Jerry of the Circus - Major Mike Loses

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Jerry of the Circus – Major Mike Loses"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
Episode Date: May 22, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this charming episode of "Jerry of the Circus," listeners are transported back to a time when the circus brought excitement and joy to both children and adults. The main theme centers on friendly rivalry and entertainment, as Jerry, his friends, and performers prepare for a special circus show at a hospital, featuring memorable performances, backstage camaraderie, and a spirited contest between Major Mike and the clown Beppo.
The episode is a nostalgic glimpse into the golden age of radio storytelling and the uplifting magic of the circus.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Pre-Show Excitement and Lion Cub Introduction

• [02:07] - [03:44]:
  • The kids are thrilled to see a live jungle animal, a lion cub named Fuzzy, introduced by world-famous lion tamer Jason.
  • Jerry shares that he helped train Fuzzy, explaining animal training uses rewards, not punishment—an insight into the evolving treatment of circus animals.
    • Quote (Jerry Dugan, 03:01): "It sure was like playing with a house kit. Except Fuzzy's claws are sharper."
    • Quote (Jerry Dugan, 03:26): "But nowadays the trainers reward the animals when they're right and ignore them when they're wrong."
  • The children marvel at the differences—and similarities—between animal training and raising kids, with gentle humor.

2. Meet Major Mike and the Performers

• [03:57] - [04:47]:
  • Major Mike, a beloved midget performer, banters with Jerry and the children. He reflects on his comedic act and hints at his rivalry with Beppo the clown.
    • Quote (Major Mike, 04:11): "I've often thought about it. But course, I wouldn't want to put all the other clowns out of business."
    • Quote (Major Mike, 04:30): "Yes siree. I guess that Italian clown and his monkey will have to come go some to meet me."
  • There's playful teasing and admiration exchanged, spotlighting the camaraderie and competition in the circus troupe.

3. Beppo the Clown & Jacko’s Balloon Stunt

• [05:14] - [08:25]:
  • Beppo and his monkey, Jacko, perform an elaborate and entertaining balloon act:
    • Beppo buys all the balloons for Jacko, who then appears to float away, much to the children's excitement and worry—until it's revealed to be a clever trick.
    • Balloons are released and handed to delighted kids, including one bedridden child who receives a balloon from Jerry.
      • Memorable Moment ([07:01]): "Say, those balloons are lifting Jacko up... He's being carried away by the balloon."
      • Quote (Child in Bed, 08:02): "Oh, that's nothing. I'm sure Jacko would want you to have one, too."
  • The stunt is a highlight, with children and even adults genuinely fooled by the illusion.

4. Rivalry and Reactions: Major Mike’s Frustration

• [09:01] - [09:36]:
  • Major Mike is visibly upset by Beppo's innovative stunt, feeling outdone and suspecting Beppo of relying on "tricks" rather than personality.
    • Quote (Major Mike, 09:06): "He's not satisfied to get by with his own personality, but he has to depend on stunt."
    • Beppo and Major Mike’s annual bet is revealed: whoever gets more applause from the children owes the other a pair of shoes.

5. Children’s Insight and Jerry’s Friendship

• [09:36] - [10:30]:
  • Jerry explains to the children the context behind the rivalry, highlighting both the playful competition and the mutual respect among circus performers.
    • Quote (Jerry Dugan, 09:51): "Oh, I should say Beppo would win this year."
  • Jerry promises the bedridden child to take them to the circus next year, offering hope and encouragement.
    • Quote (Jerry Dugan, 10:12): "Well, don’t you forget that you gotta be on your feet next year when we hit this town so I can take you to the circus."

6. Backstage Banter and Closing Moments

• [10:52] - [13:01]:
  • The Circus Announcer lets the children judge between Major Mike and Beppo, and Beppo is declared the winner by applause.
    • Quote (Circus Announcer, 11:21): "You have clearly shown by your applause that Beppo is the winner and better luck next year, Major."
  • Jerry helps backstage and discusses the possibility of incorporating a balloon stunt with a lion, joking about potential chaos.
    • A subplot emerges over a special letter for Johnny Bradley, possibly containing a government reward—a teaser for future episodes.
      • Quote (Jerry Dugan, 12:57): "I bet it’s that letter with the Reward in it. $500."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It sure was like playing with a house kit. Except Fuzzy's claws are sharper." – Jerry Dugan (03:03)
• "But nowadays the trainers reward the animals when they're right and ignore them when they're wrong." – Jerry Dugan (03:26)
• "I've often thought about it, but course, I wouldn't want to put all the other clowns out of business." – Major Mike (04:11)
• "Say, those balloons are lifting Jacko up... He's being carried away by the balloon." – Child (07:01)
• "He's not satisfied to get by with his own personality, but he has to depend on stunt." – Major Mike (09:06)
• "Well, don’t you forget that you gotta be on your feet next year when we hit this town so I can take you to the circus." – Jerry Dugan (10:12)
• "You have clearly shown by your applause that Beppo is the winner and better luck next year, Major." – Circus Announcer (11:21)
• "I bet it’s that letter with the Reward in it. $500." – Jerry Dugan (12:57)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 02:07 – Lion cub introduced, Jerry discusses animal training
• 03:57 – Major Mike interacts with kids, expresses rivalry with Beppo
• 05:14 – Beppo & Jacko's balloon stunt begins
• 07:01 – Jacko floats away with balloons, crowd is fooled
• 09:06 – Major Mike’s reaction to losing the contest
• 10:12 – Jerry promises to bring child to circus next year
• 11:21 – Crowd picks Beppo the winner
• 12:57 – Discussion of the mysterious reward letter

