Jerry of the Circus - Circus Hit by Cyclone

Summary

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Podcast Summary:

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Jerry of the Circus – Circus Hit by Cyclone
Air Date: May 21, 2026
Main Theme:
A dramatic episode in the classic radio series "Jerry of the Circus," where a cyclone suddenly strikes the circus grounds, putting both people and animals in danger and leaving the circus in ruins. The episode explores teamwork during disaster, concern for animals and crew, and raises questions about the circus’s future.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cyclone Approaches the Circus

• [02:08–03:03]
  • Jerry is late to lunch, having been helping Whitey.
  • Jerry and Uncle Dan notice the sky turning dark:
    • "See way out there by those hills, how dark it is." (Jerry, 02:41)
  • Uncle Dan quickly realizes the severity:
    • "Unless I miss my guess, that's more than a dust storm... it's a cyclone, Jerry. And heading right this way." (Uncle Dan, 02:50)
• They rush to warn the rest of the circus in the mess tent.

2. Evacuation and Impact

• [03:04–04:35]
  • Mr. Randall orders everyone outside to safety:
    • "Get out in the open and lie flat on the ground and stay there until this thing passes." (Mr. Randall, 03:17)
  • Uncle Dan and Jerry hide behind a hill as the cyclone strikes—
    • "Just look at that twister coming. It's going to hit us any minute now, Jerry. Here it comes. Get down." (Uncle Dan, 03:43)
  • They witness the devastation:
    • "There goes the big top... what's left of it. There's just one side and the pole standing." (Uncle Dan & Jerry, 04:14, 04:23)
  • The cyclone continues through the town, destroying houses:
    • "Those little houses didn't have any more chance than a cracker box." (Uncle Dan, 04:42)

3. Aftermath and Damage Assessment

• [05:00–07:43]
  • Immediate concern for animals and crew; everyone checks on each other, and it's revealed no one was seriously hurt.
  • Kelly reports:
    • "Everything's safe. None of the animals got hurt... But a couple of cages were turned over." (Kelly, 06:33)
  • Revelation: Aga the chimpanzee escaped, but is not seen as a major threat—
    • "She's harmless. She'll turn up somewhere before long." (Kelly, 07:24)
  • Slats, Jerry’s friend, expresses relief and awe:
    • "That's the worst thing I've ever seen in my whole life, Jerry. It all happened so fast... almost unbelievable." (Slats, 08:09)

4. Uncertainty About the Circus’s Future

• [08:16–09:43]
  • Discussion about the scale of destruction and financial cost.
  • Slats worries:
    • "There's thousands of dollars worth of canvas gone. There's nothing left of the seats. The midway's a total wreck... it looks bad, Jerry, very bad." (Slats, 09:30)
  • Question about the ability to continue the show and repair the circus.

5. Comic Moment: Major’s Fast Thinking

• [11:10–12:37]
  • Jerry and Slats discover Major trapped under canvas, tied to an anvil.
  • Major explains:
    • "I saw that flame cyclone coming... I'm a little fella and I didn't want to be taken up and blown away with the wind. So I ran over, tied myself to this anvil... figured a couple of hundred pounds would keep me on mother earth." (Major, 11:59)
  • Provides some comic relief in a tense episode.

6. Rosa Rotz’s Prediction

• [12:41–12:46]
  • Major references a fortune-teller’s ominous words:
    • "This is exactly what she meant when she said she saw the circus in hundreds of pieces. Now I wonder what she meant when she said Mr. Randall won’t be able to get all the pieces together." (Major, 12:46)
  • Leaves the episode on a note of suspense regarding the circus’s fate.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It’s a cyclone, Jerry. And heading right this way." — Uncle Dan (02:50)
• "Get out in the open and lie flat on the ground and stay there until this thing passes." — Mr. Randall (03:17)
• "There goes the big top... what's left of it. There's just one side and the pole standing." — Jerry & Uncle Dan (04:14–04:23)
• "That's the worst thing I've ever seen in my whole life, Jerry. It all happened so fast. Well, it's almost unbelievable." — Slats (08:09)
• "There's thousands of dollars worth of canvas gone... it looks bad, Jerry, very bad." — Slats (09:30)
• "I ran over and tied myself to this anvil. I figured that a couple of hundred pounds would keep me on old mother earth." — Major (11:59)
• "This is exactly what she meant when she said she saw the circus in hundreds of pieces." — Major, referring to Rosa Rotz (12:44)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 02:08 — Jerry and Uncle Dan notice the approaching cyclone
• 03:04 — Warnings given; mass evacuation to safety
• 04:14–04:35 — The circus grounds are destroyed by the cyclone
• 06:33 — Kelly reassures the group about the animals; news of Aga escaping
• 08:09–08:16 — Slats expresses shock and assesses the devastation
• 09:30–09:43 — Slats and Jerry discuss the daunting task of repairing the circus
• 11:10–12:37 — The rescue of Major and comic relief
• 12:44 — Ominous fortune-teller prediction resurfaces

