Exhibit 99.1

Ballantyne Q1 EPS Rose to $0.11 from $0.07 on

26% Increase in Net Revenues to $31.9 Million

OMAHA, Nebraska (May 6, 2011) Ballantyne Strong, Inc. (NYSE Amex: BTN), a provider of digital cinema projection equipment and services, cinema screens and other cinema products, today reported financial results for the first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2011.

First Quarter Results

Ballantyne Strong’s net revenues rose 26% to $31.9 million, led by strong performances from the Company’s cinema screen and service businesses.  Cinema screen net sales achieved an approximate 93% year-over-year increase to $6.8 million.  The continuing strong demand for 3D-compatible silver screens helped drive this growth, which was also buoyed by the 35% added manufacturing capacity expansion at the Company’s state-of-the-art Quebec facility.

The Company’s digital cinema services group generated a 177% revenue increase to $2.5 million, compared to $0.9 million a year ago.  The level of cinema services was negatively impacted by temporary delays for certain exhibitor customers seeking third-party equipment financing during Q1.

Digital cinema product sales rose approximately 34% to $18.6 million, compared to $13.9 million in the year-ago period.  Similar to the services business, the timing of certain equipment sales was delayed due to the temporary unavailability of capital for the expected purchases, prior to quarter-end.

Ballantyne’s net earnings were $1.5 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, compared to $1.0 million, or $0.07 in Q1 2010.

Consolidated gross profit increased 41% to $6.1 million, or a 19% gross margin on net revenues, compared to gross profit of $4.3 million, or 17% of net revenues in the year-earlier period.  The 200 basis point gross profit margin rise reflects the relative Q1 contribution from Ballantyne’s cinema screen and service businesses, which performed well during the period.  Selling and administrative expenses were $3.8 million, or 12% of net sales, up from $2.7 million in Q1 ‘10, or 10.7% of net sales.  The year-over-year increase was primarily due to the hiring of several additional sales personnel, the expansion of the Company’s Asian operations and an increase in professional fees.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Update

Ballantyne finished the period with $11.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared to $22.3 million at December 31, 2010.  The difference in the balance was largely a timing issue related to the temporary delay in certain digital projection equipment sales that ultimately did not get shipped before quarter-end.  As a result, the Company recorded cash flow used in operations of $9.4 million during the period and spent $1.8 million on capital expenditures, including $1.4 million for the continuation of the expansion work on its cinema screen manufacturing facility.

Commenting on Q1 results, President and CEO Gary L. Cavey stated, “We achieved solid Q1 results although the timing of certain digital projection equipment shipments was delayed, principally due to customer financing issues with third-party lenders.  This development negatively impacted our Q1 top- and bottom-line performance.  Fortunately, some of the financing bottleneck has been alleviated subsequent to quarter-end, and we are off to a strong start in Q2.

“Our cinema screens business achieved its best-ever results in Q1 and with the manufacturing capacity expansion at our state-of-the-art Quebec facility now behind us, we remain excited about this phase of our business.  We were also pleased with the performance of Ballantyne’s cinema services group during the period, including the addition of new Network Operations Center (NOC) monitoring customers.  The financial contribution from our services business would also have been greater had the aforementioned financing delays not pushed certain equipment sales to the following quarters.”

About Ballantyne Strong, Inc. (www.strong-world.com)

Ballantyne Strong is a provider of digital cinema projection equipment and services as well as cinema screens, motion picture projectors and specialty lighting equipment and services.  The Company supplies major and independent theater chains, top arenas, theme parks and architectural sites around the world.

Except for the historical information in this press release, it includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, quarterly fluctuations in results; customer demand for the Company’s products; the development of new technology for alternate means of motion picture presentation; domestic and international economic conditions; the management of growth; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.  Actual results may differ materially from management’s expectations.

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Ballantyne Strong, Inc. and Subsidiaries

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Ballantyne Strong, Inc. and Subsidiaries

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