
Jerry of the Circus - A Gale Threatens The Circus - 08/12/1937
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Liberty Mutual Customer
Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?
Carlos Bentini
Oh, no.
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Liberty Mutual Customer
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Liberty Mutual Customer
Liberty.
Kelly
Liberty.
Liberty Mutual Customer
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Jason
Jerry of the circus. Now for Jerry of the circus.
Jerry
Bombs. Bombs.
Bumps
Oh, here I am back at the door.
Jerry
Oh, guess I was too excited. Golly, what a night. It's blowing something fearful.
Bumps
I know. So how's the house, Jerry?
Jerry
You mean audience?
Bumps
Why, of course.
Jerry
Oh, just a handful of people. Seems terrible to do that whole show just for those few towners I know.
Bumps
But as long as anybody comes at all, the show has to go on.
Jerry
I just come from the cages with Jason.
Bumps
Oh, yes.
Jerry
Golly, his cats are acting up fierce. I sure hate to have to work them tonight.
Bumps
Jason will manage.
Jerry
He was over there talking to him and trying to get him quieted down.
Bumps
Don't you worry about Jason. He knows what to do. All right.
Carlos Bentini
Good evening, friend.
Bumps
Well, hello there, Carlo. Delightful evening you'll be.
Carlos Bentini
Oh, of course, Alfredo. I should say a bad evening. Friends. My dear brother, have you objections to shutting this bad evening out?
Jason
I forget.
Alfredo
Excuse me, I closed the door and.
Carlos Bentini
My dear brother, I think maybe you better take those pills I buy for you this afternoon with so much trouble.
Bumps
Bah.
Carlos Bentini
What do you mean, bah? I buy nice little pills to fix your silly stomach and you say bah.
Jerry
Are you sick, Alfredo?
Alfredo
Of course not.
Carlos Bentini
You see, he does not want to worry such good friends.
Jason
Bah.
Carlos Bentini
So you still say bah. Jerry, you bring some water. We take care of this big brother of mine.
Jerry
Sure.
Bumps
Oh, but these are Hill's pills, Carlos.
Carlos Bentini
Yes, yes, why not?
Jerry
I thought those pills were for seasickness. Here's your water.
Alfredo
Of course.
Carlos Bentini
Seasickness, Phoe. Ah, you see it? He is bad. Now he is to the Phoe stage. We must treat him carefully.
Bumps
Carlos, you are a clown. What's it all about?
Carlos Bentini
Ah, bumps, it is very sad. You hear how the wind roar?
Bumps
Yes.
Carlos Bentini
And you see how our wire waved back and forth this afternoon?
Jerry
Oh, I see. You think Alfredo will get seasick on the wire tonight?
Carlos Bentini
I think I know. This afternoon when the wire weaves so bad back and forth. I look at my brother and his face it is green. Green, yes, and then yellow. And then I know for sure it is the seasickness that visit my brother. And so I take a long walk in all this wind to buy him beautiful little pills. And now, now see how he treats me.
Alfredo
Bah, such foolishness. I go now and wait for you in the pad room with sensible folks.
Carlos Bentini
But Alfredo, how you know with your brains who is sensible folks and who is.
Jerry
Bah. See, you Bentinis are crazy. I never know whether to take what you say seriously or not.
Carlos Bentini
Well, that is because you are young. The poor little neglected pills. Did I take them?
Jerry
Hey, what are you taking those pills for?
Carlos Bentini
Well, I buy them for to use. Now, somebody must use them.
Jerry
But if you don't need them, why, they might hurt you.
Bumps
They can't hurt him. But I must say, you carry your jokes pretty far. Well, folks, I'm heading for the pad room. How about you?
Jerry
Another country heard from. So you want to be sure to get in on the excitement tonight. Hurrah.
Bumps
Of course, he started working again, so naturally he's excited.
Jerry
Ready, Carlos?
Carlos Bentini
I come soon.
Jerry
All right, we'll see you over there then. Hey, Rags, not so fast. Did you see him shoot through that door? Golly, this is a night.
Bumps
Yeah, it's one of the worst winds I've ever been in.
Jerry
Hey, listen to that canvas.
