Eugene Drive-In
1400 Henderson Avenue,
Eugene,
OR
97403
1400 Henderson Avenue,
Eugene,
OR
97403
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Act III Theatres, Moyer Theatres
Previous Names: New Eugene Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Eugene Drive-In had two different locations during its 40 seasons in Eugene. It opened at 2860 S. Willamette, the first location, on July 29, 1948. It had a capacity for 580-cars. During the 1960’s, while operated by Moyer Theatres of Portland, they began to feature first-run movies. In July and August of 1962 presented a six-week run of the “The Music Man" starring Robert Preston. The theater closed, apparently for good, on September 11, 1962, when its listing dropped out of the Eugene Register-Guard (it has its own page on Cinema Treasures).
It had a replacement though because the New Eugene Drive-In had opened the previous July 22 at 1400 Henderson Avenue. Beginning in the 1963 season the New Eugene Drive-In, also operated by Moyer, reverted to the name the Eugene Drive-In. It expended to 3-screens in 1978. According to newspaper advertisements, while under the Moyer Theatres banner, it closed after the 1987.
The Spokane Daily Chronicle said on November 23, 1988 said that Moyer Theatres, also known as Luxury Theatres, were the 11th largest theater chain in the country. They operated 293 screens at 87 locations in Oregon, Washington, California, Alaska, Idaho and Nevada. At that time Tom Moyer agreed to sell his theater holdings to Act III Theatres of San Antonio, Texas.
It was demolished in the mid-to late-1960’s
Contributed by
Ron Pierce
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
After many years, I was finally able to put 2 & 2 together to confirm the location of the New Eugene drive-in. I had been told the drive-in field was now the LTD bus yard, but always assumed the entrance was off Glenwood Blvd. After another look at the Google Earth link for the original site on Willamette. It appears the marquee at the corner of Henderson & Franklin is is the last remaining drive-in fixture in the Eugene/Springfield area.
Goggle Earth 1975
1948 and 1962 grand opening ads in photo section.
Eugune Drive-in Opened with “The noose hangs high” and “Where the north begins”. New Eugene Drive-in opened with “My geisha” and “Batchlor in paradise”. 2 screens. 650 cars.
Boxoffice, Feb. 4, 1963: “The new Moyer Drive-In Theatre in Eugene, Ore., employs a host of modern drive-in features to offer patrons unexcelled convenience, service and safety.”
That was the start of a two-page story, with photos, of the “Moyer Drive-In,” where the manager used a citizen’s band walkie-talkie to relay directions to ramp workers.
FWIW, the Motion Picture Almanac’s drive-in lists continued to call it the Eugene Drive-In.
For the record, there were two ‘Moyer’ theater chains in Oregon. Tom and his brother, Larry, ran competing companies, with much animosity between the two. The Eugene Drive-In was built by the Moyer family, but the company split in 1966, with Larry retaining the Eugene theater. He later built the West 11th Drive-in (on the site of the current Fred Meyer store), West 11th 6 screen indoor, and Valley River Twin cinemas. The Eugene Drive-in was split into 3 screens in 1978.
The actual address for this drive-in was 1400 Henderson Ave, Eugene, OR 97403. That part of E. 14th Ave did not exist until after the theatre was closed.
Please update.