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Tone and Atmosphere

The episode’s tone is playful, warm, and delightfully nostalgic. The camaraderie between the performers, the excitement of the children, and the friendly rivalry all conjure the magic and innocence of the classic circus—a staple of golden age radio.

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Overall Summary

This episode skillfully weaves together fun circus acts, rivalries, and heartwarming friendships. Through lively dialogue and clever tricks, it captures the joy of live performances and the simple, uplifting entertainment that brought communities together in the radio era. Listeners are left looking forward to the next show, with lingering questions about the mysterious letter and the ongoing adventures of Jerry and his circus friends.

Transcript

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[Jerry Dugan]

Jerry of the Circus. Now for Jerry of the Circus.

[Circus Announcer]

And now, ladies and gentlemen, for the first time, Mr. Randall is able to bring you lucky youngsters a real live jungle animal. Our world famous lion tamer, Jason, will show you what can be done with a cub lion. Fresh from the African jungles. Introducing Jason, the man who masters the king of the jungle.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Oh, a real lion. It's a baby lion.

A real life cub.

Look, it's like a big kitten. How old is it? Jerry Dugan. A year old.

[Jerry Dugan]

Oh, no. He's only a few months. They're big when they're a year old.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

What's its name?

[Jerry Dugan]

Fuzzy. Hey, watch. Jason's starting his tricks.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

He made a jump right over that stick.

[Jerry Dugan]

Oh, that's nothing. Fuzzy can leap higher than that. He's a good jumper. I helped train him.

[Child in Bed]

He did?

[Jerry Dugan]

Sure.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Must have been fun.

[Jerry Dugan]

It sure was like playing with a house kit. Except Fuzzy's claws are sharper.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Did you get scratched?

[Jerry Dugan]

My dog did.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Poor thing.

[Jerry Dugan]

Fuzzy didn't do it on purpose, though. They were playing, but, well, they both grabbed for the meat.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Meat?

[Jerry Dugan]

Sure. That's how you train cubs. They're given a piece of meat when they do the trick. Right.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Really? So that's how wild animals learned. I was afraid that they got whipped

[Jerry Dugan]

or punished years ago. They used to be cruel. But nowadays the trainers reward the animals when they're right and ignore them when they're wrong. It takes patience to keep at them until they do the right thing.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Wonder why grown ups go work that way with us? Then we'd never get punished.

[Jerry Dugan]

Yeah, but of course, we're a little different.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

One thing lions can't talk. Bad.

[Jerry Dugan]

That's it. Well, guess I better meet the rest of the kids.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Thanks for talking to me. It's exciting meeting someone your own age who's really with a circus.

[Jerry Dugan]

Yes.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

You're the luckiest boy in the world.

[Jerry Dugan]

I think so. Well, goodbye.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Bye.

Well, well, well, boys and girls.

[Major Mike]

How's everyone today?

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Gee, there's the major.

Hello, Major Mike.

[Major Mike]

Hello there, Jerry. Didn't know I was an actor, huh?

[Jerry Dugan]

Well, no, we all got a big kick out of your doll act. You ought to be a clown.

[Major Mike]

I've often thought about it. But course, I wouldn't want to put all the other clowns out of business.

[Jerry Dugan]

You were sure funny.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Sure.

[Major Mike]

I guess I know what the children like. All right, all right.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Hello there, kids. Oh, isn't he cute? Hey, darling.

[Major Mike]

You see, Jerry, what they think of me?

[Jerry Dugan]

I certainly do.

[Major Mike]

Yes siree. I guess that Italian clown and his monkey will have to come go some to meet me.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Major. Major Mike, come over and talk to us.

[Major Mike]

See, they can hardly wait to talk to me. Now, Jerry, don't look so worried. You won't have to buy the shoes.