Bumps
It's a hard night on the animals.
Jerry
What's the matter, Rags? Thought you'd better get close to me, huh? Sure. You had the idea of racing off the way you did.
Bumps
Even Rags is nervous and he's almost human.
Jerry
I say he is. Hey, there's Jason. He's around early.
Jason
Jason.
Kelly
Jason.
Jason
Hello there. Oh, Bumps, it's you and Jerry.
Bumps
Well, everything in order?
Jason
Well, things are under control, at least for the moment. Oh, Jerry.
Jerry
Yeah?
Jason
I think as soon as the show starts, you'd better get over to the horse tent and.
Jerry
Golly, look what happened this afternoon when I went over there.
Jason
What do you mean?
Jerry
Well, I missed that chance to go on for Mr. Bradley. Collie. What? Gee, I've been waiting for. Well, I don't know how long for a chance to go on for Mr. Bradley. Then the one time Mr. Randall needed me, they couldn't find me.
Bumps
Oh, it was a shame. They cut the whole turn out.
Jason
Bradley sick again?
Jerry
Oh, no, he's all right.
Jason
Yeah, but you said.
Bumps
You know, it's a funny thing. I can't figure it out. Johnny did his turn, you know, the one with the duck. And then suddenly Randall decided he shouldn't go on for the Shakespearean act. And they tried to get Jerry.
Jason
Well, that doesn't make sense. After all, Johnny's marvelous in that Shakespearean act.
Jerry
I know most of lines.
Bumps
I know, son. And you're very good, too. But that's. Well, it's just Johnny's special.
Jason
What'd they do this afternoon when they couldn't find Jerry?
Bumps
Well, that's the funniest part of the whole business, Jason. They simply let the act ride.
Jason
You mean they didn't do it?
Bumps
Yeah, that's it.
Jason
And Randall's such a stickler for giving the public everything he's promised him.
Jerry
Yeah, he even let Patsy go on when the ropes and trapezes and things
Bumps
are so bad I can't make it out. Must be something behind all this.
Jason
I'll say so. Hey, here we stand talking in all this wind. And the show's ready to go.
Bumps
Come on here, Rags. We better take our places.
Jerry
Well, I suppose I'd better go over and see White.
Jason
Yeah, I really think you should, Jerry. Then if you find he can get along all right, come on back and hang around the pad room or the backyard.
Jerry
Yeah. I'd sure like to see your act tonight.
Bumps
Yeah?
Jason
Why?
Jerry
Well, I don't know. All this wind and I'm kind of worried.
Jason
Now, listen, Jerry, don't you worry about me. I've handled my cats in bad weather before, so there's no danger.
Jerry
You sure?
Jason
Of course I am.
Jerry
Yeah, I'm sure. Glad I. I was kind of worried.
Jason
Oh, now, I got work to do. See you later, Jerry.
Jerry
Okay. So long.
Jason
So long.
Jerry
Am I late, Bob?
Bumps
Oh, hello there, Jerry. Late for what?
Jerry
His Aunt Jason?
Bumps
Oh, no, no. He's just gonna do the jump and act now. You see, they're letting the rest of the lions into the arena now.
Jerry
Good. I wanted to watch him. Gee, the cats seem kind of nervy, don't they?
Bumps
Well, they'll be all right. Jason knows how to handle them.
Jerry
It's lucky I went back to see Whitey. He sure was having his hands full with them horses. Splendor was cutting up for a fairly well.
Bumps
You don't say it.
Jerry
Yeah, and she only quieted down when I went in and patted her neck and talked. Kind of softened like to her.
Bumps
There they go.
Jerry
Look.
Carlos Bentini
Bombs.
Bumps
What? Where?
Jerry
A daisy. She jumped before she was supposed to. She took the stand Nemo's supposed to have.
Bumps
Jason will put her in her place.
Jerry
Yeah, but she don't like it much.
Bumps
Look at that cat fight back.
Jerry
She isn't going back. Look at her. She lunged right at Jason.
Bumps
That's all right. He had his chair in front of him.
Jerry
But, hey, she's got him in a corner. That's.
