
Jerry of the Circus - Jerry in Jail - 07/01/1937
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Liberty Mutual Customer
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Liberty Mutual Agent
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Liberty Mutual Customer
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Liberty Mutual Agent
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Liberty Mutual Customer
Liberty.
Whitey
Liberty.
Liberty Mutual Customer
Liberty. Liberty.
Police Officer Tom
Jerry of the circus.
Whitey
Now for Jerry of the circus.
Jerry Dugan
Whitey. Whitey.
Whitey
Hello? Oh, it's you, Jerry.
Jerry Dugan
Hi there.
Whitey
I wondered where you disappeared to. Thought you were coming back to help me with the horses.
Jerry Dugan
I was, Whitey, but Rags is gone.
Whitey
Rags?
Jerry Dugan
Yeah, I locked him up in our wagon. But during the fire, somehow he must have got out. When I got back, the door was open and he must have got frightened by the fire or something. I don't know. He never runs away.
Whitey
Rags is your dog, huh?
Jerry Dugan
Yeah, and he's all I got. Whitey. I just can't go away without him.
Whitey
Nonsense, son. The circus will be out of here in a couple hours. You're not going to stay behind because of some little mud dog.
Jerry Dugan
You don't understand. He's all a family I got, except an uncle I can't even find. Gee, whitie, we've been hungry together. You don't understand.
Whitey
I guess I kind of get the idea, kid. You sure he's not in the circus lot any place?
Jerry Dugan
I don't see how he could be. I've been calling him for hours, seems like. And I've been trying to watch all the wagons and things as they headed for the station.
Whitey
Oh, you poor kid. Listen, I gotta keep moving, but jump on and I'll take you on into town. He may have followed some of the audience during the fire. Amy's gone back to where you used to live.
Jerry Dugan
Gee, I never thought of that. Golly, I'm dumb.
Whitey
No, you're not. You're just plumb tired out. You've had enough excitement in the past 12 hours. The last most boys a month of Sundays. Hop on. I gotta get moving. Hot boy.
Jerry Dugan
Gee, but it's good to sit down for a while.
Whitey
Hmm. I thought you were kinda done up. Had anything to eat?
Jerry Dugan
Not since dinner.
Whitey
That was six, and now it's after two. Reach under the seat there. You'll find a bag of apples.
Jerry Dugan
Oh, thanks. Guess I am kind of hungry. Boy. Ear. Rags. I want to be sure I Don't pass him on the way in.
Whitey
Well, you'll probably find them back where you used to live. Dogs usually go back home.
Jerry Dugan
You're right. Of course, we haven't had much of a home. He probably doesn't know yet. Our home's in the wagon I locked him up in. I just gotta find him. We just gotta stay with this circus. Rags. Rags, wait. Where are you going, Whitey?
Liberty Mutual Customer
Oh.
Whitey
Oh, that's right. This is a shortcut to the station. I forgot. We missed part of the town. This way. You want to get off here?
Jerry Dugan
Yeah, we were staying in a boarding house just a little ways from here.
Whitey
Hi there. Easy, boy. Hi. Now listen, Jerry. When you get down to that station, shore by a quarter of three, that's when the last train pulls out.
Jerry Dugan
If I find Rags, I will.
Whitey
Jerry, it's great to feel that way about a dog. I'm proud of you. But your life belongs to the circus. The way you helped out at that far tonight.
Jerry Dugan
Aw, that was nothing and was everything.
Whitey
We need boys and men like you. Now get that dog if you can. But remember, the circus has to go on. And you don't want to throw away your whole life just for.
Jerry Dugan
Thanks, Whitey, but I can't give up Rags. But if I don't find him in time, you can just bet I'll get back to the circus somehow.
Whitey
Got any money?
Jerry Dugan
No, but.
Whitey
Well, then how you going to eat?
Jerry Dugan
Well, I can work.
Whitey
Oh, you're too young. They'll pick you up and put you in an orphanage or something. Listen, son, I could give you some money, but I'm not going to. You get to that station, dog or no dog. See? Bye, kid.
Sergeant
Good luck up there.
Whitey
See you later, Jerry.
Jerry Dugan
So long. See you later, I hope. Rags. Rags, where are you? Rags, where are you? Rags. Rags. It's getting cold. Rags.
Whitey
Hey. Hey.
Police Officer Tom
What are you yelling for? This is a decent neighborhood. Folks want to sleep.
Jerry Dugan
Sorry, mister, I lost my dog.
Police Officer Tom
I'll wait until morning.
Patsy
Gee.
Jerry Dugan
Rags. Rags. Rags.
