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VOLUNTEER POWER
BIG BOOTS TO FILL
Happy Canyon Night Show sheriff role has been in same family since 1914
Story: Jonathan Bach | Photo: E.J. Harris
Colby Marshall, second from right, plays the role of the sheriff in the Happy Canyon Night Show in 2014. Marshall
married into the Fletcher family, whose male members have played the role of sheriff in the pageant for more than
100 years.
T
he scene is iconic for anyone who
has seen the Happy Canyon Night
Show. The town sheriff, played by
Colby Marshall since around 2005,
throws a drunk who has been ha-
rassing him into a paddy wagon. The sheriff sig-
nals the wagon’s driver to take off. The clever
drunk flips a latch, and the sheriff comically falls
onto a sawdust floor.
The crowd roars.
“When you get that tremendous laugh and re-
sponse from the crowd, you know you’ve got a
good job,” said Marshall.
Marshall, who works with livestock at Silvies
Valley Ranch near Burns from the wee hours of
the morning to twilight, plays sheriff in the
Happy Canyon Night Show.
The part was once held by Marshall’s father-
in-law, Robin Fletcher. The part has remained in
the Fletcher family since its inception. R.W.
Fletcher was the first Happy Canyon sheriff in
1914, according to Rebeca Waggoner (née
Fletcher), who is authoring a book on the show’s
history. Bob Fletcher Sr. played the part next,
then his two sons, Bill Fletcher Sr. and Robin
Fletcher Jr. Bill Fletcher took on the role before
passing it to Allen Waggoner — Rebeca’s hus-
band. “It has been played by only four genera-
tions, which is amazing in 100 years,” wrote
Waggoner in an email to the East Oregonian.
Marshall donned the sheriff’s badge after he
married into the Fletcher family and his brother-
in-law, Allen, took on other responsibilities.
Marshall does more than act during the spec-
tacle. “A big part of that role is looking out for
the other cast members. It’s watching to make
sure the kids aren’t in harm’s way,” he said. “When
you’re dealing with wagons and live animals on-
set, you have to have your head on the swivel.”
For some, the Happy Canyon show is a fam-
ily affair. One of Marshall’s favorite memories is
seeing his wife and kids playing their parts dur-
ing his first go as the sheriff. “It’s a pretty neat
moment when you see the you son or daughter”
20 • PENDLETON ROUND-UP • EAST OREGONIAN • SEPTEMBER 2015
R.W. Fletcher as the 1938 sheriff
of the Happy Canyon Night Show.
Photo courtesy of Howdyshell Family
in the show, especially if they’re only three
months old, he said.
Rachelle Marshall, his wife, remembers the
smell of sawdust and rushing to the fence as a girl
at Happy Canyon to see her father, Robin, in the
play. Now she watches her husband put on the
sheriff’s boots with pleasure.
“It’s a neat and special honor to see that role
carried on,” said Rachelle.
Although Colby Marshall said it’s an honor
“to carry on a century of family tradition,” he
credits most of the show’s success to the volun-
teers who hustle in the background, from makeup
artists to people just working the gates. “No sin-
gle role would be what is it without all the sup-
port behind the scenes,” said Colby.
There’s electricity in the air after the curtain
proverbially falls on a show where the crowd re-
sponded well and the timing was dead on. He
said, “Whether you’re playing a role out in the
sawdust, or in the back on makeup, everyone gets
a piece of that excitement.”