QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 7, 2005

Registration No. 333-116428



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 202549


Post-Effective
Amendment No. 1
to
Form S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  3968
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  47-0587703
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

4350 McKinley Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68112
Telephone: (402) 453-4444

(Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code of registrant's principal executive offices)

Brad J. French
Chief Financial Officer
Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc.
4350 McKinley Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68112
Telephone: (402) 453-4444

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


Copies to:

Stephen E. Gehring
Michael C. Pallesen
Cline, Williams, Wright, Johnson &
Oldfather, L.L.P.
1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 320
Omaha, Nebraska 68102
Phone: (402) 397-6314
Facsimile: (402) 397-1806
Joseph O. Kavan
Kutak Rock LLP
The Omaha Building
1650 Farnam Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68124
Phone: (402) 346-6000
Facsimile: (402) 346-1148

        Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:    As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

        If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, check the following box. o

        If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

        If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

        If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

        If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. o


        Pursuant to this Registration Statement, as amended, Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc. (the "Registrant") registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 3,917,027 shares of the Registrant's common stock owned and offered for sale by BalCo Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and three individuals, Dana C. Bradford, Dennis M. O'Brien, and Scott A. Schmidt (collectively the "Selling Stockholders").

        The Registration Statement was declared effective on June 25, 2004. On November 19, 2004, Ballantyne was advised that all shares offered by the Selling Stockholders had been sold. Accordingly, Registrant is filing this amendment as notification that the offering is completed.

        For purposes of clarification, Registrant notes that on November 24, 2004, it filed an amendment to this Registration Statement making the same notification but which was withdrawn at the request of the SEC to correct an Edgar tag error. This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 replaces the withdrawn amendment.





SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Omaha, State of Nebraska on January 7, 2005.

    BALLANTYNE OF OMAHA, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/  
JOHN P. WILMERS      
    Name: John P. Wilmers
    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

By:

/s/  
BRAD J. FRENCH      
    Name: Brad J. French
    Title: Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial
Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
  Title
  Date


/s/ WILLIAM F. WELSH, II *

William F. Welsh, II


 


Director and
Chairman of the Board


 


January 7, 2005

/s/ JOHN P. WILMERS *

John P. Wilmers

 

Director, President and
Chief Executive Officer

 

January 7, 2005

/s/ ALVIN ABRAMSON *

Alvin Abramson

 

Director

 

January 7, 2005

/s/ DANA C. BRADFORD *

Dana C. Bradford

 

Director

 

January 7, 2005

/s/ MARK D. HASEBROOCK *

Mark D. Hasebroock

 

Director

 

January 7, 2005

*    By    Brad J. French, Power of Attorney

 

 



QuickLinks

SIGNATURES