Bumps
Yeah, that's get her.
Jerry
Yeah. Must have been close enough to scorch Daisy's fur.
Bumps
Yeah, he's got her under control now. You see how he backs her up?
Jerry
Yeah, she's going right up to her own stand again. Ollie bumps. Jason is sure great. He's ready to start again.
Bumps
Yeah, that's right. Daisy went on to her own tub.
Jerry
Yeah, but she's plenty mad. Funny. Cause she's usually gentle too. Boy, I'm glad he's finished that. See, he's letting them all leave the cage except Nemo.
Bumps
Yes, smart boy. No good trying to act with those animals when they're as nervous as that.
Jerry
You only miss the part where Daisy makes that big leap over the other lions.
Bumps
Well, that's that. Now there's just Jason's fight with Nemo and they'll be all through.
Jerry
Why do people like to see men fight with wild animals?
Bumps
Oh, it's an instinct, I guess. It's a sort of a fascination.
Jerry
Golly, look at them roll over in the dust. Boy. Ain't sure as exciting.
Bumps
Yeah, Jason and Nemo have been doing that fight for years. He trained Nemo from a cub.
Jerry
Golly. I know it's not half as dangerous as some of the other tricks, but it's sure thrilling.
Bumps
It sounds like the timers like it too. Even the few of them with a hair tonight. Come with me.
Alfredo
Just one minute.
Bumps
What is it, Alfredo? I thought you'd finished your act and were through.
Alfredo
Yes, we finished. But Carlos, he is sick.
Bumps
No, you fool.
Alfredo
Cross my chest. It's true. He is sick. Oh, gee, the wire it is bad tonight. When we finally finish, Carlos is all funny and pale. And then he try not to let run he is sick cause he kid me so much. But when we in wagon, he had to lie down. So I come for you.
Jerry
I best because he took those pills.
Bumps
Well, I wouldn't be surprised. I'll be right over, Alfredo.
Alfredo
Thank you, Bumps, you good friend.
Bumps
This should teach Carlos not to kid so much.
Jerry
Yeah. This must be what they meant when they say that about taking your own medicine, huh?
Bumps
That kind of looks like it. But it's a shame to laugh at him if he really is sick. Poor Carlos. Well, come on, Jerry. We better get over to the wagon quick.
Kelly
The menagerie tank. The zebras are stampeding. What an attendance.
Jerry
Look, that's serious. Golly, it's getting cold.
Bumps
Alfredo. Alfredo. I'll Be over there soon. There's trouble in the animal tent. And after I help him, I'll come to the wagon.
Alfredo
Thank you, Bumps. We'll be there.
Bumps
Come on, Jerry. Kelly will probably need all the hands he can possibly get. See, it is cold.
Jerry
Look, the side of that tent. It's blowing right out.
Bumps
What a gale. No wonder the zebras are causing trouble. Poor Kelly. Come on, Jerry.
Jerry
There's some men working on those stakes. They need more, though.
Bumps
Yeah, and there's Kelly. Hi, Kelly. What can we do?
Kelly
You're good with animals. Jerry, get inside and give the boys a hand with those zebras.
Jerry
Yes, sir.
Kelly
But be sure you don't get kicked. They're pesky little critters.
Bumps
Well, what about me, Kelly?
Kelly
I. Help me here on these ropes. You're heavy enough to hold them down. I was afraid Jerry'd fly right up with the tail.
Bumps
Wise cracking. Even in trouble, huh?
Kelly
Might as well.
Jerry
Hey, Kelly, why not get the elephant?
Kelly
I thought you were inside, help him with.
Jerry
I know, but. Well, why not get the elephants to help? Pull those ropes down. Golly, there aren't enough men.
Bumps
It looks like the boy is right, Kelly.
Kelly
I'd say he is. Jeff, get hold of Olson and get a couple of those bulls out here, quick.
Carlos Bentini
Okay.
Jerry
Golly, look at those ropes there. Just like they were made of string.
Bumps
This tent is in the way of the gale. That's why it's taken most of the punishment.
Kelly
Hitch that bull up to the far end, Jerry. I will. And swim. Bring those other bulls down here.
