The Whitman College Students' Circus
A grand student-led performance in Armory Hall brings trained elephants, trapeze artists, and a merry band of clowns to Walla Walla.
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The midwinter circus by the Whitman college students and the Walla Walla band opened in Armory hall last night to a large audience. Every reserved seat was occupied. The show was opened with a grand entry in which over 200 performers and the troupe of trained elephants participated. The star act of the circus was given by the Leondor Brothers, a professional team from Portland. The McLean brothers provided a trapeze act, and the contortion act of Calder was exceptionally good. Twenty clowns provided comedy, and the evening concluded with a concert including musical numbers by the college glee clubs.
“Twenty clowns furnish the funny part of the program and the act alone is well worth the price of admission.”
Community variety shows and student-led performance arts remain a vital part of the Walla Walla cultural fabric. This 1908 event highlights a time when the college and the town collaborated directly on large-scale entertainment in the downtown core.
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