Jerry of the Circus - Major Mike Confesses

Summary

Podcast Summary:

Jerry of the Circus – "Major Mike Confesses"
Harold's Old Time Radio – May 21, 2026

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Overview

This episode of "Jerry of the Circus," presented by Harold's Old Time Radio, dives into the fallout of the infamous bearded lady incident. Amidst tension, Major Mike makes a heartfelt confession to save Jerry's circus aspirations, while Jerry receives a chance to prove himself with El Mundo the elephant. The story explores loyalty, jealousy, and second chances, all set against the bustling backdrop of circus life.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Major Mike’s Visit to Mr. Randall

• Major Mike approaches Mr. Randall to plead Jerry's case, hoping to let Jerry work with the circus's new elephant, El Mundo ([02:09]).
  • Major argues Jerry’s innocence regarding the bearded lady’s beard being cut.
  • Mr. Randall’s concern: "I must have discipline on the lot. ... He's shielding someone, Major, and I don't like it." (Mr. Randall, [02:40]-[03:28])

The Confession

• Major Mike confesses to being the one who cut off the bearded lady's beard ([04:43]).
  • Quote: "Well, sir, I cut the beard off. Oh, yes, sir, but she had it coming." (Major Mike, [04:43])
• Major explains his motive:
  • The bearded lady was sending threatening notes to Carmen Bendini, including threats to sabotage the tight wire and a dagger through a note ([05:03]).
    • Quote: "She threatened to put acid on the tight wire the Bendinis use. ... In the last note... she really had. Carmen, Skid, and the Bendini brothers were going to take it into their own hands." (Major Mike, [05:03])
  • Her jealousy over Major’s interest in Carmen spurred her actions ([05:19]).
    • Quote: "She's jealous. That's what she is." (Major Mike, [05:19])

Mr. Randall’s Response and Resolution

• Randall is shocked but practical, ultimately deciding to let the matter drop ([06:15]):
  • The bearded lady will be let go from the circus—her beard is too short for her act, but she had insurance ([06:20]-[06:46]).
    • Quote: "She had it insured. She'll get a nice piece of money from the insurance company." (Mr. Randall, [06:42])
  • Jerry is cleared to work with El Mundo.
    • Quote: "Go look him up. Tell him I said to go over to Clara and tell her to finish up his uniform right away. Tell him to report to Olson and rehearse his tricks with the elephant." (Mr. Randall, [07:14])

A Fresh Start for Jerry

• Major delivers the good news to Jerry ([08:18]-[09:23]).
  • Jerry is overjoyed: "Awh, Major, that's keen. Thanks a lot." (Jerry, [09:07])
  • Jerry will join Olson to rehearse with El Mundo, and Clara is finishing his performance uniform.

Training With El Mundo

• Olson and Jerry begin elephant training ([09:43]-[12:22]):
  • Jerry is nervous but eager, learning Spanish commands that Carmen has taught Olson.
    • Quote: "Marchate means march." (Olson, [11:29])
  • Jerry gives the “vamoose” command playfully to his dog, but El Mundo mistakenly responds, causing chaos as the elephant begins to run ([12:13]-[12:46]):
    • Quote: "Hold on, Jerry. You sure said the wrong thing that time, Jerry." (Olson, [12:25])
    • Olson struggles to remember the Spanish word to command El Mundo to stop, ending the episode with comedic suspense.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Major Mike’s Dramatic Confession:

  "Well, sir, I cut the beard off. Oh, yes, sir, but she had it coming. Really she did."
  — Major Mike ([04:43])

• Rationale for Pranks:

  "I just got the idea that by cutting her beard off, I'd get even. It might scare her into behaving herself."
  — Major Mike ([05:41])

• On Insurance and Circus Life:

  "She had it insured. She'll get a nice piece of money from the insurance company."
  — Mr. Randall ([06:42])

• Comedic Elephant Training Mishap:

  "Hold on, Jerry. You sure said the wrong thing that time, Jerry."
  — Olson ([12:25])

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Introduction to Main Story: [02:09]
• Major pleads Jerry’s case with Mr. Randall: [02:25]–[03:46]
• Major Mike confesses: [04:43]
• Explanation of the bearded lady’s threats revealed: [05:03]–[05:35]
• Mr. Randall resolves the situation; bearded lady let go: [06:20]–[06:46]
• Jerry celebrates the news with Major: [08:18]–[09:23]
• Jerry's elephant training and Spanish commands: [09:43]–[12:22]
• Training mishap: misunderstanding "vamoose": [12:22]–[13:11]

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Tone

The episode balances drama and warm-hearted comedy typical of classic radio serials. The camaraderie between circus workers, the sincerity of Major’s confession, and the lighthearted chaos during Jerry’s elephant training capture both the tension and humor of circus life.