Police Officer Tom
Well, what's up, kid?
Jerry Dugan
Oh, hello, mister.
Police Officer Tom
You live around here?
Jerry Dugan
No, I.
Police Officer Tom
Well, what you doing in this neighborhood?
Jerry Dugan
Looking for my dog.
Police Officer Tom
Yeah? At 2:00 clock in the morning?
Jerry Dugan
Yes, sir.
Police Officer Tom
Where do you live?
Jerry Dugan
Well, I.
Police Officer Tom
Quit stalling now.
Jerry Dugan
I'm not. I live with a circus.
Police Officer Tom
Yeah, it's leaving town.
Jerry Dugan
I know. That's why I gotta get my dog before they.
Police Officer Tom
Sorry, son, but I gotta run you in. What you got in your pockets? Nothing good. All right, get moving.
Jerry Dugan
But I haven't done anything.
Police Officer Tom
Maybe not, but there's been some Petty thieving on this beat the last few nights. And we got orders to run in anyone at this time of night who can't explain what they're doing. Come on, get going.
Jerry Dugan
But I can't explain. Gee, mister, please don't take me in. I just gotta get that dog. The train's leaving in about an hour.
Police Officer Tom
All right, all right. You can explain it to the desk sergeant. You got plenty of time to make that train.
Jerry Dugan
But I gotta get my dog.
Police Officer Tom
Here we are, kid. Here's the radio car. Won't take a minute to check your story. All right, get in. There we are. Now, no tricks, kid.
Jerry Dugan
Honest, mister, I've been trying to find my dog all evening. He got away from the wagon and must have got frightened while they were moving the circus.
Police Officer Tom
I thought you said you belonged to the circus.
Jerry Dugan
We do.
Police Officer Tom
Then why'd he be scared? Ain't he used to moving?
Jerry Dugan
Well, you see, we just joined just today.
Police Officer Tom
Oh, so you live around here, eh?
Jerry Dugan
No, we. We just been here a few weeks.
Police Officer Tom
Where'd you stay?
Jerry Dugan
Well, I.
Police Officer Tom
We stayed funnier and funnier. You'll have to tell a better story to the desk circle sergeant. Well, here we are. Out you get. All right, come on in here now. Hello, Serge.
Sergeant
Oh, Top. Well, where'd you get the boy?
Police Officer Tom
I picked him up in the wood lawn section.
Sergeant
Yeah, Pretty young. What's your name, son?
Jerry Dugan
Jerry Dugan.
Sergeant
Jerry Dugan, huh?
Police Officer Tom
Dugan.
Sergeant
That's funny. That name's familiar. Hey, wait a minute. That's the name of the boy that o' Brien woman sent in the complaint about. The kid that skipped owing rent. Had a dog, I think. Now, let me look through these files.
Police Officer Tom
Oh, yeah. Well, it ties in. Then. This kid claimed he was looking for his dog. What kind of dog was it?
Jerry Dugan
White and not so big and kind of curly.
Sergeant
Ah, here it is. Yep, that's what I thought. Jerry Dugan, a miner. Wanted two weeks rent. And let me see. Yeah, you got freckles, all right. Brown hair, blue eyes, about 11. And a white dog.
Police Officer Tom
There was no dog with him.
Jerry Dugan
That's what I told you. I was looking for him.
Sergeant
Well, I'm afraid that clinches it, son. Guess we'll have to lock you up for the night.
Jerry Dugan
Oh, no, not tonight. Gee, you can't do that.
Police Officer Tom
What do you mean, can't?
Jerry Dugan
Oh, I. I mean, but, gee, the circus is leaving town in about an hour and. And I.
Police Officer Tom
Still sticking to that circus yarny.
Jerry Dugan
But honest, it's true. Gee, mister, can't you believe me?
Sergeant
There'll be plenty of Time to check on that tomorrow. You see, in this report, it says you're an orphan.
Jerry Dugan
Yeah, that's true. Dad just died only last week.
Sergeant
Well, I'm sorry, son, but you see, this lady. What's her name?
Police Officer Tom
Mrs. O'. Brien.
Sergeant
Yeah, Mrs. O'. Brien. She says she's trying to arrange to have the boy put in an orphanage.
Jerry Dugan
Oh, no, you can't do that.
Sergeant
I'm afraid I wouldn't have anything to do with that.
Jerry Dugan
But. But an orphanage?
Sergeant
Why, they'd take good care of you, good food.
Jerry Dugan
Oh, no.
Sergeant
Well, we'll see about all that in the morning, buddy.
Jerry Dugan
No, you can't do that to me.
