For over a century, the Happy Canyon show has brought together families, friends and strangers to witness a joyous celebration of local history. Originally staged in 1914 by Roy Raley, the all-volunteer show presents a live retelling of Pendleton's founding that honors both the beauty of tribal life and the spirit of the Old West. Today, the show is truly a family affair, and many performers and organizers are descendants of those early actors and crew. Author Becky Fletcher Waggoner delivers a detailed, loving view of the show's history, illustrated with beautiful photography and fascinating archival photos that join past and present.
Becky Fletcher Waggoner is a fourth-generation Happy Canyon participant and fifth-generation resident of Pendleton, Oregon. A volunteer actor with the show since the age of three, Becky is passionate about the preservation of the show's history and dedicated to honoring all who volunteered to create it over the past century. She and her husband, Allen, former Happy Canyon director and president, have three children, Kyle, Kaleigh and Riley, fifth-generation Happy Canyon volunteers and actors.