Jerry of the Circus - Trunk Search

Summary

Jerry of the Circus - "Trunk Search"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Date: May 21, 2026

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Overview

In this classic episode of Jerry of the Circus, Jerry and his circus friend Slats attempt to find a period-appropriate vest for Slats’ act. Their search leads them to meet Tom, a young hired boy with a difficult home life and a strong bond with his old horse, Nellie. A trunk in Tom’s boss’s barn seems like the perfect place to find an old vest, but curiosity lands Jerry and Tom in hot water with the boss, Mr. Platt—raising the stakes as the episode closes on a tense note.

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Key Discussion Points and Episode Breakdown

1. Searching for a Vest

• [02:13 - 02:30]
  Slats and Jerry are exhausted after searching every pawn shop and secondhand store for a vest suitable for Slats’s circus act. Jerry suggests asking their friend Clara for help, but Slats refuses, insisting on finding the "right kind."

  • "Never. I'll go without a vest till I get the right kind." – Slats [02:24]

2. Runaway Horse Incident

• [02:53 - 04:35]
  Jerry and Slats hear commotion in the street—an old horse named Nellie has run away. Jerry quickly intervenes, stopping the horse by grabbing her bridle, impressing Tom and other bystanders.

  • "He talks to that horse like they were buddies. Hey, kid, is it your horse?" – Slats [03:45]
  • "Most kids nowadays hardly knows what a horse looks like, let alone how to manage him." – Slats [03:35]

3. Meeting Tom and Learning His Story

• [04:36 - 06:40]
  The owner of Nellie appears—Tom, a local boy working for a stern boss. Tom admires Nellie despite her poor treatment and speaks openly about his situation. Slats and Jerry introduce themselves and explain their search for a vest.

  • "She's the best friend I got." – Tom [05:24]
  • "Tom. That's a good American name." – Slats [06:00]
  • "I remember once... the manager wasn't sure whether to put me in the ring or with the freak." – Slats [06:46]

4. The Trunk in the Barn

• [07:27 - 07:54]
  Tom notes his boss, Mr. Platt, keeps a trunk of old things in the barn, possibly containing the vest they need. He warns that Mr. Platt is “kind of touchy,” and that “he’d sell anything if he could get real money for it.”

  • "He'd sell me, I guess, if he could sell people." – Tom [07:44]

5. Tom’s Home Life and the Circus Invitation

• [09:15 - 10:41]
  Jerry and Tom set out for Tom’s home, learning more about each other—they share stories of hardship, loss, and longing for something better. Jerry invites Tom to the circus, and Tom confides that his boss is the meanest man he knows and probably wouldn’t allow it.

  • "I've never seen a real circus. Always wanted to, but somehow I never had no money." – Tom [09:33]

6. Sneaking a Peek at the Trunk

• [11:00 - 12:10]
  Tom reveals that his boss is the baggage man at the local railway station—Mr. Platt. With Mr. Platt away, the temptation to check the trunk is too strong, despite Tom’s fears of punishment.

  • "I guess he can't give me any more than a lickin'. I've had them before, and it'd be worth it to see the circus." – Tom [11:36]

7. Discovery and Consequences

• [12:10 - 13:15]
  Jerry and Tom search the old trunk, finding various clothing items. Just as they find something promising, Mr. Platt returns unexpectedly and catches them, threatening to call the police and send the boys to reform school.

  • "Get out of there. Both of you. What are you doing? My things." – Mr. Platt [12:54]
  • "I'll teach you to come snooping around folks's trunks. I'll have the law on both you boys." – Mr. Platt [13:11]

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Memorable Quotes

• Slats:
  "Never. I'll go without a vest till I get the right kind." [02:24]
  "He talks to that horse like they were buddies." [03:45]

• Tom:
  "She's the best friend I got." [05:24]
  "He'd sell me, I guess, if he could sell people." [07:44]
  "I've never seen a real circus. Always wanted to, but somehow I never had no money." [09:33]

• Mr. Platt:
  "I'll have the law on both you boys and put you into reformatory schools where you belong." [13:11]

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Notable Moments & Timestamps

• Jerry stopping the runaway horse: [03:12–03:34]
• Tom’s gratitude and bond with Nellie: [04:34–05:31]
• Slats’ comic reflection on circus life as a young "freak": [06:18–06:56]
• Tom’s frank admission about his boss and isolation: [07:44–09:34]
• Jerry and Tom preparing to search the trunk: [11:10–12:10]
• Mr. Platt’s furious interruption: [12:54–13:15]

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Summary & Tone

This episode features heartwarming camaraderie, light comic banter, and a touch of suspense as the search for a costume piece becomes a brush with real danger for Jerry and Tom. The tone is earnest, full of '30s small-town Americana charm, with affection for the circus life and compassion for kids on the margins. It ends on a somber and suspenseful note with Mr. Platt’s threats, leaving listeners eager for the next installment.

