A small-town record store in Eugene, Ore., was the subject of a documentary screened in the lecture hall of the Doudna Fine Arts Center Wednesday.

Students, faculty and community members gathered to watch the screening of one of Eastern’s own.

David Gracon, an assistant communication studies professor, said he filmed this documentary from 2006-2008 and edited in 2012.

He said after his favorite record store in Buffalo, N.Y., closed in 2006, he was inspired to find another store that made him feel the same way and see if they were struggling as much.

Gracon said he learned to appreciate stores like the House of Records because he comes from a working-class family.

He said he grew up going to thrift shops and garage sales.

Gracon said if it were not for the music that he sought comfort from through record stores, he would not be at Eastern Wednesday.

The House of Records is a store situated in a house from the 1900s, much like the store from Gracon’s childhood, that was established in 1971.

Gracon chose to do his dissertation on the atmosphere of a record store where LPs, tapes and CDs are sold.

“Visually, I think this film is a much better method for capturing the quirkiness, humor and the idiosyncratic atmosphere of the record store, much more so than my written research could possibly do,” Gracon said.

The documentary followed the owner, workers and customers that frequent the record store.

Many stories, from ghosts to robberies to even the small things found in the sleeves of records, were told through the one-hour documentary.

Sherry Walker, a secretary for the communication studies department, said the film took her on a trip down memory lane.

“It reminded me a lot about my youth,” she said. “I could smell the records and remember spending hours going through stacks.”

Walker said there was nothing like bringing a record home and playing it for the first time.

Gracon has screened the documentary in Oregon and Washington.

He said he was excited to finally screen it at Eastern after many people had asked him when he was getting around to it.

Gracon said he hopes to keep screening the film and eventually get it on Netflix.

The audience accepted the film well, with frequent laughter and applause before and after.

Eric Tyler, a senior communication studies major, said he really enjoyed the idea behind the film.

“It was a good representation of underground culture in America,” he said.

“And (it was) a great example of how local businesses are essential in community culture,” he said.

In the film, a staff member said, “A record store is like an oyster, except guaranteed to have a pearl inside.”

More than 3,000 record stores have closed in the last decade, according to Gracon’s documentary.

Austin Seaver, a senior recreation administration major, said besides the music being a little loud at times, he liked the film.

“I really enjoyed how it was personal, like you knew the people,” Seaver said.

Michael Janowski, a graduate student, said the film showed a different perspective on the music world.

“Being a huge audiophile myself, I feel this was something I could identify with,” he said.

Gracon said with this documentary, he hopes to show the large spectrum of music outside the range of mainstream music that stores like The House of Records are working to promote.

Joanna Leighton can be reached at 581-2812or jlleighton@eiu.edu.