EUGENE, Ore. _ You can visit the Willamette Valley in Oregon just about any fall to sample wines, beers and spirits, hike the buttes, float in a river or cycle alongside one. But this August, there was a baby boomer bonus: the chance to see "National Lampoon's Animal House" slip awkwardly into middle age.
"Animal House" was filmed on and near the University of Oregon in Eugene in 1977. It was released in 1978 to riotous laughter despite, or perhaps because of, its poor taste. It made John Belushi a movie star and launched the directing career of John Landis.
To mark its 40th birthday, many in and around Eugene put together celebrations in August _ especially the people in nearby Cottage Grove, scene of the film's climactic parade.
