Hollywood comes to Cottage Grove! And, did it ever.
The year was 1977 and Main Street was alive with sound crews, actors, cameras and spectators. Universal Studios turned the community into a sound stage depicting college life in the sixties.
Using UO as the backdrop for the fictional Faber College, this R-rated satirical film became a box office success. The screenplay was derived largely from experiences of writer, Chris Miller at Dartmouth College in the early sixties, and was originally published in National Lampoon Magazine October 1974 as a short story, “Night of the Seven Fires.” The US Library of Congress deemed Animal House “culturally, historically and aesthetically significant and selecting it into the National Film Registry.
Over the years, Cottage Grove has hosted both a 25th anniversary toga party as well as a 40th celebration. The Chamber of Commerce currently owns the replica of the Deathmobile. The filming closed Main Street for four days and used the Armory for many indoor scenes. Several local sites can be seen in the movie such as the Rainbow Motel, downtown Main Street, Armory, Drive N Save, a laundromat, and, of course, The Dexter Lake Club.
The opening scene begins on the UO campus with two freshmen arriving at college attempting to pledge the snooty Omega Theta Pi house only to be rejected. Stooping to a much lower bar, they are accepted into the rowdy Delta Tai Chi house only to discover Dean of Students Wormer abhors them and puts them on “double secret probation.” With John Belushi leading the Delta’s into irreverent chaos, moviegoers see a horse butchered in the president’s office at UO Johnson Hall, a food fight with iconic mash potatoes at the UO Erb Memorial Student Union (EMU), semi clad toga parties, and the inspiration and creation of the Blues Brothers from Saturday Night Live at the Dexter Lake Club.
Although Otis Day and the Knights were highlighted at the Dexter Lake Club scene with their rendition of “Shout” and “Shama Lama Ding Dong” it was blues band members Curtis Salgado and Robert Cray who later inspired John Belushi to create the Blues Brothers as part of Saturday Night Live.
Cottage Grove became the star of this film during the final Homecoming parade scenes. Though it rained heavily the night before, a burner tractor was used to dry the street and chaos once again prevailed by morning. The iconic Deathmobile erupted out of the “Eat Me” cake float. Belushi swung across Main Street. Smoke bombs hurled off roofs. A fake fire hydrant exploded. Gallons of water erupted into the air. And the marching band took a wrong turn into a brick wall all while the director is signaling crowd to show terror and stop the laughter.
More than 40 years since filming, Animal House remains part of the fabric of Cottage Grove. Many still smile at the memory-some might just shake their heads.
Here are some of the familiar quotes from the film to make you too smile or shake your head:
Toga! Toga! Toga!
Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
Boon, I anticipate a deeply religious experience.
Food fight!
As of this moment, they’re on double secret probation.
My advice to you is to start drinking heavily.
If you mention extortion again, I’ll have your legs broken.
Put a sock in it boy, or else you’ll be outta here like s*%% through a goose.
I think that this situation absolutely required a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.
What a tool!
Thank you, God!
I find Milton probably as boring as you find Milton.
I’m a zit! Get it?
You’re all worthless and weak!
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell No!
Seven years of college down the drain. Might as well join the f**&% Peace Corp