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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?

[A]

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.

[B]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[A]

Anyways, get a [e-mail] or with your local agent.

[B]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Jerry of the Circus. Now for Jerry of the Circus. No. We've tried every pawn shop and secondhand store in this burg.

[C]

I'm getting kind of discouraged myself.

[B]

Course, I knew that Vesta Granddads is something special. But I did think we'd find some old someplace.

[C]

Well, maybe we'd better buy some cloth. And let Clara make you one.

[B]

Never. I'll go without a vest till I get the right kind. Anyhow, Clara's too busy today to be making me vests.

[C]

Yeah, I suppose so. Say, shall we walk down this way? We might just happen to find something.

[B]

Okay. But don't mind telling you, I'm so desperate that if I saw a man with the right kind of a vest on, I think I'd take it from him. If he refused to sell it to

[C]

me, imagine taking a ride off his back. Guess you and I'd end up in jail. Then we wouldn't need a vest at all. Satan. What's all the excitement?

[B]

Don't know. Sounds like a runaway.

[C]

Golly. You don't think some of the circus horses are loose, do you?

[B]

Yeah, not a chance.

[D]

Get out of the way.

[B]

Hey, lady, look up. Keep on the street, Jerry. Where you going? Gary, you got to be killed.

[C]

Hey, look.

[B]

He's got the bed. Gary. All right, gentlemen. Hang on. Hang on. Look at that kid. Hang on.

[D]

Oh, he's perking all right.

[C]

There.

[B]

The other fell's helping. Here, you slow down now. I got him, too, Dari. I got him, too, girl.

[D]

Take it easy.

[B]

That's a ticket.

[D]

Take it easy.

[C]

That's a girl.

[D]

Easy, now.

[C]

Be still.

[B]

That business? Yeah. Funny. Most kids nowadays hardly knows what a horse looks like, let alone how to manage him.

[C]

There he go.

[B]

Take it easy.

[C]

Nothing they get so excited about.

[B]

He talks to that horse like they were buddies. Hey, kid, is it your horse?

[C]

No, but she's all right now, I guess. Who does she belong to?

[B]

I don't know. I'm a stranger myself. In these parts. You don't see nags like that on the street much anymore?

[D]

Hey. Hey. Thanks. Gee, is she all right? Nellie. Nellie. What's the matter? Did you get scared, old girl?

[C]

Is this your horse, kid?

[D]

Yeah, my boss says.

[C]

What happened?

[D]

I don't know. I was doing an errand and I heard some car honking. I guess it swerved too close or something. As a rule, Nellie's pretty steady. But she must have gotten pretty scared to go careening off like that.

[B]

Well, I'll say she must. Took a block right along with her. Wonder that weight didn't break up the pavement.

[C]

Lucky she had it on her. We might not have caught her so easy.

[D]

Gee, I'm mighty grateful to you. I'd have gone into a lot of trouble if anything had happened to her or to the wagon. Gee, I don't know how to thank you.

[C]

Well, that's nothing. Glad we happened to be around.

[D]

Most kids wouldn't know what to do. Say, how'd you happen to stop her?

[C]

I just jumped for a bit and hung on tight. I knew she couldn't go on forever with me dragging her head down like that.

[D]

That's swell. I don't think I'd have ever been able to stop her so good.

[B]

Well, you see, son, Jerry here is with circus. He's used to handling horses. It's pretty much his business, you might say.

[D]

With the circus? You mean you work with the circus that just come to town?

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Golly gee, you too?

[B]

Yep, Me too.

[D]

Say, I never met circus folks before. Heck, that's real interesting.

[B]

Whoa.

[D]

Come over here, Nelly. Hold your horses. I never seen her jittery like this before.

[C]

She looks kind of thin.

