The original Eugene Drive-in, built in 1948, was located at 2860 S. Willamette st. and consisted of one screen and a lot with a capacity of 580 cars. This lot is in the shape of a fan with the point being the screen and the fan shape dedicated to the cars. The original drive-in was constructed and built by the Oregon Outdoor Theatre Company. The theatre was managed by Lloyd Wirtz who operated another drive-in theatre that was its exact replica in Salem, Oregon under the name of the North Salem Drive-In. Each lot consisted of a speaker that was able to be controlled by the cars to their preferences, which was fantastic technology for the time. The entrance was off south Willamette st., with a long entry-way for the lineup, and the exit was onto the 29th Stree (then known as Lorane highway).
Later, the Moyer family company bought the Eugene Drive-in in 1961 and re-opened it at its new location (1400 Henderson Ave.) under the NEW Eugene Drive-in name. The original lot went under reconstruction to become the Crest Village shopping center, now known as Woodfield Station. This new theatre consisted of one of the largest drive-in screens in the northwest, at about 6,000 feet. This new lot had two other screens and could fit 800 cars, 220 cars more than its previous location. This new lot was more in the shape of a rectangle than a fan.
Both of these theatres consisted of playgrounds in front of the screens for kids to play on and they both had snack bars in the middle of the lot. Many theatres get shut down due to lack of interest, however it seems that this theatre had an abundance of interest in the 60s and stayed active into the late 80s. Its ingenious architecture allowed 800 individuals or families to enjoy movies from the comfort of their cars.