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Conclusion

This action-packed episode encapsulates the sudden terror and immediate complications faced by the circus community when disaster strikes. The group navigates personal bravery, swift teamwork, humor amid crisis, and an uncertain future, closing with a prediction that leaves the fate of Mr. Randall's circus in question.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Jerry of the circus. Now for Jerry of the circus. Jerry. Jerry.

[C]

Here I am, old Dan. I'm coming.

[B]

Well, it's about time. First time I've ever seen you late at mealtime.

[C]

Yeah, and it's the first time I've ever been late.

[B]

We better hurry and get into that mess top before the flag goes down.

[C]

It's not that late, is it?

[B]

Sure is. Everybody in the circus is over there now having their lunch. What kept you so long?

[C]

Oh, I was helping Whitey and we got so busy we forgot all about lunch.

[B]

I say you must have been busy.

[C]

Hey here, Rags. Not so fast now. You're not going in the mess, doc.

[B]

Hungry, Jerry?

[C]

Uh huh. Extra hungry. I guess I worked up an apple appetite. Hey, what's the matter, Rags? Hey, look it.

[B]

What, Jerry?

[C]

See way out there by those hills, how dark it is.

[B]

Looks like a dust storm out that way.

[C]

Yeah, and it looks to me like it's coming this way.

[B]

Hey, this is not so good, Jerry.

[C]

What do you mean, Uncle Dan?

[B]

Unless I miss my guess, that's more than a dust storm. Wait a minute. Yes sir, it is, Jerry. It's a cyclone. A cyclone, Jerry. And heading right this way. Let's get into that mess top and warn the folks. Run ahead, Jerry. You can make better time than I can.

[C]

Okay, keep riding with you, Uncle Dad.

[B]

I hear right

[C]

there's a cyclone heading this way. A psycho. Stop.

[B]

Come here, Jerry.

[C]

Honest, Mr. Randall. Uncle Dan and I just saw it and it said right for us.

[B]

All right, quiet. Quiet everybody.

[C]

Quiet.

[B]

Listen to me. Now get out of here and as fast as you can, but be orderly about it. Get out in the open and lie flat on the ground and stay there until this thing passes.

[C]

I'm going back out and stay with Uncle Dan and Ryan.

[B]

All right, go ahead, Jerry. And don't forget, lie flat in the ground. If it's a cyclone, it'll pick up everything else.

[C]

Pass.

[B]

Take it easy, folks. Don't crowd. We want to get everybody out of here safely. Stop Good for you, Jerry. You just got in there and warned them in time. Come on now. Let you and I get over there and back of that little hill. Come on, let's run for us.

[C]

I'm coming. Come on, Ryan.

[B]

Just look at that twister coming. It's going to hit us any minute now, Jerry. Here it comes. Get down.

[C]

Get down, Terry. Light as you can. I will. You're right. Right on the side. Get on r. It's going to hit the mess stop. Here it. There it goes across the line.

[B]

There goes the big top, See?

[C]

I sure hope none of the animals get hurt.

[B]

But look at that big top, would you?

[C]

What's left of it. There's just one side in the pole standing.

[B]

Look at that cyclone. It's off the plot of glass. There it goes right across the street and had in line for that group of small frame houses.

[C]

It's fun. I hear them.

[B]

Oh, that's a thing. Those little houses didn't have any more chance than a cracker box.

[C]

When will it stop?

[B]

I have to say, Jerry, will it

[C]

come back on the lot again?

[B]

Well, let's hope.

[C]

Man, it looks like it's gonna make the center of the town.

[B]

Yep.

[C]

Can't we get up now?

[B]

Let's play safe and stay right here on the ground for a while. Yep.

[C]

Look at your rags. You're all right, fella.

[B]

Okay, rags. It's all over now.

[C]

He's just shaking like a leaf.

[B]

Guess he didn't know what to make of all this.

[C]

Hey, look at the folks over there getting up now. They're slats and hooligan. See them, huh?

