Location: 824 Pearl Street, Eugene Active Years: 1950s … [Read more...]
Snapshot of Lane County in the 1950's
Eugene Music Company
Location: 181 E Broadway - Downtown Eugene Active Years: 1950s … [Read more...]
Gaylords
Location: 13th and Willamette Active Years: 1950s … [Read more...]
Wilson Music House
Active Years: 1937 - 1990's Ralph W. Wilson (owner/operator from 1937 – 1950) 1932 - Ralph Wilson and biz partner open small music store on W Broadway 1937 - Re-opens under Wilson Music House at 39 E 10th Ave. 1950 - Ralph retires and his son Bob Wilson and business partner Glen E. Houchen continues business By 1959 the store was located at 1070 Willamette Street 1970 - … [Read more...]
Willamette Records
Located at 2272 Roosevelt Blvd in Eugene, Oregon, Orbit Sound Company (country acts), Willamette Records (1959-1960) and Myrtle Mountain Publishing Company were founded by Lloyd “Grandpappy” Smith, an upright bass player and bandleader of the Western Valley Boys, the Melody Ranch house band. Located at the same address Melody Ranch was a country western dance hall operated … [Read more...]
Orbit Sound
Located at 2272 Roosevelt Blvd in Eugene, Oregon, Orbit Sound Company (country acts), Willamette Records (1959-1960) and Myrtle Mountain Publishing Company were founded by Lloyd “Grandpappy” Smith, an upright bass player and bandleader of the Western Valley Boys, the Melody Ranch house band. Located at the same address Melody Ranch was a country western dance hall operated … [Read more...]
Donna Dance Hall
1914 - 1950's Original Name of the Store: M.C. Hammitt General Merchandise Original Owners - M.C. and Kathleen Hammitt The legendary dance hall was located upstairs of the Mohawk General Store at the intersection of Donna and Hill Road, east of Springfield. The hall included a bar, stage and small band room. Dances were held every Saturday night. According to current owner, … [Read more...]
Civic Music Association
1943-? "During this era there were two "organized" music plans, one operated by Columbia Artists (a subsidiary of CBS Broadcasting) known as Community Concerts, and the other operated by the National Broadcasting Company as a subsidiary known as the Civic Music Association. The University of Oregon operated under the civic music plan. This plan differed radically from the … [Read more...]
American Federation of Musicians – Local 689
Celebrating 100 years of supporting live music and professional musicians! Local 689 is a chapter of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. Local 689 was granted charter in 1914, making it one of the oldest organizations in Eugene. The Local had its own building at 2489 Portland Street in Eugene between 1960 and 1999? Dec 1960 - … [Read more...]
Masonic Temple (1856-Present)
First fraternal organization in Eugene. Location: Originally at 47 W 8th Ave, downtown Eugene, then moved to 992 Olive St. … [Read more...]