Jerry of the Circus - Helping Clara

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Jerry of the Circus – Helping Clara
Date: May 15, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Theme:
This episode revisits “Jerry of the Circus,” a classic Golden Age radio drama. In “Helping Clara,” Jerry and friends work to solve mysterious thefts in the circus wardrobe and provide a warm glimpse into camaraderie and problem-solving under the big top.

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Main Episode Themes & Purpose

The episode centers on Jerry’s determination to help Clara, the circus wardrobe manager, track down a series of thefts—including a sentimental gold thimble—occurring in the circus tent. It highlights themes of teamwork, youthful detective work, and circus life camaraderie.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Mystery at the Circus Wardrobe

• Meeting Clara ([03:29]): Patsy introduces Jerry to Clara in the wardrobe tent (referred to as a “top”), where the issue of missing valuables sets the plot in motion.
• Recounting the Thefts ([03:43]–[05:30]):
  • Clara’s gold thimble, a family heirloom, has disappeared.
  • Half of the leftover gold braid used for band costumes is missing, as is some valuable jewelry.
  • Clara finds the worst part is cleaning up daily messes left by the culprit.

2. Jerry Becomes a Detective

• Jerry’s Investigation Tactics ([05:02]): Jerry carefully takes notes on the missing items, showing his methodical approach.
  • Patsy (admiringly, 05:14): “My, you are businesslike.”
• Clever Sleuthing Idea ([06:07]):
  • Jerry suggests sweeping away sawdust to look for suspicious footprints, reasoning: “You can’t get footprints in sawdust, you know.”
  • Clara agrees to try the plan ([06:31]).

3. Seeking Allies

• Consulting the Night Watchman (Eggs) ([07:08]):
  • Jerry asks Eggs to keep a lookout at night and advises not to mistake Jerry for the thief.
  • Eggs (07:13): “So you’d better not prowl around without giving me the high sign.”
  • Jerry, with his dog Rags, plans to observe the wardrobe area secretly that night.

4. Circus Camaraderie and Race

• Patsy and Jerry’s Race ([09:22]):
  • A spontaneous race after a friendly debate about whether girls can run, leading to laughs and friendly competition.
  • Patsy (09:50, jokingly): “Just a girl, huh? You can’t do anything.”
  • Jerry (09:53, backtracking): “I didn’t say so.”
• Interaction with Bumps ([10:12]):
  • Bumps shares that Patsy’s strength comes from being a trapeze artist.
  • Brief detour as the friends see Major Mike carrying a load of bananas and discuss how strong these small circus performers are.

5. Animal Antics Lead to a Clue

• Rags the Dog Escapade ([11:52]–[12:22]):
  • Rags chases a cat, causing Jerry to run after him, which brings them back near Clara’s tent.
  • Jerry spots suspicious activity at the wardrobe tent: “Something big just went in there... I certainly saw something go in that wardrobe just as plain.”
  • Jerry realizes a breakthrough might be unfolding and hurries to fetch the watchman ([12:42]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Patsy, on Jerry’s compliment about her costume:

  "Thanks, Jerry. That’s a nice compliment." ([02:55])

• Clara, sentimental about her missing thimble:

  "Oh, and I care more for that thimble than anything else in the world." ([04:48])

• Jerry, on sleuthing:

  "Why don’t you clear away all this sawdust on the floor?... At least you’d have a chance to get some footprints." ([06:08])

• Eggs (Night Watchman), on surveillance:

  "But be careful about pussyfooting around where I might catch you instead of the real culprits." ([08:07])

• Patsy, after the race:

  "Just a girl, huh? You can’t do anything." ([09:50])

• Bumps, explaining circus performer strength:

  "A girl who flies around on trouble trapezes all day... has to have pretty good lung power and pretty strong arms and legs." ([10:29])

• Jerry, observing Major Mike:

  "He’s awful cute, isn’t he? I like midgets. He always seems like they’re grown up babies and you ought to treat them careful like." ([10:55])

• Cliffhanger:

  "Looks like we’ve happened on something. We’ve just got to get that watchman." ([12:42])

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [02:13] – Patsy and Jerry meet, costume talk
• [03:29] – Group meets Clara in the wardrobe tent
• [05:02] – Jerry starts taking detective notes
• [06:08] – Jerry proposes sweeping away sawdust for footprints
• [07:08] – Jerry discusses the case with Eggs the Night Watchman
• [09:22] – Jerry and Patsy’s playful race
• [10:12] – Bumps describes circus performers’ strength
• [11:52] – Rags the dog escapes, Jerry gives chase
• [12:42] – Jerry spots movement by Clara’s tent; cliffhanger

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains the upbeat, wholesome tone of 1930s family radio drama. The characters are playful and earnest, full of joking banter and supportive camaraderie. The language is simple and heartfelt, underscoring loyalty, friendship, and initiative.