[B]

I wonder where bumps was when that cyclone hit.

[C]

It was in the mess top. I saw him when I ran in.

[B]

Well, I guess he got out all right.

[C]

Let's get up now and look around.

[B]

All right, come on, give me your hand. Up you go.

[C]

Let's go to the horse top and see if there was any damage there.

[B]

Just look, Jerry. The whole circus is a mess. Look over there. There's one of the dressing wagons turned over on its side.

[C]

Yeah, look at what's left of the midway.

[B]

There's no doubt about it. There's been thousands of dollars worth of damage done here here in the last couple of minutes.

[C]

I don't suppose we'll have them at May today.

[B]

Not a chance. In fact, it'll be some time before we do another show. This much damage can't be repaired so quickly.

[D]

Hey, you two, hold on a minute.

[C]

Oh, this slam.

[B]

You all right, sl?

[D]

Sure I am. How'd you get through.

[C]

Oh, we're all right.

[D]

Well, I guess that was a pretty close call for everybody, huh?

[B]

Anyone get hurt?

[D]

Nope. So far there hasn't been any reports. Lucky thing we were all together, though. And a lucky thing thing we all got out of that mess stop in time. It would have been pretty bad if we were in there when that twister took it up.

[B]

Where you heading, Slats?

[D]

Nowhere in particular. I was looking for you, Jerry. I was worried. I. I knew you weren't in the mess stop.

[C]

And that's the first time I've ever been late for lunch, too.

[D]

Quarter break. Oh, here comes Kelly.

[E]

Kelly.

[D]

Hello.

[B]

How's the menagerie make out, Kelly?

[E]

Well, I guess we can't kick none. The place is topsy turvy. But everything's safe. None of the animals got hurt.

[C]

Well, that was lucky.

[E]

But a couple of cages were turned over and there's a few broken wheels. They'll have to report. They might find some more damage when the boys get the place cleaned up. But right now it's hard to take a good check because everything's all covered with hay and sawdust.

[D]

I wonder if the horse top was hard hit. I see a piece of that top canvas was torn.

[E]

No, I saw Whitey and he said it's all okay over there. Yeah, he got away easier than I did.

[C]

I thought you said nothing happened in the Menadri, Kelly.

[E]

Well, in my excitement, I guess I forgot to tell you that one of me charges got away.

[B]

What?

[D]

What was that, Kelly?

[C]

It wasn't one of the lions or tigers, was it?

[D]

No, not that bad.

[E]

It was Aga the chimpanzee in the cage she was in. Turned over and broke. And she got out. The men have been looking all over the lot for her, but I guess she's left it.

[C]

Oh, that's plenty bad.

[E]

Oh, she's harmless. She'll turn up somewhere before long.

[B]

She's most likely scared and hiding somewhere. That would be like a captive chimp.

[E]

Sure, we'll find her. Well, I got to get back and take charge while the boys clean up. I'll have to quiet those animals if I can. They're Bellerin something awful. Well, I'll be seeing you.

[C]

Okay, Kelly. See you later.

[E]

It's a long time.

[C]

It was sure lucky none of the animals got hurt.

[D]

Yep, there was an awful lot of damage done. But I guess we can thank our lucky stars it wasn't worse.

[B]

If you two don't mind, I think I'll look up Mr. Randall and see if I can be of any Help.

[D]

That's a good idea, Dan. Mr. Randall probably needs a lot of help. You go right along. Run long now, and Jerry and I look around a little and see what we can. Fine to do.

[B]

All right. I'll see you back at the wagon.

[C]

Come on, Rags, you're gonna go with us. Come on.

[E]

Ah.

[D]

That's the worst thing I've ever seen in my whole life. Jerry. It all happened so fast. Well, it's almost unbelievable.

[C]

I. I wonder what Mr. Randall's gonna do.

[D]

That's hard to say. It looks bad enough, but I'll bet it's a whole lot worse than it looks in hard earned dollars and cents.

[C]

We can't go on to the next

[D]

town hardly until we repair the damage. It's a bigger problem than I can figure out, Jerry. It'll take a man like Sam Randall to know what the next move is.

[C]

But what's gonna happen when suppertime comes? There's no cookhouse or mess. Ten.

[D]

Say, that's right. You haven't had anything to eat yet.

[C]

Well, I wasn't thinking of that.

[D]

Well, we'll get you something to eat. You and I'll take a walk through the town and see if we can find a restaurant still standing that's doing business.