Sergeant
Now, now, now, just take it easy. You get a good night's sleep and then you'll feel different.
Jerry Dugan
No, I won't. Anyhow, how can I sleep with Rags gone and the circus gone and. And it'll be just too late.
Sergeant
Sorry, but with all the wood lawn trouble the past few nights and you being at large according to the claim of this o' Brien woman, I can't let you go without checking pretty thoroughly. Tom, put him in 113. Night, kid.
Jerry Dugan
No, please. My dog. You can't put me in jail. You can't. I don't want him. Please let me alone. I don't want to go to jail.
Patsy
Jason.
Jerry Dugan
Jason.
Patsy
Have they found Jerry?
Jason
No, Patsy, but I've been talking to Whitey. Seems he picked the kid up and drove him toward town. He was looking for rag. But why do you think he'll be here by a quarter to three? He told him 15 minutes earlier than the train pulls out, so he'd be
Whitey
sure and make it.
Patsy
But it's almost three now and Jerry's not here. You don't think he could have gotten into any trouble, do you?
Sergeant
No.
Jason
Now, don't you worry your pretty head about Jerry. He'll get here.
Patsy
Patsy, Bumps told me that you'd found Ray.
Jason
Yeah, he was having a wonderful time sniffing around the ashes. I was afraid he'd get run over with all those wagons and things, so I locked him up in my place. I tried to feed him, but he acted funny. I guess he's not feeling so well.
Patsy
Poor little mutt. All that excitement of doing his act and everything.
Jason
What do you mean, doing his act?
Patsy
Didn't you hear?
Jason
No.
Patsy
Well, Rags followed Bumps into the ring last night and went through a routine that had the audience laughing so they were practically in the aisle.
Whitey
You don't mean it.
Patsy
Yes, I do. I heard Mr. Randall say that they were going to put the dog in the act, Bumps, was, please pink. I never saw anyone so surprised as Bumps. When he found that dog following him. He was crazier than usual trying to get that pup out of the ring. Gee, what a trooper that clown is. Best in the business. I laughed, so I cried and had to do my makeup all over again before going on with my own act.
Jason
He's a cute dog, all right. Funny thing, he wouldn't eat. I got him a nice bone from the cook's tent.
Patsy
Jason, it's 20 minutes of three. Jerry's not here yet. He won't come without that dog.
Jason
Sure he will.
Patsy
No, he won't. Jason. I know he worships that dog. He'd give up the circus and everything for it.
Jerry Dugan
And.
Patsy
And you've got the dog and he doesn't even know it. You've just got to find him, Jason.
Jason
Well, I've no idea where to look. I say, just a minute. Hey, taxi.
Whitey
Taxi, mister?
Jason
Yeah, just a minute. Listen, Patsy, I'll cruise around town in that taxi for a few minutes. I might just happen to see him.
Patsy
But, Jason.
Jason
Don't worry. I'll catch the train. All right. You stay here and keep a lookout for Jerry. He might get back before I do.
Jerry Dugan
Good luck.
Patsy
And Jason, you might try the police station.
Jason
Quick, driver, step on it. Right through town it.
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?
Liberty Mutual Agent
Oh, no. 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.
Liberty Mutual Agent
Anyways, get a quote@liberty mutual.com or with your local agent.
Liberty Mutual Customer
Liberty, Liberty, Liberty, Liberty.
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Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
Episode Date: May 14, 2026
In this classic episode of "Jerry of the Circus," listeners are immersed in a heart-tugging tale set during the heyday of traveling circuses. The focus is on young Jerry Dugan, whose loyalty to his dog Rags leads him into trouble just as the circus is about to leave town. The episode deftly explores themes of loyalty, family, hardship, and the challenges faced by orphans during this nostalgic period. The drama is heightened as misunderstanding and misfortune land Jerry in jail on the eve of a crucial circus departure.
The dialogue is earnest and period-authentic, filled with colloquial expressions and heartfelt emotion. Jerry’s youthful innocence and stubbornness are apparent, while the adults display a blend of concern, practicality, and bureaucratic detachment. There are moments of comic relief, particularly in Patsy’s retelling of Rags’s accidental circus debut. The overarching mood is anxious but hopeful.
This episode masterfully delivers the tension of a classic serial adventure, exploring the insecurity of youth, the importance of companionship, and the bonds that form within a circus family. The journey is left unresolved—listeners are left eager to discover whether Jerry will be freed, reunited with Rags, and rejoin the circus. The dramatization, with strong period flavor and emotional stakes, is a standout installment of “Jerry of the Circus.”