Cinnamon Bear 37-12-03 07 Presto, the Magician

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio – "Cinnamon Bear 37-12-03 07 Presto, the Magician"

Date: December 9, 2025
Podcast: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Episode: Cinnamon Bear 37-12-03 07 Presto, the Magician

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Harold's Old Time Radio" continues the whimsical adventures of Judy, Jimmy, and their fantastical friends—the Cinnamon Bear and the Crazy Quilt Dragon. Still on the quest to recover their missing Silver Star for the Christmas tree, the group encounters the delightfully inept Presto, the Magician. Through magical mishaps, playful banter, and new perils, the children learn about persistence and the unpredictable consequences of magic.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

1. Recap and Stakes (02:11–02:40)

• The group’s troubles escalate as the Silver Star, vital for topping Judy and Jimmy’s Christmas tree, keeps slipping from their reach. After being snatched by Penelope the Pelican, the group must continue their pursuit.
• Memorable quote:
  • Narrator: “As Cinnamon Bear would say, this is a pretty kettle of halibut's.” (02:39)

2. Debate on Next Steps & Hungry Travellers (02:40–04:08)

• Judy and Jimmy, upset and hungry, contemplate crossing the Root Beer Ocean but are advised against it by Cinnamon Bear and Crazy Quilt.
• Crazy Quilt injects humor, craving “a few dozen lollipops,” while Cinnamon Bear yearns for cinnamon buns to stay "extra special ferocious."
• Memorable moment:
  • Crazy Quilt: "I was just thinking maybe we could find us a root beer float." (03:07)

3. Arrival on Shore and Meeting Presto (04:08–05:28)

• The group lands on shore, deliberately avoiding the threatening Inca Boos.
• They encounter a peculiar man—Presto, the Magician—distinguished by his sleeveless coat, oversized hat, and an entourage of rabbits.
• Memorable quote:
  • Judy notes Presto’s odd appearance: "He hasn't got any sleeves in his coat... and that hat... it completely covers his face!" (05:06)

4. Presto, the Hapless Magician (05:28–07:24)

• Crazy Quilt reveals Presto’s backstory as a “bad magician” who studies magic by correspondence (mail).
• Presto explains the unintended result of his magic lessons—he can conjure rabbits but cannot make them disappear due to a lost lesson in the mail.
• Memorable exchange:
  • Presto: "No, that was the rabbit. Unfortunately, I produced him... doing my homework on magic lesson number four. I take magic lessons by mail. Very good, too." (06:35)
  • Cinnamon Bear (mocking): "Seems to me you're talking through your hat." (07:16)

5. Requests for Magical Help (07:24–09:09)

• The group asks Presto for food; his attempt results in conjuring a real pig and chicken, not ham and eggs!
• When asked about finding lost things, Presto eagerly enters a "quick trance" and correctly determines the Star is with Penelope the Pelican, flying over water.
• Notable quote:
  • Jimmy: "Well, what I want to know is, why don't you have any sleeves in your coat?"
  • Presto: "Simple, my child, simple. If I don't have any sleeves, folks will know I have nothing up them." (07:53)

6. Presto’s Attempts at Summoning (09:09–10:57)

• Presto tries to magically summon Penelope. His first tries yield a halibut and then a penguin ("raspberries to all of you, goodbye!") before finally producing a disgruntled Penelope.
• Penelope, annoyed at being magically snatched, reveals she dropped the Silver Star over the Island of Obi after being startled.
• Notable exchange:
  • Penelope: "You'll answer for this. I'll write a letter. That's what I'll do. You'll hear from me." (10:27)
  • Penelope: "Your cheap Bodeville magic jerked me so violently I thought I'd lose my back feathers." (10:45)

7. Setback and Comic Transformation (11:17–11:56)

• The group laments their worsening predicament since the Silver Star is now even more lost.
• Presto, overwhelmed by embarrassment ("I am abject. I am prostrate. I feel like a snake in the grass."), transforms literally into a snake and wriggles away, leaving the group to recover from the chaos.

