Opening night on May 7, 1925 featured live music, a comedy short, and the Gloria Swanson feature Madame Sans-Gene at what was briefly called the Lowell Theater, named for round-the-world aviator Lowell Smith. When founder Aaron Harding McDonald died just days before the grand opening, the theatre at 1010 Willamette Street in downtown Eugene, Oregon was renamed in his honor within 48 hours of its debut -- and the McDonald Theatre has carried that name for a century. Designed by Thomas and Mercier in a blend of Classical and Mediterranean Revival styles, the building's interior features soaring Roman arches, a coved ceiling, an ornate carpeted foyer, four ivory chandeliers, and decorative garden-style opera boxes. A massive Wurlitzer pipe organ once filled the auditorium -- at the time, the largest in Eugene. Originally seating 1,250 for stage and screen performances, the venue operated as a movie house for most of the 20th century before closing as a cinema in 2000. In 2001, Kesey Enterprises -- the family company of Oregon literary icon Ken Kesey -- began producing concerts and community events in the space. The Kesey family purchased the building outright in 2009 and has since maintained it as a piece of positive downtown revitalization, preserving the vintage decor while modernizing the stage, sound, and lighting infrastructure. The theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the McDonald holds approximately 759 in its modern configuration of a general-admission standing floor and seated balcony. Programming spans genres from rock, indie, and hip-hop to folk, electronic, country, comedy, drag shows, and tribute acts. The venue is also available for private events including weddings, proms, and fundraisers, making it one of the most versatile performance spaces in the Willamette Valley.

Type: Theater / Concert Hall

Address: 1010 Willamette Street, Eugene, OR, United States, 97401

Website: https://mcdonaldtheatre.com/

Capacity: 759

Opening Date: 07/05/1925