[Jerry Dugan]

Oh, no, of course not. I was just thinking of poor Beppo.

[Child in Bed]

Jerry, don't forget you promised to talk to me again before you go.

[Jerry Dugan]

You bet I won't.

[Circus Announcer]

And now, girls and boys, come comes a very special act. So keep your eyes and ears open. A couple of old favorites in entirely new role. Introducing Beppo the clown and his almost human monkey, Jack.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Oh, poor Beppo.

[Jerry Dugan]

I hope he's got a good stunt.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Are you talking to yourself, Jerry Dugan?

[Jerry Dugan]

Yes, I was.

[Child in Bed]

So.

[Jerry Dugan]

Say, I think I'll sit down with you now while this act's going on. I don't want to miss it.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Neither do I. I like Beppo and Jacko. Look at that monkey riding in on that organ grinder. He looks so important, like a little king or something.

[Jerry Dugan]

Yeah. See, what's Bunce doing with all those balloons?

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Is Bumps the name of that clown

[Jerry Dugan]

who's doing all the announcing? Yeah. You haven't seen him do his act yet, have you? No, he's keen. My dog Rags works with him.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

He does?

[Jerry Dugan]

Sure, they got a swell act. Just you wait till you see him. But there's Beppo trying to get Jacko to do his tricks. And Bumps is coming by with all those balloons. That's funny. Everyone is watching Bumps instead of the monkeys.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Yeah, even Jack O is watching him. Look at him beg for one of those balloons. Oh, he's swell. Listen to Peppo.

Go away. No paella da balloons in my ass. Take it out.

[Circus Announcer]

Oh, please, miss. See how the little fellow begged.

[Jerry Dugan]

Oh, have a kind heart.

[Circus Announcer]

Buy him a balloon. Just one balloon.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

No, no, no. Don't yakka Jack O. Turn the somersault tonight. Squad, the little ladies and gentlemen.

[Circus Announcer]

Oh, you see? You are a cruel master. Buy the balloons for the little monkey and then he'll do his act night, eh, jackal?

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Go away, Mr. Clown.

[Jerry Dugan]

Easter.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

She's in my act.

[Circus Announcer]

Not until you buy my balloons. And then I'll go.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

All right, you rob a poor Italian organ grinder. But for my little friend Jacko, I buy the balloons. All of the balloons.

He's gonna buy them all.

[Jerry Dugan]

Say, this is something new. I've never seen Beppo do this before.

[Child in Bed]

He.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Looky.

[Jerry Dugan]

He's put all the balloons into the hands of Jocko.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

No, no, no, no. Go. Get out. Say, those balloons are lifting Jacko up into these. He's being carried away by the balloon.

Jerry. Jerry, look. The monkey's going up in the air. The balloons are carrying him away from the back.

Jacko, throw them back at the back. Oh, he. He's flying right over our head.

The wind is carrying them this way.

Hang on, Jack O.

[Circus Announcer]

Don't fall.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Don't let go of those balloons. Com the back. Jackal.

[Major Mike]

My monkey.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Combat.

[Jerry Dugan]

I believe it's part of the act. They fooled me. I thought it was an accident. See, Beppo's holding a string so Jacko can't go any further away.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Say, this is a swelling.

[Jerry Dugan]

Watchy, look. Jacko's letting some of the balloons loose.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Goody. I got a balloon. Me too.

I got one.

[Child in Bed]

Gee, I wish I could get one of them. I can't move in this bed.

[Jerry Dugan]

Here comes one. I'll get it for you. There you are.

[Child in Bed]

For me? I'll say thanks.

[Jerry Dugan]

Oh, that's nothing. I'm sure Jacko would want you to have one, too.

[Child in Bed]

Say, if he lets go many balloons, nothing will hold him up there and he'll fall.

[Jerry Dugan]

Yeah, but Beppo's thought of that. See, he's pulling in the string now.

[Child in Bed]

But there's only a few balloons left.

[Jerry Dugan]

Yeah, but Jacko's pretty close to the ground. Beppo's pulling him back to the organ.

[Child in Bed]

Oh, gee, I don't know when I've

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

had so much fun.

[Jerry Dugan]

Well, at last he's back safe and sound on the organization.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

You lose the summer balloon. So now you come along and I play for you. And I find you dancer for these people. You see?

[Child in Bed]

Boy, that was exciting. Thanks ever so much for getting me a balloon.

[Jerry Dugan]

Oh, that was nothing.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

I think that was the best trick I've ever seen.

At first it looked like an accident when those balloons carried Jackal off.

[Major Mike]

I'm sorry, and I got to go now. Children, not.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Please, Mr. Mike, stay and talk.