8. A Pirate Cliffhanger (12:06–13:05)

• Determined, the friends set off to search for food and a means to reach the Island of Obi.
• They stumble upon a mysterious pirate chest inscribed "Private property of Captain Taffy. Hands off."
• Pirates suddenly appear, encircling the group and ending the episode on a classic Golden Age radio cliffhanger.
• Narrator’s tease:
  • “Pirates? That’s bad. Yes, indeed. From all I’ve read and heard about pirates, they’re not especially good people to meet up with... next time we’ll find out just what’s in store…”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Crazy Quilt’s Humor: "I was just thinking maybe we could find us a root beer float.” (03:07)
• Presto on Magic: "Lesson number five on how to make white rabbits disappear with nothing up your sleeve was lost in the mail." (06:54)
• Presto’s Flourish: "Only too happy to accommodate you, young man. Only too happy to accommodate you." (07:46)
• Presto’s Error: "I don't think I could eat a real live pig and a chicken." (08:52, Jimmy)
• Penelope’s Complaint: "I'll write a letter. ... You'll hear from me." (10:27)
• Presto’s Transformation: “I am abject. I am prostrate. I feel like a snake in the grass.” (11:37), then turns into a snake.

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Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment / Event | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 02:11 | Recap of Silver Star misadventures | | 03:35 | Food cravings & group’s weary mood | | 05:01 | First sighting of Presto, the Magician | | 06:35 | Presto’s rabbit mishap & magic lessons revealed | | 07:53 | Reason for sleeveless coat explained | | 08:36 | Presto’s failed attempt at food magic | | 09:11 | Presto’s séance: “quick trance” for Silver Star | | 09:40 | Summoning gone awry: halibut, penguin, finally pelican| | 10:27 | Penelope returns, Silver Star lost over Obi | | 11:37 | Presto’s embarrassment, transformation to snake | | 12:21 | Discovery of pirate chest | | 12:42 | Pirates surround the group—cliffhanger |

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Conclusion

This episode artfully blends fantasy, gentle parody, and rapid-fire humor characteristic of Golden Age radio. While the children and their companions are stymied by bad luck and bad magic, the tone remains lighthearted and clever, promising more imaginative tribulations and adventure in the next installment.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

And here's the cinnamon bear.

[C]

And now let's take a look at Judy and Jimmy and their friends, the Cinnamon Bear and the Crazy Quilt Dragon. Things seemed to be happening left and right. Wesley the wailing Whale swallowed their silver star and finally got it off his chest when Crazy Quill tickled him and made him cough it up. Samuel the Seal caught it and started to juggle it higher and higher. He tossed the star and then, alack, Penelope the Pelican snatched it in midair and off she flew. As Cinnamon Bear would say, this is a pretty kettle of halibut's.

[D]

Oh, dear.

[B]

Every time I think about our star.

[D]

I want to cry. Seems like we just never will get it back. Don't you suppose we ought to just head out into the root beer ocean and keep looking, Cinnamon Bear?

[E]

I don't think that would be so wise, Judy.

[F]

I should say not. Not until I've eaten my four barrels of corks. Twould be a sad thing for us to get started and then have me get all soaked up with root beer. Oh, ho ho.

[E]

What's funny, Crazy Quill?

[F]

I was just thinking maybe we could find us a root beer float. Oh.

[E]

Oh, this is no time for bum jokes, Crazy.

[F]

Oh, I thought it rather good myself.

[E]

It's not. Now, Judy. I don't think it would do any good to head out into the Root Beer ocean. We haven't the extra slightest notion of which way the pelican was flying.

[B]

Well, right now I don't care much about anything. I'm so hungry.

[F]

Ah, food. Now that you mention it, Jimmy, I could trifle with a few dozen lollipops myself.

[E]

And sure, and I haven't had any cinnamon buns for some time. If I want to keep extra special ferocious, I just must have my cinnamon buns.

[D]

Suppose we all hop on Crazy Clips back and get back to land again.

[F]

Capital. I'm all dried out now and it isn't very far. Climb aboard, my friend.

[E]

Yeah. How about those Inca Boos? Can't we go further up the coast a bit and avoid them? Soak my stuff in if I ever want to meet up with them again.

[B]

None of us would, Cinnamon Bear.

[F]

I'll head sort of north by east. Northly. And that'll bring us to a shore quite a bit out of their territory.

[E]

You've no idea how good that sounds to me ears, Crazy Queen.

[G]

Come on, let's go.

[F]

I'll get you ashore before you can say Jack Robinson.

[D]

Jack Robinson?

[F]

Oh, that's not fair, Judy. I wasn't ready.

[B]

You can't swim that fast, Crazy Quilt, and you know it.

[F]

Maybe so, maybe no. But just hang on tight and see how you like this.

[E]

He's using his tail from the fella.

[D]

That was a quickie, Crazy Quilt.

[B]

I'll say it was.

[F]

I was just poking along. Just poking along.

[E]

Oh, you don't say so. Well, if you'd have gone any faster, it would have blown all my fur off.

[D]

My goodness, Crazy Quilt, this looks awful steep along here.