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Summary for First-Time Listeners:
If you missed this episode, you’ll find a slice of classic radio magic—secrets confessed, misunderstandings resolved, and new beginnings for beloved characters, all wrapped in lively, period-appropriate dialogue and circus adventure.

Transcript

[A]

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.

[B]

Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[C]

Oh, no.

[A]

We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Together we're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[D]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[A]

Anyways, get a'@libertymutual.com or with your local agent.

[B]

Liberty.

[D]

Liberty.

[B]

Liberty. Liberty.

[D]

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

[B]

Mr. Randall. Well, it's major might. Mr. Randall, are you busy? Can I see you for a minute?

[D]

Oh, yes, Major, come in.

[B]

I'll only take a few minutes of your time, Mr. Randall.

[D]

That's okay, Major. I was going over my books here, but they can wait. What's on your mind?

[B]

Well, Mr. Randall, I. I don't know just how to start, but. Well, I really come to talk to you about Jerry.

[D]

Jerry?

[B]

Well, you see, Mr. Randall, boy is just about heartbroken not being able to work with that new elephant, El Mundo.

[D]

Well, it's his own fault, Major. I must have discipline on the lot.

[B]

But I don't think he had anything to do with cutting the bearded lady's beard off.

[D]

I don't either, but I do think he knows who it was. Say, you don't happen to have anything to do with that beard cutting job, do you?

[B]

Who, me? Why, Mr. Randall, I happen to know

[D]

you don't have a lot of love for the bearded lady.

[B]

Well, she riles me.

[D]

You even get mad thinking about it.

[B]

Yes, I do.

[D]

Well, then isn't it reasonable for me to suspect you of cutting her beard off?

[B]

Oh, Mr. Randall.

[D]

Well, what is it you want to talk to me about? About Jerry.

[B]

I wanted to ask you if you wouldn't let him go ahead and work El Mundo. He's got his heart set on it and he was so excited about that uniform. I think he'd be a big attraction with the elephant.

[D]

Why this sudden interest in Jerry?

[B]

Oh, I've always liked Jerry.

[D]

He's a great boy. But I can't have underhanded work going on. He's shielding someone, Major, and I don't like it. After all, he's working for me and I'm paying him. If he's going to be loyal to anyone, I should be first.

[B]

Well, but maybe he can't tell you.

[D]

Nonsense. But if he feels that way, then let him take the punishment. Well, is that all, Major?

[B]

You won't Reconsider and let him work El Mundo.

[C]

No.

[D]

I've got to find out who cut the beard off the bearded lady. Maybe Jerry will decide to tell me how he happened to borrow those shears from Clara. The best way to make a boy behave is to take something away from him that he wants badly.

[B]

But, Mr. Randall.

[D]

There's no prank, Major. What good's a bearded lady without a beard? She has no value at all now. At least until her beard grows out again. And that'll take months.

[B]

Well, it serves her right.

[D]

What's that?

[B]

Well, it was her own fault.

[D]

Mr. Randall, I believe you know more about this than you're saying.

[B]

Why, Mr. Randall.

[D]

Now, listen, Major, if you know anything, I want you to tell me. You come to me pleading for Jerry. Now, if you really want to help Jerry, tell me all you know.

[B]

If you learn who really cut the beard off, will you let Jerry ride El Mundo?

[D]

Well. Well, yes, I will. After all, that's what I wanted to find out.

[B]

Well, you won't tell a bearded lady? I'm afraid.

[D]

You're afraid?

[B]

You promise you won't tell her?

[D]

All right, out with it. Who did it?

[B]

Well, now, Mr. Randall, I hope you won't get too angry.

[D]

Out with it, Major.

[B]

Well, sir, I cut the bed off. Oh, yes, sir, but she had it coming. Really she did.

[D]

Let me decide that.

[B]

I'll tell you the whole story, and then I'll bet you'll agree with me.

[D]

Well, it better be good.

[B]

Well, in the first place, she'd been sending threatening notes to Carmen Bendini. She'd been threatening Carmen's life, Mr. Randall.

[D]

What?

