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.
I helped run ‘dallies’ of Animal House filming in 1977 while a freshman at U of O. One scene showed Pinto and Flounder walking down the sidewalk toward Delta House. As the camera panned, the marquee of the The Mayflower came into view, prominently displaying Star Wars on the Marquee! Lots of laughter in the screening room. That scene is cut in the movie, just before the marquee appears.
You can still walk up the original boxoffice road from 15th street. Notice the tree lined area between the Boys & Girls club to the left, and the highway dept. warehouse to the right. The road dead ends at the park equipment shed at the edge of the field. Actual boxoffice is noted by the drawn in square to the right of the baseball diamond.
It is interesting that this drive-in was referred to as a “twin”. Although named and constructed with a twin projection booth, the 2nd screen was never constructed. 1975 brought the addition of 3 indoor cinemas, partially constructed on land set to be the 2nd drive-in field. The resulting complex was renamed West 11th Entertainment Center, thus ending the “twin” drive-in era. Then, in 1987, 3 additional screens were constructed on the remainder of the 2nd field, converting the complex to Movieland, a 6 screen indoor theatre with no drive-in, although, the original drive-in snackbar and restrooms continued to serve the theatre.
Bay Street looking west from Maple St. Was the commercial district of of the town prior to the Highway 101 bridge. The new bridge realigned the highway, and soon most businesses rebuilt “uptown”. By the late 1960’s, Bay Street consisted of derelict vacant buildings, except for the Harbor Theatre and two bars. A renaissance began in the early 70’s with young people purchasing and restoring the remaining buildings. Today, the street is a treasured part of the community, and a huge tourist draw. Most of the buildings in this block remain today, however all of the buildings seen in the next block west were demolished.
David, Wild Rhododendrons flourish in the area, even surrounding the drive-in, and now Miller Park. The city hosts an annual Rhododendron Festival each May, when the flowers are in full bloom. I attended the Rhododendron Elementary school while growing up here in the 60’s.
Prior to 1975 this theatre was known as the West 11th Twin Drive-in. Built originally in 1968, with only one screen – located where the Fred Meyer store is today. The projection booth had two sets of windows, although the 2nd drive in screen was never constructed. The theatre ran as a combo drive-in and 3 screen indoor for several years beginning in 1975. The original drive-in snack bar was connected to and served the 3 indoor screens, and even later, the 6 indoor screens.
The 4 screen multiplex recently closed, which leaves Florecne with no operating theatres. My family purchased the Harbor Theatre and Rhododendron Drive-In from Joe Lane in October of 1974. We ran the business until sale to James Genereaux in the early 1990’s. The Drive-In closed in 1979 and is now Miller Park. James closed the Harbor after many tough years fighting the 4-screener, and sold the building to On Your Feet shoe stores. Prior to the Sale, James carefully modified the building for retail use, with an eye on enabling a return to a theatre someday. There is a built up wood floor over the sloped and terraced theatre floor, and a false wall covering the stage and screen. The booth and cry room are intact. I removed the Motiograph AAA projectors, and they are now stored for possible future use.
The facade was recently repainted gray and the neon theatre sign covered with an outer face reading “Shoes”.
I am in the planning stages of creating a 35 year “return to the Rhody Drive-In” event on the actual drive-in site – Miller Park, for summer 2010. This will involve a large inflatable screen and high powered digital projection with FM Stereo Sound.
I was employed by ACT III theatres to remove the projection equipment from the aberdeen theatre in the early 90’s. The projectors were rebuilt and installed in the Newport, OR tri-plex shortly there after. The Newport theatre is expanding, and I am getting the projectors back. It would be cool to see them returned, should the theatre reopen.
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.
I helped run ‘dallies’ of Animal House filming in 1977 while a freshman at U of O. One scene showed Pinto and Flounder walking down the sidewalk toward Delta House. As the camera panned, the marquee of the The Mayflower came into view, prominently displaying Star Wars on the Marquee! Lots of laughter in the screening room. That scene is cut in the movie, just before the marquee appears.
You can still walk up the original boxoffice road from 15th street. Notice the tree lined area between the Boys & Girls club to the left, and the highway dept. warehouse to the right. The road dead ends at the park equipment shed at the edge of the field. Actual boxoffice is noted by the drawn in square to the right of the baseball diamond.
It is interesting that this drive-in was referred to as a “twin”. Although named and constructed with a twin projection booth, the 2nd screen was never constructed. 1975 brought the addition of 3 indoor cinemas, partially constructed on land set to be the 2nd drive-in field. The resulting complex was renamed West 11th Entertainment Center, thus ending the “twin” drive-in era. Then, in 1987, 3 additional screens were constructed on the remainder of the 2nd field, converting the complex to Movieland, a 6 screen indoor theatre with no drive-in, although, the original drive-in snackbar and restrooms continued to serve the theatre.
Bay Street looking west from Maple St. Was the commercial district of of the town prior to the Highway 101 bridge. The new bridge realigned the highway, and soon most businesses rebuilt “uptown”. By the late 1960’s, Bay Street consisted of derelict vacant buildings, except for the Harbor Theatre and two bars. A renaissance began in the early 70’s with young people purchasing and restoring the remaining buildings. Today, the street is a treasured part of the community, and a huge tourist draw. Most of the buildings in this block remain today, however all of the buildings seen in the next block west were demolished.
This is a view of the Cry Room, upstairs, next to the projection booth.
David, Wild Rhododendrons flourish in the area, even surrounding the drive-in, and now Miller Park. The city hosts an annual Rhododendron Festival each May, when the flowers are in full bloom. I attended the Rhododendron Elementary school while growing up here in the 60’s.
Ahhh, I think I can beat that price. Actual cost to upgrade to digital projection is around $42,000.
Prior to 1975 this theatre was known as the West 11th Twin Drive-in. Built originally in 1968, with only one screen – located where the Fred Meyer store is today. The projection booth had two sets of windows, although the 2nd drive in screen was never constructed. The theatre ran as a combo drive-in and 3 screen indoor for several years beginning in 1975. The original drive-in snack bar was connected to and served the 3 indoor screens, and even later, the 6 indoor screens.
Projection “booth” for 2012 Return to the Rhody Drive-in
Projection booth door is visible in front of Ford Courier pickup.
Marquee was located at this corner.
Box office entrance road still exists today one block west of this drive way.
Yes, this is the location to the 17th street exit.
The 4 screen multiplex recently closed, which leaves Florecne with no operating theatres. My family purchased the Harbor Theatre and Rhododendron Drive-In from Joe Lane in October of 1974. We ran the business until sale to James Genereaux in the early 1990’s. The Drive-In closed in 1979 and is now Miller Park. James closed the Harbor after many tough years fighting the 4-screener, and sold the building to On Your Feet shoe stores. Prior to the Sale, James carefully modified the building for retail use, with an eye on enabling a return to a theatre someday. There is a built up wood floor over the sloped and terraced theatre floor, and a false wall covering the stage and screen. The booth and cry room are intact. I removed the Motiograph AAA projectors, and they are now stored for possible future use.
The facade was recently repainted gray and the neon theatre sign covered with an outer face reading “Shoes”.
I am in the planning stages of creating a 35 year “return to the Rhody Drive-In” event on the actual drive-in site – Miller Park, for summer 2010. This will involve a large inflatable screen and high powered digital projection with FM Stereo Sound.
I was employed by ACT III theatres to remove the projection equipment from the aberdeen theatre in the early 90’s. The projectors were rebuilt and installed in the Newport, OR tri-plex shortly there after. The Newport theatre is expanding, and I am getting the projectors back. It would be cool to see them returned, should the theatre reopen.