[C]

I'm not hungry, Slats.

[D]

Oh, well, all right, then. But if you want something to eat, just to speak up.

[C]

Look, Slats. Look at all the trappings and things hanging from the center poles. There sure isn't much left of the big top.

[D]

Huh? I wonder if.

[C]

What, Slats?

[B]

Huh? Oh.

[D]

Oh, nothing, nothing. Jerry.

[C]

Come on, now, you're gonna say something.

[D]

Well, I was just wondering, Jerry, if Mr. Randall is going to be able to save. Well, I just wonder if we'll finish out the season.

[C]

Do you think it's that bad?

[D]

Hmm, looks that way to me. There's thousands of dollars worth of canvas gone. There's nothing left of the seats. The midway's a total wreck and the salaries are going right on. You know, it looks bad, Jerry, very bad.

[C]

But if we don't finish the season, how Mr. Randall ever get enough money to pay for all the damage?

[D]

I don't know. I just don't know.

[C]

You know, Murray told me that there was always extra canvas back at winter quarters that can be sent on to

[D]

us if there's enough of it.

[C]

Look over there at the wardrobe top. Er, I mean, where it was. There's nothing setting there but a couple of those big boxes of Clara's.

[D]

Mm. That means an awful lot of costumes were carried away with that Cyclone.

[C]

Did you see the big top go up?

[D]

You bet I did. And I'll never forget that Cyclops.

[C]

It'll look just like a big balloon with all the ropes hanging to it. It just kept turning and twisting all the while and it kept going higher and higher.

[D]

Uh huh. Look for all the world like a little piece of paper in a stiff breeze.

[C]

Yeah, I don't see how a cyclone can be so strong to be able to pick big things up like that and carry them away.

[D]

You know, I've heard telecyclones taking houses up and carrying them for miles before dropping them to earth again.

[C]

I guess I'll have to believe that after what I saw. Hey, listen.

[D]

Why, what is it Jerry?

[C]

Don't you hear someone? Listen. Didn't you hear it? Then quiet. Right.

[D]

I don't hear anything, Jerry.

[C]

I know I did. I think it's coming from over there in back of the horse.

[F]

Stop.

[D]

Well let him go, Jerry. He's probably on the trail or something.

[C]

It's under that piece of canvas.

[F]

See Something moving.

[D]

Huh?

[E]

Ah, I heard it.

[D]

Then you're right, Jerry. It is under that canvas. Come on now, what is it?

[C]

We're coming here.

[D]

Jerry, you give me a hand with that canvas. You take the other end. Now pull hard and throw it back.

[F]

Now.

[C]

Ready? All right, go. All right, Major. Mine.

[B]

Roar.

[A]

Ro.

[B]

Ro.

[F]

It's about time. I might have suffocated under here.

[D]

Well, how on earth did you get under there?

[F]

Major, Untie me. Get me out of here. There'll be time enough to talk afterwards.

[C]

Yeah. All untie, Major.

[F]

Is this cyclone over with? Is it all over sweat?

[D]

Sure, Major. Then don't be excited.

[C]

Now how did he ever get all tied up with all this rope? And he looks lass he's tied to the sandboat.

[D]

Well of all things.

[F]

Well, laugh if you want to slat. I think it was a fast piece of thinking on my part.

[C]

There you are, Major.

[F]

Thanks, Jerry.

[D]

And what is this about fast thinking, huh?

[F]

Well sir, I saw that flame cyclone coming and I knew that. Well, I realized I'm a little fella and I didn't want to be taken up and blown away with the wind. So I ran over for the blacksmith shop here and I tied my to this anvil. I figured that a couple of hundred pounds would keep me on old mother earth.

[D]

That was all right, Major. You. You bet you. That was fast thinking.

[C]

Maybe it was a good thing this rope was anti too or you might be flying around like a bird right now.

[F]

I didn't have any time for any fancy sailor knots. And I got so twisted up that when this canvas fell on me, I couldn't get out.

[D]

Well, it's all over now and you're safe and sound.

[F]

So much damage done.

[D]

And just wait till you see it, Major.

[F]

Bad, huh?

[C]

I'll say.

[F]

So another prediction of Rosa Rotz come true.

[D]

What? What do you mean, Major?

[F]

This is exactly what she meant when she said she saw the circus in hundreds of pieces. Now I wonder what she meant when she said Mr. Randall won't be able to get all the pieces together.

[G]

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[D]

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[G]

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[D]

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[G]

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[G]

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