 The Clyde Beatty Show The world's greatest wild animal trainer Clyde Beatty with an exciting adventure from his brilliant career The circus means thrills, excitement, gnarling jungle beasts The circus means fun for young folks and old, but under the big top you see only a part of the story The real drama comes behind the scenes where 500 people live as one family Where Clyde Beatty constantly risks death in the most dangerous act on earth This master of the big cats has journeyed to Africa and India hunting down his beasts in their native jungle All of this is part of the Clyde Beatty story It is entitled Crisis on the set Winter quarters is just another way of saying hard work in the lingua de circus Instead of a vacation it means getting ready to put a bigger and better show on the road for the coming season Tents have to be repaired, equipment painted, new costumes made, a million details taken care of And in the case of the animal trainer he must dream up and perfect new stunts for his jungle cats to perform That's why most any day during the off-season I'm still apt to be found in the steel arena, the big cage inside the cat farm Arrow! Back on that pedestal you devil! Back! That's the time! Now hold it! All right, Prymba come down right here Come on! Down! Downflake! Down! Steady! All right, over you go now! Over Prymba! Roll! Back up there now! Hold it! Good girl Prymba. I think that'll do it for today. Open the tunnel gate and let them back in their cages Okay, there Clyde. Those cats will be striking for shorter hours if you're not careful I didn't know you'd come over Harriet. I think you'll be interested when I tell you why I came over. Oh, that's easy Because you're madly in love with me All right, I confess. But there's still another reason Remember the man from Monarch Studios that talked to last summer when we played Los Angeles? Well sure, what about him? He's over at the office right now He wants to talk some more about that circus picture they want to make. No kidding. Well, what are we waiting for? Come on Now what do you think? I hardly know what to think, Mr. Schaefer, but it sounds good to me. That is, if we wouldn't have to be gone too long I got a lot of work to do here before the season opens. Oh sure. We understand that But this shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks to the outside We'd have given you more warning only with just a few days ago We decided to go into production on the circus picture right away. When would we have to be out there, Mr. Schaefer? Just as soon as possible Now we'd like to start shooting the animal scenes in a week if we can Now could you get the animals you're using your act out there that soon, Betty? I think so. We're used to moving on pretty short notice. Good. Good. Well, I hear the contracts If you just sign them right here where the little extras are marked. Uh, how about it Harriet? Okay with you? You're the boss. I think it sounds wonderful. Well, that settles it then This may be the best chance we'll ever get for a vacation. Well for the salary we're paying you, uh, how can you lose? Here you are, Mr. Schaefer There's a copy of the script. You can look it over on your way to the coast. Yes, I guess I'd better I'll probably have more trouble with my lines than with my tiger Oh, please No more fun. I was sorry the minute I said it You won't have any trouble in this picture Actions will speak louder than words. It's the way you handle those wild animals. That'll be most important I just hope they're not camera shy. Oh, this would be like old home week for them Well, where do you see what a realistic jungle set we've got jungle set right? Oh, yes. What's the matter? Well It's sort of hard to explain but uh putting lines and tigers in an artificial jungle is asking for trouble It fools them and they report right back to their jungle ways All right, I didn't know that not many people do but a friend of mine was killed under just those circumstances a few years ago One of the best trainers in the business, but he couldn't control his cats when they were turned loose and no surrounding Well Does that mean you won't do it baby? No, I probably should have my head examined, but I'll do it and I'll guarantee it won't be dull We return to Clyde baby after this message Now back to crisis on the set A week after mr. Schaefer's visit to winter quarters The babies found themselves in hollywood where Clyde and his big cats were to appear in a motion picture Upon getting comfortably settled they visit monarch studios where Clyde has an appointment with the producer of the film Yes, mr. Goodman send that lion tamer in now baby. All right away. Mr. Goodman. Oh, mr. Goodman. We'll see you now mr. Baby. Thank you. Just go right on in Oh, baby. Good to see you come in come in Welcome to monarch studios, baby. Thank