[B]

Wait a minute. Who's that over there by that big rock?

[D]

Why, it's a man. And isn't he funny looking? He hasn't got any sleeves in his coat.

[E]

And would you look at that hat? It's so big it completely covers his face.

[D]

And look, Judy, look at all those.

[B]

White rabbits following him. Willikers. Why, there must be about 20 of them.

[D]

Oh.

[F]

Oh, it must be. It is is. Who made my colors if it isn't that measly magician, Mr. Presto.

[D]

You mean he's a bad man, Crazy Quilt?

[F]

Oh, no, not that, but he's a bad magician. He takes magic lessons by correspondence.

[E]

He means by mail, Judy.

[F]

Right. And he insists on trying his half baked magic on everything and anybody. Last time I met up with him, he practiced a bit on me. I shall never forget it.

[B]

Well, what did he do, Crazy Quilt?

[F]

Well, pride will not permit me to tell you, Jimmy, my Crazy Quilt ancestors would turn over in their graves.

[H]

Greetings, my old friend, Crazy Quilt. Greetings and salutations. So glad to see you again. And how's your Uncle Gregory?

[E]

He seems very pleasant, Crazy Quilt.

[F]

I refuse to make further comment for a minute.

[D]

Anyway, if he's a magician, maybe he can help us get our Silver Star back.

[H]

Well, well, well. This is the treat, if I do say so. And who are your friends, Crazy Quilt?

[F]

Oh. Oh, hello, Presto. May I make you acquainted with Judy and Jimmy and Patio Cinema?

[H]

How do you do? How do you do? Any friend of Crazy Quilts is a friend of mine. As I always say, so glad to see you. And how are you, Presto?

[G]

That's about a few carrots, huh?

[B]

Us rabbits is gonna get tough if you don't Crack through with some grub.

[G]

And we don't mean maybe, see?

[B]

Pardon me, Mr. Presto, but did that white rabbit say that, or are you a ventriloquist?

[H]

No, that was the rabbit. Unfortunately, I produced him and about 20 others while I was doing my homework on magic. Lesson number four. I take magic lessons by mail. Very good, too. Produced all these rabbits out of my hat I couldn't get rid of and keep following me around all the time and yelling for carrots. Very annoying. Very annoying.

[D]

But if you're a magician, why don't you make them disappear? Then they wouldn't bother you.

[H]

Alas, I'm unable to do that. Lesson number five on how to make white rabbits disappear with nothing up your sleeve was lost in the mail.

[E]

Oh, that's too bad. By the way, Mr. Presto, if you don't mind my saying so, I think you ought to get a hat that fits you. It keeps slipping down all over your face all the time. It's twice too big for you.

[H]

Good business, fellow, just good business. I'm twice as good as any magician living. Got to have a ha.

[F]

Ah, maybe so, Presto, but in as much as it's resting on your Adam's apple most of the time, it seems to me you're talking through your hat.

[H]

Storm me if you will, Crazy Quilp, but so help me, Houdini, if you don't mind your tongue. One of these days when I get to lesson 23, I'll turn you into a lounge lizard.

[F]

Says you, you moldy old magician. Why, I'll pull your hat so far down over your face, you'll be able to wear it for a skirt.

[D]

He'll hear.

[E]

Control yourself, boys. Control yourself. Calm down.

[B]

That's what I say. Besides, I want to ask Mr. Presto here some special questions.

[H]

Only too happy to accommodate you, young man. Only too happy to accommodate you.

[B]

Well, what I want to know is, why don't you have any sleeves in your coat?

[H]

Simple, my child, simple. If I don't have any sleeves, folks will know I have nothing up them.

[D]

And are you a good magician, Mr. Presto?

[E]

Good.

[H]

I'm slightly terrific. I'll demonstrate.

[D]

Well, there's only one kind of magic we'd be interested in right now. We're awful hungry. Can you get us something to eat?

[E]

Food.

[H]

Simplest thing in the world. Learn that in lesson 15. That is the fundamental. So happens that the Great Presto is a Snozaroo. When it comes to producers, eatables. Your orders, please.

[C]

Just name it.

[E]

Cinnamon buns for me with currants. And plain icing.

[F]

Not that I think you can produce anything, Presto. But I could toy with about three loganberry lollipops.

[B]

Well, I want something that's regular food. You can make mine a ham and egg sandwich. And you don't have to toast it either.

[D]

I think I'd like that too, Mr. Presto.

[C]

All simple stuff.

[H]

I'll start with the ham and egg sandwiches. First. I place my hat on the ground, cover it with my kerchief. A few choice words. Hocus pocus, ipso facto, abracadabra. And. Or.

