The Circus That Outsmarted Its Own Management
When an underestimated Walla Walla crowd flocked to the Campbell Brothers' circus, the staff scrambled to haul seats back from the rail cars to avoid a ticket-holder disaster.
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When it comes to figuring out the whims and fancies of the Walla Walla public, the management of Campbell Brothers' circus last night found themselves pretty much up in the air—though no one heard that any complaint was made about the location. Owing to the heavy downpour yesterday and the general chilliness of the air that prevailed last night, the management had it figured out on paper that there would be a mighty slim crowd out to see the 'Great and Only,' and seating arrangements were made accordingly. The whole thing was figured out so nicely that at least one half of the seating accommodations were hauled from the circus grounds and snugly packed away on the cars to be transported to Dayton. Consternation and delight, all in a bunch, reigned when the crowds began arriving in a manner to give the box office man palpitation of the heart. To make a long story short, the management had to rout out all hands and transport the seats back to the grounds and put them up before the big crowd could be seated and the performance begin. For a small circus, Campbell's is one of the best that has visited Walla Walla in years.
“Consternation and delight, all in a bunch, reigned when the crowds began arriving in a manner to give the box office man palpitation of the heart.”
A century later, the tension between a city's growth and the infrastructure meant to support it remains a hallmark of Walla Walla's civic life. While the 'Campbell Brothers' circus had to scramble to accommodate a surprise surge in attendance, today's local businesses face similar challenges when infrastructure (like housing or event spaces) fails to keep pace with demand.
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