you, mr. Goodman. Sit down. Sit down. I'm glad you're here, baby We're a couple of days behind schedule now waiting to shoot the animal sequences. Well, I'm sorry. I got here just That's great glad you're here. What do you think of the story terrific, isn't it? Well, it looks fine. I guess of course I'm not a great cast too. You've read the script Schaefer gave you of course. Yes. I have as a matter of fact I wanted to talk to you about that you understand why we've got to have Valerie Collins and Marvin Mason play the leads, don't you? Got to have a romantic interest, you know Public demands it. So we give it to him. Of course, you'll still get feature billing Well, that isn't what's bothering me, mr. Goodman. That's all fine with me But I was wondering about the boy who's playing the part of my kid brother the one who's supposed to fight with a tiger Oh, Tommy Fairchild. Great kid. You love him, baby I don't doubt that but it's that business where he wrestles a tiger that's got me stumped You see, I wouldn't wrestle any of my tigers myself. Let alone have some 16 year old do it Oh that I see you haven't been told the details But he won't be wrestling with one of your tigers, baby. Well, what's he gonna know? He's got one. He's raised from a cub that he's been wrestling and fooling around with for two or three years Now that's all taken care of His father owns a small menagerie out in the valley used to be a small time animal trainer himself I think well, that's a little different. All right, but I still don't worry about there, baby And it'll make a terrific scene the kid will make a good little extra too I don't think you understand, mr. Goodman Don't you see the fact that he's been wrestling that tiger since it was a cub doesn't really mean much You can do that just so long But sooner or later what seems to be a gentle lovable cattle turn on you without warning and try to kill you Come now, baby. Let's not let our imaginations run wild That scene has got to stay Now get this Your party is in the jungle hunting wild animals for the circus You're lost somewhere in the vast south american jungle Your kid brother who is only 16 Wanders off and falls into the big pit you've dug in the trail And there already in the pit is this giant bengal tiger, but mr. Goodman They don't have bengal tigers in south america. Well, certainly they do it's in the script, isn't it? You're not going to argue with one of the best scenario writers in hollywood. Do you realize Rudolph Klemmer wrote this? Well, Rudolph had better read up on his wild animals a bit mr. Goodman because there are no tigers in south america none You know come to think of it. I believe you're right. I must tell Klemmer to watch that Oh, well, we'll change it Anyway, the tiger attacks the boy. They wrestle around that looks like he'll be killed Suddenly he tears free looks to beast in the eye and holds his hand up the tiger backs off hypnotized What a scene i'll admit it sounds interesting all right, but it's a natural baby Having that kid and the tiger get the wrestling looks like a real fight And the kid has a tiger trained to back off when he gives him a signal. Well, I suppose it's none of my affair Tell you what baby They're going to shoot the scene where you do your act in the arena this afternoon That's first on the schedule Maybe you'll want to go over and look at the setup under the soundstage first Yes, I'd like to my wife's over there now. Fine. Fine. Fine. It's stage number six. You can't miss it, baby You'll probably find our director larry sydney around there someplace if you need anything Just tell him. Thank you, mr. Goodman. I'll go right on over Sorry, I was so long harry it you've been having any fun. Oh loads of it. God. This is all very interesting Watching them fix up the city beginning to look like a real sick Say it is at that. Did you have a good talk with mr. Goodman? Terrific stupendous it i'm afraid he did most of the talking By the way, they're going to shoot the arena act this afternoon. Oh They don't believe in wasting time. Do they no apparently not have you visited the cats yet? Yes, I looked in on them a while ago They seem to have made the trip in good shape They even seem glad to see me. I hope they feel the same way when they say me Pardon me. Aren't you Clyde baby? Oh, yes, I am. I'm jack fairchild, baby My son tommy is going to be in a picture with you. Oh, I'm glad to know you. This is my wife, mr. Fairchild How do you do? Pleasure mrs. Beatty Looks like they're going to have a swell picture here. I hope so You know you and I've got something in common, baby I used to do a little animal work myself years ago Oh, of course my training was mostly with chimps dogs one thing and another I never got famous like you, but I learned plenty about animals if I do say so Well, maybe I shouldn't be