Jerry
It's gonna work. I know it's gonna work.
Kelly
Well, it is better. We'll have the towners porn out here in a short time. Hey, Jeff, easy. Let that bull pull in the slack canvas. All right. Yeah, that's better.
Bumps
Oh, what a blow.
Kelly
Quick, all hands inside.
Carlos Bentini
A couple of zebras got loose.
Kelly
Hey, Jeff, quick. On the seat.
Bumps
Come on, Jerry. We better see what we can do.
Kelly
Catch that critter quick, boys. Gosh, I ain't got a hankering to get kicked in death.
Bumps
Those zebras are certainly vicious little beasts.
Jerry
I got that, Barman.
Jason
But Jeff is hurt.
Kelly
Some water, quick.
Bumps
Oh, the poor devil. Jeff got right in the way of that crazy animal.
Jerry
Sam, Ram, Sam.
Liberty Mutual Agent
And Doug. There's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.
Liberty Mutual Customer
Hey, everyone, Check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?
Carlos Bentini
Oh, no.
Liberty Mutual Agent
We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Together we're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.
Liberty Mutual Customer
Yeah, the bird looks out of your league. Anyways.
Liberty Mutual Agent
Get a quote@libertymutual.com or with your local agent.
Liberty Mutual Customer
Liberty.
Kelly
Liberty.
Liberty Mutual Customer
Liberty. Liberty.
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Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Date: May 16, 2026
Episode Theme:
A tense evening unfolds for Jerry and the circus community as a violent windstorm disrupts the routine, threatens performances, and tests the resilience and camaraderie of the circus cast and crew.
This episode of “Jerry of the Circus” immerses listeners in a suspenseful night where a gale threatens both the circus' physical structures and the well-being of its performers and animals. The story explores themes of perseverance, teamwork, showmanship under pressure, and the bond between humans and animals, weaving humor and tension in classic Golden Age radio style.
[02:11 – 02:48]
Jerry [02:15]: “Golly, what a night. It's blowing something fearful.”
Bumps [02:28]: “But as long as anybody comes at all, the show has to go on.”
[02:48 – 04:40]
Carlos Bentini [03:57]: “This afternoon when the wire weaves so bad back and forth… his face it is green. Green, yes, and then yellow. And then I know for sure it is the seasickness that visit my brother.”
Bumps [04:45]: “They can't hurt him. But I must say, you carry your jokes pretty far.”
[05:17 – 07:26]
Jerry [06:07]: “Gee, I've been waiting for…I don't know how long for a chance to go on for Mr. Bradley. Then the one time Mr. Randall needed me, they couldn't find me.”
Jason [07:14]: “Don't you worry about me. I've handled my cats in bad weather before, so there's no danger.”
[07:46 – 09:17]
Jerry [08:31]: “She isn't going back. Look at her. She lunged right at Jason.”
Bumps [08:45]: “Yeah, he's got her under control now. You see how he backs her up?”
[09:54 – 10:27]
Alfredo [09:58]: “When we finally finish, Carlos is all funny and pale…and when we in wagon, he had to lie down. So I come for you.”
[10:41 – 13:01]
Kelly [11:21]: “You're good with animals. Jerry, get inside and give the boys a hand with those zebras. But be sure you don't get kicked. They're pesky little critters.”
Jerry [11:38]: “Hey, Kelly, why not get the elephants to help? Pull those ropes down. Golly, there aren't enough men.”
Kelly [11:49]: “I'd say he is. Jeff, get hold of Olson and get a couple of those bulls out here, quick.”
[12:22 – 13:01]
Kelly [12:34]: “Catch that critter quick, boys. Gosh, I ain't got a hankering to get kicked in death.”
Bumps [12:45]: “Oh, the poor devil. Jeff got right in the way of that crazy animal.”
This episode masterfully blends high-pressure action, character-driven humor, and the ever-present “show must go on” ethos emblematic of classic radio drama. Viewers glimpse both the playful and perilous sides of circus life—from practical jokes gone awry to tense animal acts and real emergencies. Listeners leave with a renewed appreciation of the grit and improvisational spirit behind the big top, even on the stormiest of nights.