The first Lane Courthouse, built in 1855 on the northeast corner of 8th Avenue and Oak Street, doubled as the first community center. On March 5, 1859 the Eugene City Brass Band (a 14-piece band) gave a concert at the courthouse. A news item in the People’s Press had this to say about the concert: “…Notwithstanding the rain had poured down for several days wit but little … [Read more...]
Melody Ranch
Melody Ranch was a country western dance hall located in the Four Corner's area. Operation Dates: 1947 - 1957 Owner/Operator: Lloyd “Grandpappy” Smith was an upright bass player and bandleader of the Western Valley Boys, the Melody Ranch house band. Location: 2272 Roosevelt Blvd, Eugene, Oregon Attracted Grand Ole Opry touring performers such as Ernest Tubb, … [Read more...]
Lavendar Records
Location: At the Cascade Club, 3202 Jasper Rd, 2 miles east of Springfield, Oregon Pat Mason’s Lavender label was out of Seaside and Springfield, Oregon. Pat Mason was a major N.W. agent and promoter (Far West Amusements). Pat booked national acts and N.W. local bands to perform primarily on the weekends. The Cascade Club was mostly closed during the week and served as a … [Read more...]
Century Custom Recording Service
Century Custom Recording Service, was a franchise of the Keysor-Century Corporation. By 1963, there were 80 franchise associates in the United States. The franchise associates often produced records as independent labels. Notable franchise associates included Eugene, Oregon. Location: 2568 Jasmine Street in Eugene, Oregon (Santa Clara neigborhood) Garyl G. Fisher … [Read more...]
Curtis Salgado
Curtis Salgado grew up in Eugene, Oregon. By his early 20s, Salgado was already making a name for himself in Eugene’s bar scene with his band The Nighthawks, and later as co-leader of The Robert Cray Band. In 1977, comedian/actor John Belushi was in Eugene filming Animal House. During downtime from production, Belushi caught a typically ferocious Salgado performance and … [Read more...]
Jefferson Beach Dance Hall
Jefferson Beach Dance Pavilion (1930-1939) Jefferson Beach, also known as Jeff Beach was a big dance hall located on the Willamette River bank at the north end of Jefferson Street. It was a pretty place near the Willamette River. It was torn down to make way for the Washington and Jefferson street bridges to cross over to the Valley River shopping center. (Source: Vera … [Read more...]
Wild Duck Music Hall (1996-2004)
Location: 169 W 6th Ave, Eugene OR Daily Emerald Article: Closure means unhappy new year for Wild Duck – Jan 8, 2004 Concert History (small sample): Leftover Salmon, Spearhead, Los Lobos, Dark Star Orchestra, the String Cheese Incident, the Wailers, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, the Grey Boy Allstars and David Crosby…and…. Mar 25 2003 Sound Tribe Sector … [Read more...]
Shedd Institute (1991-Present)
Location: 868 High St, Eugene OR Active Years: 1991-Present The Shedd Institute was founded in 1991 under the name Oregon Festival of American Music as a thematically based summer orchestral pops festival dedicated to the championship of American classical music. In 1993 the Festival was designated as a Resident Company of the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, joining … [Read more...]
Sam Bond’s Garage (1995-Present)
Location: 407 Blair St, Eugene OR Content Coming Soon! … [Read more...]
McKenzie Ballroom (1997-1999)
Location: 630 Main St, Springfield OR Building History The building has had many owners and businesses in its life. It started as a theater and went on to be a fine arts theater, a boxing club, and a dance and music hall called The Zoo. It has always been used as an entertainment venue. 1946 – The McKenzie Theater held it’s grand opening in 1946. On the marquee was … [Read more...]