asking but uh, didn't you ever learn that you can't trust any of them completely? What do you mean by that? I'm referring to this business of having your son wrestle with his so-called pet tiger How long do you think he can get away with that? Oh, nothing I worry about from raja Why he and tom are pals tom's raised him since raja was just a cub so I hear but even so I'll guarantee no son of mine It'd be wrestling with any tiger. Hey, I believe you're a jealous of the kid Just because you can't do it is no sign. Nobody else who did it And after all we're getting some pretty good money for that trick in this picture We're getting good money. Well, Tommy is if you want to put it that way I don't see how you can begrudge that. I'm afraid we're talking about two different things fair child I just thought if you weren't smart enough to know your son's playing with dynamite It's high time somebody told you you don't have to get so high and mighty about it Someday my kid will make your act look like a pink tea party You just mind your own business and I'll take care of mine. Understand? Lovely fellow. Isn't he though? I'll bet his kid is a typical smart alec that thinks he knows all the answers to Oh, well, maybe I'm wrong. Come on. Let's go grab a bite to eat and then get over the dressing room I still got to get dressed and ready to act, you know My but I'm impressed imagine me being the wife of a movie star Ha ha ha ha And now how do I look? Oh handsome dashing fearless Intrepid and and Your boots need polishing. Oh, I was afraid of that. Why couldn't I have taken up some kind of work where I could go barefoot? Oh, that would be too dangerous there. You might step on a nail or something Come in Now ready to shoot your act now, mr. Beatty and you come right over to sign stage six. Sure. I'm ready. Tell him I'm on the way. Okay, mr. Beatty There how the boots look now much better. Well, I'd hate to hold up production the first day. I better get a move on you coming Just trying to stop me. Oh, I hope everything goes perfectly. Oh, it will this will be just routine. Come on. Let's go Sound stage six was a madhouse people running back and forth like ants and talking in a language all their own But underneath it all was an air of urgent efficiency each person doing his job quickly and thoroughly I wondered how the big cats would react to the strange atmosphere into the bright lights on the set But whatever concern I felt at first quickly vanished as the animal seemed to take everything in stride I worked them for a few minutes rehearsing the scene to be filmed then the director called. Okay, mr. Beatty We're ready to shoot you all set already, mr. Sidney remember now when that lion charges And you run for the safety cage at the end of the scene register an expression of fear You're terrified afraid you won't get out in time. That'll be easy. I won't be acting for that shot Okay, quiet on the set. This is a take All right room For a few minutes. I forgot about being on a movie set everything was going smoothly Then I noticed some of the cats acting more and more surly suddenly adorned on me They were protesting at the intense heat under the Klee glides I realized I'd have to cut the act short But I remembered the director particularly wanted the shot of caesar my charge cat chasing me into the safety cage I hurried slica the spinning tiger through her trick and cued caesar down from his pedestal He glared at me as yellowish green eyes flashing an ominous warning Then before I was in position He started to charge my grip tightened on the chair as I scurried backward toward the safety cage Twice I blanked him as I reached for the cage door then my heart froze the door was stuck and I couldn't The Clyde Beatty show will continue in just a moment And now back to Clyde Beatty and crisis on the set As the cameras ground on the movie set Clyde put his jungle performers through their faces But after a few minutes he found them becoming more and more surly and unmanageable Nothing to do but cut the act short and give them a rest Caesar came down off his pedestal as usual But started his charge before Clyde was in position Quickly clad back to the door of the safety cage only to discover it was stuck tight and wouldn't budge Caesar get back For the mighty spring Caesar hurdle toward me batting the chair from my grasp Instinctively I dropped to the floor and he flew over my head crashing into the cage bars behind me I fell a searing stab of pain in my right arm as he fell almost on top of me The crash made him groggy for a second and I regained my feet before he did quickly I grabbed the chair again and charged him firing blanks and shouting Caesar get back over there My action took him completely by surprise. He slumped back to the other side of the arena I snapped back to my senses and raced for the