[D]

Yeah, she ain't so much compared to the kind of horses you're used to, I guess. But I like her. She's the best friend I got.

[C]

I just mean she needs fattening up a bit. She's marked nice, got good points. Yeah, and she's built well too.

[D]

You think so?

[C]

Sure I do. Looks like she comes from pretty good stock, all right.

[D]

Well, she's not been treated so well, but I do everything I can for her. Leastways since we've been buddies.

[B]

You. You lived around here long, kid, huh? Yeah. Know the folks around this town much?

[D]

Well, kinda. Of course, I'm just, well, sort of a hired boy, but uh huh.

[B]

What's your name?

[D]

Tom.

[B]

Tom. That's a good American name. My name's Slats and this here is Jerry.

[D]

Slats. Jerry. Is Slat your real name?

[B]

It is now. Why, don't you like it?

[D]

Oh, sure, I. Well, I just guess I never heard it before.

[C]

Don't let him kid you, Tom. I asked him the same question and he acted real thief of me, too. He's proud of that name. He's got good reason to be, too.

[B]

And I sure have. When I was younger than you boys, I was the skinniest kid in the business. Dad and I didn't act all over the country. Case, you're both too young to have heard the slats and singles say we were terrific.

[C]

Folks used to think his dad starved him because he was so thin.

[B]

Yeah, when we joined the circus first the manager wasn't sure whether to put me in the ring or with the freak.

[D]

Honest?

[B]

Sure thing. Why, I remember once got after dad and he had a terrible time getting us out of town. Had to get doctors and everything to prove I just grew that way.

[D]

Gee, that's awful funny.

[B]

Yeah, well, we didn't think so then. Now look at me standing here talking. And what I wanted to ask you was if you knew any folks around here might have some old clothes.

[D]

Well, I don't know.

[C]

He doesn't mean worn out clothes. He means old fashioned clothes that perhaps belonged in the family years ago.

[D]

Well, I guess some folks keep them around in attics. My boss got a trunk out in the barn filled with a lot of crazy old things. He's so stingy we'll throw him away. And no self respect and secondhand mannered by him.

[B]

Yeah. Any colored vest like folks wore years ago?

[D]

I don't know. I never go near his things. He's kind of touchy about. Well, I never do. That's all I'd pay Well, for the

[B]

right kind of a vest. You don't suppose he'd sell it to me if he had anything I could use?

[D]

Sure, he'd sell anything if he could get real money for it. He'd sell me, I guess, if he could sell people.

[C]

Sell you? Do you belong to him?

[D]

Well, kind of. He tried to sell Nellie a couple times, but she's so old no one will pay much for her. And she still works. Grumbles about the feet she uses.

[C]

But she doesn't look like she gets much of that.

[D]

Why not? Something fierce? I do all I can to try and give her.

[B]

Say, listen, it's getting late. I got to get busy before the matinee. Jerry, do me a favor.

[C]

Sure thing.

[B]

Go along with Tom and see if you can find any kind of a vest out of the up around these places and I'll pay for it. Meantime, I'll go down these back streets and See if I can find something someplace myself.

[C]

Sure, I'll be glad to. Guess I know about what you want. That is, if Tom will take me.

[D]

You bet I will. Gee, I guess we just about get home before the old man leaves me.

[C]

You mean your boss hasn't gone to work yet? This late in the morning?

[D]

Well, he works nights, you see. He's got funny hours.

[B]

Good. Then you kids get going. But whatever you do, Jerry, get back to the lot before the matinee. And if Tom can't help you out, he may know some neighbors with addicts or something.

[D]

I'd sure be glad to try and help. Should we get going, Jerry?

[C]

The sooner, the quicker.

[D]

Okay. Hold still there, Nellie. Come on, Jerry, climb up.

[C]

Okay.

[D]

All right, Jerry. Sure.

[C]

See, this is. Well. Well, Slats, we'll try and find some kind of vest.

[B]

Well, you'd better. I don't want to have to go on without the right kind of props. I'll have to change my act. Well, so long, kids. Be seeing you.

[D]

Come on back with Jerry, Tom, to catch the show.

[B]

I'll get you.

[D]

Gee, honest. Thanks, Lat. Giddy up, Nellie. Come on there, old girl. Giddy up. Say, did he really mean that about seeing the soul?

[B]

Sure.

[C]

Of course he did.