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Summary

“Helping Clara” is a charming slice of old-time radio, blending simple mystery with rich character moments and lively circus backdrops. Jerry’s cleverness and heart, Patsy’s spirited nature, and the warmth of circus friendships set the stage for an engaging story that ends on a suspenseful note, promising resolution in future episodes.

Transcript

[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Bumps]

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

[Patsy]

Hello there, Rags, old boy. Where's your master? Glad to see me, huh? Oh, you're pretty cute.

[Jerry]

Hi, Patsy.

[Patsy]

Oh, I know you must be around someplace. Jerry. You know, it's a wonder Rags doesn't lose that tail of his.

[Jerry]

Don't worry. It's on good and tight. I used to wonder about it when he was a pup. Then I'd pick him right up by the tail.

[Patsy]

And the tail stayed on.

[Jerry]

Yep. So I know it's on for good. What was you doing with your costume?

[Patsy]

I'm taking it to Clara and the wardrobe. Oh.

[Jerry]

Gee, it's pretty. What's all this stuff? Looks like diamonds, rhinestones.

[Patsy]

They're made of glass.

[Jerry]

Oh, those are the things that sparkle so when you're working under the lights. Gee, they're pretty. You sure look swell in that costume.

[Patsy]

Thanks, Jerry. That's a nice compliment. Want to come along with me, Clara? Sure.

[Jerry]

We haven't anything to do right now. Besides, I wanted to meet her anyhow. When Mr. Randall and I came back from the police station, he asked.

[Patsy]

Station? What were you doing there?

[Jerry]

They got Loran's.

[Clara]

No.

[Jerry]

Yep. Money and all. Oh, Jerry, I'm sure glad they caught him. Cause otherwise I might never have found out about Uncle Dan.

[Patsy]

It was lucky, wasn't it? Oh, here we are.

[Clara]

I almost walked by the wardrobe top.

[Jerry]

Seems funny calling a 10 a top.

[Patsy]

You'll get used to it, Clara. Oh, hello there.

[Jerry]

Are you busy?

[Clara]

Of course I'm busy. But goodness knows I'm never too busy to see you.

[Patsy]

Clara, this is Jerry.

[Clara]

I'm glad to meet you, Jerry. I've been hearing about you ever since we left Midvale.

[Jerry]

I'm glad to meet you, too.

[Clara]

Now, Patsy, don't tell me you've torn that costume again.

[Patsy]

I'm losing some of the rhinestones. See here, around the neck. Let's see.

[Clara]

Gracious me, I'll say you are. And all around the arms, too.

[Patsy]

I guess that's where most of the strain is.

[Clara]

Well, this is too much to fix for tonight's show. I'll tell you if you leave this here after the performance tonight, I'll get it to you first thing in the morning.

[Patsy]

You're a dear, Clara. I'm sorry I'm such a nuisance.

[Clara]

You're never a nuisance. And my goodness, I wish I could say as much for lots of other people in this circus.

[Jerry]

Clara, Mr. Randall asked me to see you.

[Clara]

Mr. Rambo, a whore?

[Jerry]

Well, you see, he says you've been having some trouble around here.

[Clara]

Well, I'll say I have. Don't tell me you know anything about it.

[Jerry]

Well, no, but I'm going to try and find out.

[Clara]

A regular boy detective now, aren't you?

[Patsy]

Jerry certainly helped a lot to catch Lorenz. You know, he found the missing piece of the gun.

[Jerry]

Rags really found it, but I helped.

[Clara]

You don't say.

[Jerry]

Now, if you just tell me, Clara, exactly what happened around here.

[Clara]

Of course I will. The thing that burns me up the most is that they've taken my gold thimble. The one Grandma.

[Patsy]

Oh, no, Clara. Not the one your mother got from her mother.

[Clara]

That's the one. Oh, and I care more for that thimble than anything else in the world. Seems like.

[Patsy]

What a shame. Maybe you just dropped it someplace.

[Clara]

Oh, Siri, you know how careful I am with that. I always leave it right in my work basket.

[Jerry]

Have you got a pencil?

[Clara]

Sure thing. Right over there on the table.

[Jerry]

Why, thank you. I think I'll write everything down.

[Clara]

There.

[Jerry]

A gold symbol belonged to your grandmother. What else?