[Child in Bed]

Don't go. Please, Major, don't go.

[Major Mike]

Sorry, but I have to see about something.

[Jerry Dugan]

Hey, wait a minute, Major. Where are you going so fast?

[Major Mike]

You see what Beppo did just now. Tricks, that's what he used. Tricks. He's not satisfied to get by with his own personality, but he has to depend on Stunt.

[Circus Announcer]

Bah.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

I've got to get out of here,

[Major Mike]

and I got to think quick.

[Jerry Dugan]

Well, don't let it worry you, Major Mike. After all, he's got to win sometime.

[Major Mike]

Yes, but he's not playing fair.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

I'll get even with that clown of it.

[Major Mike]

Take me the rest of the season.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Gee, look at him go.

[Child in Bed]

For a midget, he shouldn't get mad.

[Jerry Dugan]

He's pretty well known for his snapper. But he'll blow over in a few days.

[Child in Bed]

Well, what's it all about, anyway?

[Jerry Dugan]

You see, the clown and the midget have had a bet up every year they play this hospital.

[Child in Bed]

Yes, but. Well, what's that gotta do with it?

[Jerry Dugan]

You see, one thinks he's the best, so each year they try to do something special so the children will applaud them the most.

[Child in Bed]

Oh, I should say Beppo would win this year.

[Jerry Dugan]

I'm afraid that's why the major's so burned up. It's going to cost him the price of a pair of shoes. That was a bet. And he certainly hates to spend his money.

[Child in Bed]

Really? Gee, I bet it's fun to be on the inside of things like this. Imagine if you hadn't come here and talked to me. Well, I'd have never known. All about, well. Oh, everything.

[Jerry Dugan]

Well, don't you forget that you gotta be on your feet next year when we hit this town so I can take you to the circus.

[Child in Bed]

You won't forget?

[Jerry Dugan]

You bet I won't. I promised, didn't I? And you'll stay for lunch and eat with the performers and everything.

[Child in Bed]

Gee, Jerry, you're swell. I'll certainly try to do everything the doctors say so I'll be well enough by then.

[Jerry Dugan]

See, that's my dog's act coming up now.

[Child in Bed]

The pump coming in with the clown.

[Jerry Dugan]

Yep, it's a good act. Sorry, but I've gotta go help Jason with the lion tub of his. I'll try and get back to say goodbye. Hey, let me know what you think of my dog.

[Major Mike]

You bet I will.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Geez. Cute.

[Child in Bed]

Bye, Jerry.

[Jerry Dugan]

Bye.

[Circus Announcer]

And now, children, we will let you be the judges as to which was the most entertaining, Major Mite or Beppo. I will hold my hand over the heads of first Major Mike and then Beppo. And you show by your applause which of the two you think was the best. All right. Are you ready?

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

I'm ready. And I win.

[Major Mike]

I bet you that's what you think. Beppo.

[Circus Announcer]

No. Major Mike. And now, Beppo. You have clearly shown by your applause that Beppo is the winner and better luck next year. Major, you caught me unawares.

[Jerry Dugan]

Beppo.

[Major Mike]

I didn't have time to think of something.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Never mind the excuses, Major. You just buy me a good pair of shoes. That's all I want.

[Jerry Dugan]

Well, so there you are, Jerry. I was just trying to carry this cage alone. I'd about given you up.

Gee whiz, I'm sorry. You know, I got so interested in the show, I forgot the time. Hey, wasn't Beppo funny?

Yeah, that was a pretty cute trick. I guess I'll have to work out a balloon stunt for one of my lions.

Yeah, it sure be exciting. I can imagine a wild animal floating over the heads of the audience. Guess it'd cause a stampede. All right.

Oh, I don't know. It's not impossible.

I quit kidding. You'd think I didn't know anything.

Well, grab the handle of that crate and we'll get fuzzy in the bus so we won't hold up things when we're ready to start back to the circus ground.

I got it kinda heavy.

Oh, too heavy?

Of course not. Say, Jason, you dropped a letter there.

Oh, thanks, Jerry. Say, I forgot all about this. It's a special delivery. Registered letter for Johnny Bradley. He wasn't around, so I signed for it and forgot to give it to him. Say, that's awful.

It might be important.

Yeah, it is. It's from the government. Don't let me forget to give it to him at lunch.

You bet I won't. I'll bet I know what it is.

[Circus Announcer]

Yeah?

[Jerry Dugan]

What?

I bet it's that letter with the Reward in it. $500.

Good night. Of course, that's probably it. And I almost lost it. Say, Jerry, you'd better give this to Bradley. You'll see him before I will.

[Child (Jerry's Friend)]

Ram.

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[Jerry Dugan]

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