[D]

Honest. You know, I never seen a real circus.

[C]

You haven't?

[D]

Nope. I always wanted to, though. But somehow I never had no money. And I was always working. Couldn't get away nohow.

[C]

Oh, that's awful. Well, you'll see the circus today. Don't you worry.

[D]

I'm afraid he'll never let me go. Who? Well, the man I'm hired out to.

[C]

He sounds kind of mean.

[D]

He's the meanest man I know.

[C]

What do you work for him for?

[D]

Oh, I can't get away.

[C]

What do you mean? You're away from him now, aren't you?

[D]

Well, yes, of course. I could run away, but if I did that, I'd probably never see dad again.

[C]

Gee, that's awful.

[D]

Yeah. Giddy up, Nellie. Come on, get going. We'll never get home.

[C]

Well, you live far from here?

[D]

Well, it's on the edge of town, not far from the tracks. It's kind of a little farm, you see, we raise our own vegetables.

[C]

Looks like it's in the direction of the circus lot.

[D]

Say, Jerry, how'd you ever happen to be with a circus? Your folks work there?

[C]

Oh, they used to, but. Well, both dad and mother are dead. Mr. Randall, he's the owner, you know. He took me in. I've only been with them part of this season.

[D]

It must be awful excitin'.

[C]

You bet it is.

[D]

Here, Nellie. Take it easy there, boy. Take it easy.

[C]

Hey, do we go off on this dirt road?

[D]

Yep. This is where we turn in. Say, that's funny. The car's gone.

[C]

You mean your boss isn't here?

[D]

Yeah, See, that's awful queer. He don't usually get down to the station so early.

[C]

Station?

[D]

Sure. You see, he's a baggage man at the Hansberg railway station.

[C]

Baggage man? The man you work for?

[D]

Sure. Oh, well, why? Say, I don't think we dare open that trunk while he's gone. He'd about skinned me alive, I guess, if he thought I was snooping around.

[C]

But we just gotta see if he's got a vest. We wouldn't hurt anything.

[D]

Whoa there, Nellie woe go. Whoa. Come on. May as well get down. He'll be back soon.

[C]

Gee, Tom, I can't wait. I gotta know if he's got anything we can use. Cause if he hasn't, I'll have to ask around, the neighbors and all.

[D]

Well, I suppose he can't give me any more than a lickin'. I've had them before and it'd be worth it to see the circus.

[C]

Oh no, I don't want you to get into trouble.

[D]

I'll tell you what, we'll just take a quick look through. Guess we'd hear his car all right

[C]

if he came back.

[D]

Tisn't like we we take anything.

[C]

Well, all right, if you think it's safe. Of course, if he has anything we can use, we'll pay him for it.

[D]

Okay then. Come on in here. There. You see that old trunk over in the corner of the barn?

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Well, that's it. Come on, let's open it quick if we're gonna.

[C]

Okay, if you say so. Gee, it's pretty rusty and dirty.

[D]

Yeah, no one ever uses it. He just keeps a lot of things that he don't want. Here, I'll open it.

[C]

Say, Tom.

[D]

Yep?

[C]

This man you work for, you say he's in charge of baggage at the railroad station?

[D]

Sure.

[C]

Why, his name isn't Platt, is it?

[D]

Well, sure. How do you know?

[C]

Oh, I don't know. Maybe you mentioned his name. I just thought it was Platt. But I wanted to be sure.

[D]

Did I? Sure, I musta. You wouldn't know it, would ya?

[C]

Say, here's lots of stuff. Gee, this is pretty good. Red sweater too. Say, it's a dandy.

[D]

Look, here's some old fashioned stuff. Would this be any good for you? Jerry?

[B]

Get out of there. Both of you. What are you doing? My things.

[D]

Gee, Mr. Platt, we didn't hear you.

[B]

You thought I wasn't home because the car was gone, huh? So you're a thief. Now get out there, both of you, and follow me into the house. I'm telephoned for the police, and I'm telephoning Quick. But, Mr. Wheaton, your lip need it. Both of you. I'll teach you to come snooping around folks's trunks. I'll have the law on both you boys and put you into reformatory schools where you belong. Get going now and move fast.

[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.

[D]

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[B]

Check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[A]

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.

[B]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[A]

Anyways, get a [e-mail] or with your local agent.

[B]

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[E]

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[B]

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[E]

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[C]

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