Remove the handkerchief from the hat.

[E]

And.

[B]

You'Ve got the makings. All right. But I don't think I could eat a real live pig and a chicken.

[F]

Up to your old stuff, eh? Presto.

[H]

Am I mortified. So sorry. Million apologies. How about a few card tricks?

[E]

I'm afraid you're a Frost, Presto. Now how about finding lost things? Are you any good at that?

[H]

Right down my alley. Lesson 17. What have you lost?

[D]

It's our Silver Star, Mr. Presto. It belongs on top our Christmas tree and we just got to get it back.

[C]

Silver Star.

[H]

Excuse me while I go into a quick trance. Oh, I'm getting it. It's traveling over water. A bird has it. A pelican has it.

[B]

That's more like it.

[E]

You're all right, Presto.

[D]

You're all right.

[F]

If you're so good at knowing where things are. Perhaps your magic can bring back Penelope the Pelican. Back with the Silver Star.

[H]

Simplicity itself. In a moment you'll see her step out of my silk hat.

[C]

Watch.

[H]

A wave of the wand this time.

And behold the Pelic.

[E]

That's no pelican. It's a halibut.

[H]

What's going on? Nothing sacred anymore. Not even us. Halibut Puy do, sir, and goodbye. Oh, please, please. Just a slight error someplace. Let me try again.

Behold.

[F]

Don't look now, Presto, but I think you've got something there.

[B]

Why, it's a penguin.

[C]

Yes, a penguin I am. And if I may say so, raspberries.

[F]

To all of you. Goodbye.

[H]

Please, I beg of you. Just one more chance.

[B]

All right, but this is the last time.

[H]

Behold.

[D]

You did it. It's Penelope. Hurray.

[G]

That this should happen to me. Penelope Pedda the Pelican. Descended from a long line of respectable pelicans. You'll answer for this. I'll write a letter. That's what I'll do. You'll hear from me.

[I]

Sir.

[G]

How dare you interrupt a blue blooded pelican when she's Flying along and minding her own business.

[C]

Why?

[G]

Why, your cheap Bodeville magic jerked me so violently I thought I'd lose my back feathers. And then to be pulled out of a silk hat. Let's see the label. Oh, cheap stuff. And second hand at that.

[B]

Where's our silver Star you took away from the seal when he was juggling it?

[G]

Oh, that thing. A pretty bauble, too. Well, I was flying over the island of obi when this 10th rate magician jerked the daylights out of me and I dropped it.

[B]

Oh, dear.

[E]

Did you see where it landed? On the island?

[G]

How could I? It all happened like a flash. And now, if you ruffians are quite finished, good day. And wait till my congressman hears about this. The very idea.

[D]

Whatever will we do now? We're farther away from the Silver Star than ever.

[B]

Aw, don't cry, Judy. Be a regular twin, not a sniffly girl.

[D]

All right, Jimmy.

[F]

Well, presto. What have you to say for yourself now?

[H]

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I am abject. I am prostrate. I feel like a snake in the grass.

[F]

What?

[D]

Goodness. He is a snake in the grass.

[B]

Oh, sure enough, he turned right into one. And watch him wriggle away.

[F]

And let's hope he stays that way for some time. He's nothing but a nuisance.

[E]

So that's that. Well, let's not waste our time crying about what's happened. Let's start off and look for something to eat and a boat to get us over to the island of Obi.

[D]

You're right, Cinnamon Bear. Let's see what's around the other side of this rock. Come on, Jimmy. Come on, Crazy Quill.

[B]

Okay, Judy.

[F]

All right, but be careful.

[H]

Never mind.

[D]

What kind of do you need? Slippery.

[B]

Oh, what's this?

[D]

Look.

[E]

Right up against the rock.

[B]

Why, it's a chest. It looks like a pirate chest that you read about.

[F]

Why, so it does. And see what's written on it. Private property of Captain Taffy. Hands off.

[D]

Let's open it. Maybe there's gold in it.

[E]

Now, I'll take this side, and Jimmy, you take that other side over there.

[I]

Shoot.

[B]

Rilla. Girls, listen.

[F]

Wow. We're surrounded.

[E]

Pirates.

[B]

Well done for.

[F]

Oh, really?

[C]

Pirates? That's bad. Yes, indeed. From all I've read and heard about pirates, they're not especially good people to meet up with. Not at all. And next time we'll find out just what's in store for poor Judy. And Jimmy and Cinnamon Bear and Crazy Quill.

[I]

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