[B]

She threatened to put acid on the tight wire the Bendinis use. In the last note, she said to Carmen had a dagger stuck through it. She really had. Carmen skid and the Bendini brothers were going to take it into their own hands.

[D]

That's bad. But what did the bearded lady have against Carmen?

[B]

She's jealous. That's what she is.

[D]

Jealous. Jealous of whom?

[B]

Well, I guess me.

[D]

You?

[B]

Because I've been paying a little attention to Carmen. Yes, sir. She said in one of those notes that if Carmen didn't get out of the circus right away, her life would be in danger.

[D]

Is this the truth, Major?

[B]

Positively, Mr. Randall.

[D]

But why didn't you come to me? Why do you always take things in your own hands?

[B]

Oh, I really couldn't help it. Really, I couldn't. I just got the idea that by cutting her beard off, I'd get even. It might scare her into behaving herself. I just got the idea and the first thing I knew, I did it.

[D]

And you went in and did your barber trick while she was sleeping.

[B]

Yes, sir.

[D]

Major, I don't know what to say to this, threatening people as she did. Common is bad, very bad.

[B]

Yes, sir.

[D]

Folks that work on the wire are naturally high strung and nervous.

[B]

It's upset her plenty, Mr. Randall, as

[D]

I can well imagine.

[B]

Well, what are you going to do with me?

[D]

Well, Major, I. I'm going to forget the whole thing.

[B]

And you won't tell the bearded lady I did it?

[D]

No. No, I won't. And you don't have to worry about her any longer either. No, I've already let her go. She's leaving the circus this afternoon. You cut that beard pretty short, Major. She's of no value at all with her beard as short as it is.

[B]

Is she gonna join up with us again when that beard grows in?

[D]

Well, I haven't decided that yet. At any rate, she doesn't have to worry about money while her beard is growing in. She had it insured.

[B]

What?

[D]

Yes, she'll get a nice piece of money from the insurance company.

[B]

Well, of all things. Now, you will let Jerry work with El Mundo, Mr. Randall, will you?

[D]

Well, why, sure. You know, Major, I'm kind of glad this whole thing came to light. I won't have people around my show that send threatening letters to other performers. Maybe without her beard she'll cool off now and this little vacation will give her a chance to think it over.

[B]

Can I go and tell Jerry that you said it was okay for him to go ahead and rehearse El Mundo?

[D]

Sure. Go look him up. Tell him I said to go over to Clara and tell her to finish up his uniform right away. Tell him to report to Olson and rehearse his tricks with the elephant.

[B]

Oh, thank you, Mr. Randall. Jerry will sure be glad to hear this news. And thanks for being so easy with me.

[D]

All right, Major, but next time, come to me first with anything at all. I want to know about it first, you understand?

[B]

Yes, sir.

[D]

You're not to take anything into your own hands. You know, you do some dangerous things when you get angry.

[B]

Yes, sir.

[D]

All right, Major, run along now and tell Jerry what I said.

[B]

Well, goodbye, Mr. Randall.

[D]

Goodbye, major.

[B]

Well, that was easy. Oh, won't Jerry be happy now to know how I fix things for him?

[C]

Hiya, Major.

[B]

Greetings. Greetings.

[C]

You seem to be awful happy today. What happened to your usual grouch?

[B]

I am happy. And what's more, I'm always going to be happy from now on.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Tut, tut, young man. Oh, say, have you seen Jerry around any place?

[C]

Jerry?

[B]

Yeah, Jerry Dugan.

[C]

Oh, the boy.

[B]

That's right. Have you seen him?

[C]

Well, yeah, he just cut across here a second ago. He was heading. There he goes now.

[D]

See him?

[B]

Oh, yes. Yeah. Thanks. Hey, Jerry. Oh, Jerry. Jerry. Oh, come here, Jerry. I got some good news for you. I got some good news for you. Everything is all fixed.

[E]

What are you talking about?

[B]

I just left Mr. Randall and I told him everything. I confessed to the whole thing myself. You did? Audi, you're swell. Oh, Mr. Randall was very nice about it, and he told me to tell you to report to Olson again and finish learning your tricks with El Mundo. You mean it? Of course I mean it. He told me to tell you to go right ahead with your rehearsing and said for you to go over to Clara and tell her to get busy on the uniform. You know, the one you're going to wear when you work the elephant. I can't believe it. Well, it's true, Jerry. I made a clean breast of the whole thing and I told Mr. Randall you had nothing to do with it. I thought you should be given a chance to work El Mundo.

