)?
I remember going there as a kid, but I for the life of me can't remember where...
East of the County Courthouse. The Westroads location was better.
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Re: Famous people or things form or invented in Omaha or Neb

Post by GetUrban »

You'll find we're just a little bit fussier, at Bishops! ...that was their ad.

I had forgotten about the one downtown. United Sporting Goods replaced the one at Westroads. Not sure what's there now.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
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Post by ricko »

Coyote wrote:
l-dude wrote:How many remember Bishops downtown location (or alternatively, don't care)?
I remember going there as a kid, but I for the life of me can't remember where...
It was on the north side of 14th & Douglas.
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Re: Famous people or things form or invented in Omaha or Neb

Post by schumatt »

GetUrban wrote:...replaced the one at Westroads. Not sure what's there now.
Bishop's was in the general area that is today's mall portion of the Von Maur wing. This photo shows it fairly well, almost straight south of Center Court.

[thumbnail]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7261/7784140594_a3878ee20f_c.jpg[/thumbnail]
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Re: Famous people or things form or invented in Omaha or Neb

Post by Brad »

From Omaha to Daytona

http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/ ... ation.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Great Video!




.
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Re: Famous people or things form or invented in Omaha or Neb

Post by Coyote »

Sweet! I didn't know...
I am presuming that was the Hot Shops?
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Re: Famous people or things form or invented in Omaha or Neb

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I am not sure where his studio is?

But that is a good video to watch even if you are not a NASCAR fan.
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Re: Famous people or things form or invented in Omaha or Neb

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John Lajba has a Sculptor Corporation at 1515 Jones St.
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Re: Famous people or things form or invented in Omaha or Nebr.

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Speaking of Nebraska and NASCAR...
Rick Allen, from Grand Island, 3-time All-American at UNL and former Voice of the Huskers...
Is now the 2015 Voice of NASCAR on NBC!
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Re: Famous people or things from or invented in Omaha or NE

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Huskers, Grand Island, NASCAR :barf: :barf: :barf:
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Re: Famous people or things from or invented in Omaha or NE

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[youtube][/youtube]
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Re: Famous people or things from or invented in Omaha or NE

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Hmmm
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Re: Famous people or things from or invented in Omaha or NE

Post by MTO »

Speaking of people invented in Omaha Filmstreams is showing a documentary on Marlon Brando "Listen to Me Marlon". I haven't seen it yet but the trailer looks pretty promising. Marlon Brando isn't one of those names you'll hear on TMZ every other day but non the less he is a once in a life time quality actor and individual. James Lipton once said his all time two favorite actors are Marlin Brando and Meryl Streep..
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Re: Famous people or things from or invented in Omaha or NE

Post by Brad »

Not sure where it was actually "Invented" but check out this awesome Road Zipper made by Lindsay Corp (Headquartered at 111th and Blondo Street in Omaha).

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Never saw the sequel, but would have never guessed...

Omahan Jim Decker's kick starred in 'Back to the Future Part II'
Nebraska Prep Zone wrote:A radio broadcast of the final 18 seconds of the game, including Decker's field goal, were included in the 1989 movie "Back to the Future Part II."
The Biff Tannen from 2015 visits his 1955 self and uses the game to show younger Biff the value of the Sports Almanac.
[youtube][/youtube]
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Re: Famous people or things from or invented in Omaha or NE

Post by Coyote »

This was mentioned in another thread... But, Butter Brickle ice cream was developed by the Blackstone Hotel in the 1920s
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