safety cage. This time the door opened easily and I slipped through slamming it just behind me Oh, thank goodness. You're safe. God. Oh, you're on. It's okay. Here you Oh, what was the matter with that darn door? Anyway, oh look his teeth of wood got wedged underneath when you closed it I guess well, I'm glad somebody had sense enough to realize that was terrific baby sensation Get your breath now and we'll do a retake of the same thing in a minute retake Are you out of your mind, mr. Sydney? I was nearly killed that time, huh? Well, isn't that the way you always do it? It certainly isn't. Look at this arm Oh, I'm sorry, baby. I hadn't noticed if I'm gonna donate any more blood. It'll be to the red cross Just a couple of scratches fortunately did the doctor give you some shots don't they always Well, he said it's okay. Well, you better get some rest in your dressing room now I'm glad mr. Sydney didn't insist that scene be done over again. Oh my This is one movie that's gonna be plenty realistic And here we are you're gonna come in No, not just now you couldn't rest if I were around to heckle you and And I think I'll run over to that set where Monica Davenport shooting. Okay, you run along dear. I'll see you later Just uh, don't talk to any of those dashing handsome leading men. That's all Don't worry once enough for me Mr. Beatty Well, hello I I hope you won't be mad because I came in your dressing room mr. Beatty. I'm Tommy Fairchild Oh, glad to meet you Tommy. Could uh, could I talk to you for a minute mr. Beatty? It's awful important. Well, sure thing kids sit down Hey, what's the matter with your arm? That nothing much one of my lions and I had a little difference of opinion. That's all he scratched me a little Gee, oh, I'm sorry mr. Beatty Now What can I do for you? Well, it's it's about About the picture I know you'll think i'm a sissy and my dad would have a fit if he knew I was talking to you about it, but I don't want to fight with roger down in that pit. Well, this is a surprise I had a little chat with your dad this morning and I thought you were as anxious to do it as he was to have you do it That's just it mr. Beatty the whole thing is dad's idea He always wanted me to be a trainer That's why he had me fooling around with roger since he was a cub But I'm getting scared mr. Beatty. I I don't want to be a trainer. Well, at least you're honest Tommy But I don't see where you've got much of a problem. Just call the whole thing off I tried to mr. Beatty, but dad won't listen to me. He says I don't know my own mind He says I ought to be ashamed of myself being scared of a pet tiger You want to know something Tommy my lions and tigers aren't what you'd call pets But I'm scared too plenty of time. Gee, no kidding I never thought I'd hear you say that Oh, it's nothing to be ashamed of the day a trainer thinks he has nothing to be afraid of will be the day he stops being a trainer But uh, what is it that's made you afraid of roger? Well, it's kind of hard to describe At first I like getting in and wrestling around with him, but gee he's full grown now and Well lately I've been scared every time I've gone in his cage I got a feeling someday. He's gonna forget. We're just playing I can see you're a lot smarter about animals than your dad Is and worst of all I I think roger's beginning to know I'm afraid He undoubtedly is Tommy they're quick to sense it unless you're mighty good at bluffing What can I do mr. Beatty if I tell dad? I just won't do it. He'd Gosh, I I guess I'd rather face roger than him I wish I knew what to tell you Tommy, but I know your dad won't listen to me You see I've tried that this morning Uh, I guess I'll just have to go through with it. They all pay us a lot of money Sure, but all the money in the world wouldn't be come in Mr. Beatty have you seen anything up? Oh, there you are kid. What's the matter? We've been looking all over the loft for a young fairchild here Come on kids. The director's in a lather. We're all ready to shoot the jungle scene where you're down in the pit Oh, but I'll tell him you'll be right there and you better hurry What are you gonna do Tommy? What can I do? It's too late now to get out of it. You sure you don't want to tell him you won't do it No, I wouldn't dare do that Well So long mr. Beatty and and thanks for talking to me Would you mind if I came along and watch you do that scene mine? Gosh no, if if you were there, I don't think I'd even be scared Good boy. Come on. Let's go You got it straight now. Tommy all you have to do is walk along the trail until you fall into the pit And be sure you don't act like you know, you're gonna fall understand. Yes, sir Oh, don't worry about my Tommy mr. Sydney. He's a great little actor. Yes, sir Please mr. Fairchild if you don't mind All right, Tommy take your place and wait for your