[E]

Aw, Major, that's keen. Thanks a lot.

[B]

Yeah. Now hurry up and get over to Olson and start learning your tricks with the elephant.

[E]

But what about the bearded lady?

[B]

Well, we won't have to worry about her any longer. How come? She's leaving the circus this afternoon. No fooling. That's right. Now run along and I'll tell you all about it later.

[E]

Okay. And thanks again, Major. Come on, Rag.

[B]

Oh, gosh. Well, so long, Jerry.

[E]

I'm still on. Come on, Rags, hurry up. I'm gonna be a performer after all. And I'll just bet I'll be good doing those tricks with El Mundo. This way, rags. In here in the menagerie. Olson. Olson.

[C]

Here we are, Jerry.

[E]

It's okay now.

[C]

It's okay.

[E]

I can work with El Mundo after all.

[C]

What do you mean, Gary?

[E]

Well, Mr. Randall told me I couldn't work with him, and now he says I can. Claire is going to make up my uniform, and I'll be ready to work just as soon as I learn those tricks.

[C]

Oh, good. I was just trying to put this big fella through some of those stunts just now.

[E]

Quiet. Now you go lay down someplace and behave yourself.

[C]

I'm not getting very far with this foreigner, though.

[E]

Well, haven't you learned your Spanish yet?

[C]

Nope. I guess it'll be a long time before I do. I ain't so quick to catch on to them funny lingos.

[E]

But Carmen told you a couple of things to say, didn't she?

[C]

Oh, sure. I got them okay. And it's a good thing, too, else I couldn't get this guy to do

[E]

anything Carmen is teaching me there is to say to him. Hi, El Mundo.

[C]

Oh, he knows his name, that's one thing.

[E]

Well, what do I do first, Olson?

[C]

Well, now, let's see. Well, how about getting up on his head this time? I'll. I'll get his foot up for you.

[B]

All right.

[C]

Fantasy, El Mundo.

[B]

Hey, hey, hey. Look at he. He's putting it up.

[C]

Now, grab a hold of his trunk and climb up like.

[E]

Like this.

[C]

Uhhuh. Now, any Benji's trunk sit on. All right, now. Now, quick, Garrett. That's a boy.

[E]

Hey, he's lifting me up.

[B]

Oh, boy.

[C]

That's it. Now, step over onto his head, but don't let loose of his trunk until you're sure you're up there all right. Yeah, that's the way. Good fellow, El Mundo. I think you're beginning to understand little English now.

[B]

What, Olson?

[C]

Well, you'll just have to get used to it up there. I'll have him walk around with you a little bit. Marshate, El Mundo.

[E]

Hey, he's going swell, Olson.

[B]

What did you say to him?

[E]

That's a new one.

[C]

Oh, that's one of the words Carmen told me. Marchate means march.

[E]

Hey, this is your fun up here. He make him go faster.

[C]

Won't fall off.

[E]

Ah, I'm all right.

[C]

Okay, then. Here goes the word for faster. How do I say it's. Oh, yes. Rapido. Rapido, el Mundo.

[B]

That's good.

[C]

You're doing all right, too.

[E]

It's sure rocky up here. I feel like I'm on a boat.

[C]

Just like a boat. I'm sure you don't get seasick. Well, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll start you over by the backyard so that all your friends can see you.

[E]

Go on back, Rags. Go away.

[C]

I guess your pup thinks the elephant's taking you away.

[E]

Go on now, Rags. I'm all right up here. Hooray. Go on, Rags.

[B]

Famous.

[E]

Famous Rag.

[C]

Famous. Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa, El Mundo.

[E]

Whoa, whoa. Hey, Olson, he's running away with me.

[C]

Hold on, Jerry. You sure said the wrong thing that time, Jerry.

[E]

Well, what do you mean?

[C]

Well, you said vamoose to Rags, and El Mundo thought you meant it for him. Carmen told me that word, and it means to run.

[B]

Well, stop him.

[E]

Stop him.

[C]

Oh, how how would I stop him? I. I can't remember what the word is. Tut.

[B]

Tut.

[C]

Stop. Quick. Whoa.

[B]

Whoa.

[E]

Yet Carmen. Twiggy keeps going faster. Find out how to stop him.

[B]

Olton. Hurry. Well, I don't.

[C]

See if I can get Carmen. Jerry, keep pulling on his ears so he keeps going around in a circle.

[B]

Ram.

[D]

It.