[Patsy]

My, you are businesslike.

[Clara]

Half of the gold braid that was left over from the uniforms for the band.

[Jerry]

What happened to the other half?

[Clara]

It was all over the floor. And my goodness, was I mad when I saw that mess all over the floor.

[Jerry]

That's funny. Anything else that's valuable?

[Clara]

The most valuable things in the whole wardrobe were those jewels. And when I come in and saw them.

[Patsy]

Oh, Clara, don't tell me all that jewelry is gone. Oh, it'll take forever to find such lovely things again.

[Clara]

I'll say it will. But the worst is having to clear up the mess every morning. I'd like to give those thieves a piece of my mind.

[Jerry]

Every morning?

[Clara]

Yes, sir. Since we got to this town, let's

[Jerry]

see, we move tomorrow night. Why don't you stay and watch tonight?

[Clara]

And get hit on the head? No, thanks, not me. I'm not that curious.

[Jerry]

Gee, I'd love to stick around and find out what's going on.

[Patsy]

Oh, Jerry, Mr. Randall never let you do that.

[Jerry]

I got it.

[Patsy]

What?

[Jerry]

Why don't you Clear away all this sawdust on the floor.

[Clara]

Land sakes, our feet. It'd get damp. Can't stand on bare ground all day.

[Jerry]

Oh, I mean before you leave tonight. Then at least you'd have a chance to get some footprints. As it is, you haven't any idea who's hanging around. You can't get footprints in sawdust, you know.

[Patsy]

That's right. Policemen always get footprints if they can't get fingerprints. That's a good idea, Jerry.

[Clara]

I don't mind trying it once.

[Jerry]

Sure. Just before you leave tonight, you sweep all the sawdust away from the door here and away from in front of those tables and trunks and things.

[Clara]

Sure I will. I'd just like to get my hands on the thieves that stole my thimble.

[Jerry]

I'll be in first thing in the morning, so don't you step on the ground till we find out if there are prints or anything around there.

[Clara]

I won't, don't you worry.

[Jerry]

Are you the watchman?

[Eggs (Night Watchman)]

I sure am.

[Jerry]

The one who stays on the lot all night?

[Eggs (Night Watchman)]

Yeah, that's me all right.

[Jerry]

Well, I'm Jerry.

[Eggs (Night Watchman)]

Oh, howdy.

[Jerry]

And this is my partner, Ray. Without your par. Eggs.

[Eggs (Night Watchman)]

Well, well. So you're the little critter that's being talked about so much.

[Jerry]

Is Rags being talked about?

[Eggs (Night Watchman)]

Oh. Oh, I'll say he is. He's getting to be about as important to this circus as anyone else in it.

[Jerry]

You hear that, Rags? I guess you got something to live up to now. He just finished his last walk around at bumps. Oh, gee, they were swelling. I. But I had something special I. I want to ask you about.

[Eggs (Night Watchman)]

Where? Fire away, sonny.

[Jerry]

Well, you see, it's like this. Claire's been having some trouble over in the wardrobe.

[Eggs (Night Watchman)]

I hear tell some prankster's been bothering her.

[Jerry]

Oh, it's much more serious than that. Mr. Randall asked me to help sleuth around.

[Eggs (Night Watchman)]

You mean like a detective?

[Jerry]

Uh huh. So I thought I'd ask you if you'd kind of help keep your eyes open. I'm gonna come back later tonight. Maybe Rags and me can detect something.

[Eggs (Night Watchman)]

Well, maybe so. But be careful about pussyfooting around where I might catch you instead of the real culprits.

[Jerry]

That would be awful, wouldn't it?

[Eggs (Night Watchman)]

Yeah. So you better not prowl around without giving me the high signs. Though I won't make any mistakes.

[Jerry]

I sure won't. Oh, there goes Patsy. I've got to see her. I'll be back later. Come on, Rags.

[Eggs (Night Watchman)]

Yes, and I'll keep me eye out for you and Watch the wardrobe top, too.

[Jerry]

Patsy. Patsy.

[Patsy]

Oh, hello there, Jerry. I was just taking my costume over to Clara's.

[Jerry]

I was waiting for you. I've been talking to the night watchman. We're going to find out something about what's going on tonight. I hope.

[Patsy]

I hope so too, Jerry. But you'd better be careful. After all, you don't want to get mixed up with any desperate characters.

[Jerry]

Don't you worry about me or Eggs. We can take care of ourselves, can't we? Say, Patsy, Bumps and I are going over to the restaurant to have something to eat. Won't you come along? Bump said I could ask you.