cue. Yes, mr. Sydney Oh, what a scene this will be sensational baby. I hope that's all it'll be Oh, why don't you come off it baby the kids done this a thousand times? Sorry fair child I just keep forgetting that you know more about tigers than I do all right quiet on the set everybody. This is a take Okay, roll them milk The muscles in my throat tightened as I watched Tommy start walking along the jungle trail of the set Straight toward the leaf covered pit where rajah lay in waiting He was a trooper no outward sign betrayed the turmoil going on within him. He reached the edge One more step then he crashed through the brush and disappeared into the pit Dead silence for a moment and then I watched from the edge of the pit Tommy had struggled to his feet just as rajah started slinking toward him One look at the big tiger and I was convinced he'd reverted to his jungle instinct Suddenly sprang toward Tommy stark terror showed on the boy's face. I could stand it no more quickly I grabbed a chair from under the sound man. What are you doing? You're ruining the whole scene Look out that kid's gonna be killed Chair in hand. I jumped down into the pit just as rajah knocked Tommy flat I jerked the blank gun from my hip pocket at the same time poking the legs of the chair at rajah's head I blanked him twice I'm back off to the corner of the pit Tommy looked up at me hope replacing the mask of fear on his face Rattle his cage door somebody rattle the door Most big cats associate the rattle with food. I held my breath Then I saw rajah dashed toward the cage. It had worked. He disappeared into the blackness and the door slammed shut Tommy Tommy are you all right? I think so mr. Bay good Hey, you up there. Don't just stand around gawking help us get out of here Now you just stay put right there young man. Remember what the doctor said. Yes, ma'am. Oh, you'll be all right, Tommy What's a few scratches after all? Tommy son Can you ever forgive me? I had so okay, dad. It wasn't your fault. I should have paid some attention to you, Tommy I should have listened to mr. Baydy here Had been a selfish old man. Oh dad. Don't it's true, Tommy And all I can say is I'm sorry boy. Oh, I'm sure he's forgiven you mr. Fairchild Haven't you Tommy? Well, sure I have but I I haven't really thanked mr. Baydy yet Oh, I couldn't have done much good if you hadn't been such a cool customer down there Tommy I want to thank you too, baby That was a mighty fine thing you did you both might have been killed I just wish there was something I could do to show my appreciation. There is Fairchild Just promise you'll never make Tommy go into another animal cage. Don't worry. I've come to my senses about that He'll never go near another tiger as long as hey Hey, wait just a minute. What's that son? Well, don't I have anything to say about that? Now that I've had some real experience and seen how mr. Baydy does it I might just decide to take it up after all. What? Tommy Fairchild, just remember you're my son and if I ever hear you talking that way again I'll give you the licking of your life In a moment Clyde Baydy will tell us about our next story, but first And now a preview from danger unrehearsed an adventure Clyde will never forget You know Harriet sometimes I wonder why I didn't stay in Chillicothe and become a shoe clerk or something Now with empress lame, I'll have to use Ganges in the new trick and he's still pretty nervous with the other cat Yes That's something I wanted to talk to you about The new trick I mean, oh wait'll they see this one Four months I've worked on it not counting the time in winter quarters And today the public will see it for the very first time Do you have to do that trick today Clyde? Couldn't it wait another week long enough for you to rehearse it some more? Why Harriet you know I've got to do it today You've forgotten the publicity releases the papers have all printed that a big surprise is in store for everybody today A brand new trick never before seen What if several reporters coming out this afternoon just to cover it after they interview me? Yes, I know all that but Well, what's bothering you Harriet? Why don't you want me to do it? Oh, I don't know really you'll probably laugh at me, but I have the strangest feeling and call it woman's intuition if you will but Oh, that trick is so dangerous Clyde Clyde I'm afraid I should have taken Harriet's warning events that followed proved to be unexpected and terrifying But then you'll hear the whole story during our next broadcast Our stories are based upon incidents from the career of Clyde Beatty and the Clyde Beatty circus The Clyde Beatty show is produced by Shirley Thomas Crisis on the set was written by Robert T. Smith All names used were fictional and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental This is a Commodore production