[Patsy]

Well, thanks, Jerry. I'd love to. Here, I'll just leave this inside. Wait here just a minute.

[Jerry]

Hey, wait a minute. Patsy, don't go in there.

[Patsy]

Why not?

[Jerry]

We don't want your footprints all over the ground.

[Patsy]

Oh, of course. I. I forgot.

[Jerry]

Here, let me do it. There. You hold that open so I can see.

[Patsy]

Clara must have left early tonight.

[Jerry]

There. See? I climb up on this box and leave it right there safe on the table without getting my feet on the ground at all.

[Patsy]

Thanks, Jerry.

[Jerry]

Lucky I was here. He'd have forgotten all about Clara getting rid of the sawdust. Come on, let's get going. Bunce has already started. We'll meet him there. I'll race you. Aw, gee, it's no fair beating a girl.

[Patsy]

What do you mean, beating a girl? Listen here, I'm a pretty good runner.

[Jerry]

Yeah, you're on. Come on, Rags. We're gonna race Patsy and beat her so bad. All right.

[Patsy]

You ready?

[Jerry]

Sure.

[Clara]

On your mark.

[Patsy]

Get set.

[Jerry]

Ready? Go. I'll say you can run.

[Patsy]

Just a girl, huh? You can't do anything.

[Jerry]

I didn't say so.

[Patsy]

No, just as bad as you said. No fair beating a girl.

[Jerry]

Gee, you're ahead of me already.

[Patsy]

Yeah, the ranger's ahead of me. I'm out of breath. Head enough?

[Jerry]

No, of course not. Unless you're tired.

[Patsy]

Not me. Oh, there's Bumps right ahead of us.

[Jerry]

Hi, Bumps.

[Bumps]

Oh, there. What on earth are you doing such a hurry for?

[Jerry]

Now I'm out of breath.

[Patsy]

Well, guess I beat you after a little, Jerry.

[Jerry]

You sure did, but not much.

[Bumps]

Well, what's this all about?

[Patsy]

Jerry thought I couldn't run.

[Bumps]

You ought to know that Patsy'd be a pretty fast runner. A girl who flies around on trouble trapezes all day. She has to have pretty good lung power and pretty strong arms and legs.

[Jerry]

I'm finding that out. Say, look, there goes Major Mike. Golly, that package is Carrying his most bigger than he is.

[Patsy]

A banana sticking over the top. What on earth can he want with so many bananas?

[Bumps]

Oh, maybe he's gonna treat some of his friends in the sideshow.

[Jerry]

He's awful cute, isn't he? I like midgets. He always seems like they're grown up babies and you ought to treat them careful like.

[Bumps]

Well, you don't have to treat the Major so carefully. He knows how to stand up for himself. Here we are. Come on in, Patsy.

[Patsy]

Lift it up at the counter.

[Bumps]

You're the boss. Come on. Come on. Here. You're in it. What are you looking at?

[Jerry]

I was just watching Major Mike. He's sure in an awful hurry. Come on Rag. Listen on. So you say the Major can take care of himself?

[Bumps]

He certainly can. I've traveled with him for years. He's a scrappy little fella. He. He's always getting into scripts. Cause he thinks people are likely to take advantage of him cause he's so small.

[Patsy]

He always does have a chip on his shoulder, doesn't he?

[Jerry]

Gee, that's too bad. Imagine going through life thinking everyone's gonna be mean to you.

[Bumps]

Evening. Can I take your order? Yes. What do you want, Patsy?

[Patsy]

I'm gonna have a nice big piece of good night.

[Jerry]

Look at that dog going. Craigs. Rags, come back here. Don't wait for me bumps. I gotta get Rags. Goodbye. Rags. Rags, come back here a. I was hungry too. Rags. Golly, he. He's gone back on the lot. I'm certainly getting my share running tonight. Rags, you bad dog. Come here. Rags. Get away from there. Let that poor cat off the can. Come here you.

[Patsy]

Come here.

[Jerry]

I say. Now watch. You ashamed yourself chasing a poor little cat. Well, I should think you would be. Look at that poor kitten. What's wrong? Huh? Where? Gee, it does look as if something's moving over there. Golly. In front of Claire's Dengs.

[Eggs (Night Watchman)]

Look.

[Jerry]

Can you see Claire's Den? Yeah, way at the other end of the lot. Something big just went in there. Got a week. We'd better find that watchman. I couldn't make out what it was. He. He got in there so fast. But I certainly saw something go in that wardrobe just as plain. Come on, Rags. Looks like we've happened on something. We've just got to get that watchman.

[Narrator/Announcer]

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