 Action and danger hundreds of dramatic behind-the-scenes adventures are all part of the Clyde baby story Here is the story of the flying politos Clyde, what is it dear? What's troubling you? Hmm. Am I worried showing again honey? They always do to me That's what you get for marrying the owner of a circus. There's always something to worry about. I'm not complaining I know you never complain honey Why didn't you marry a plumber or a doctor or somebody like that? What? And be awakened at all hours of the night to fix a broken water pipe or a broken collar bar? I guess there's always something wrong with the other guy's job at that. Certainly. Now take the case of a night watchman What would I do if you had a job like that? Well, I guess you'd have to do your housework at night With no soap operas to listen to on the radio? Don't be silly Never thought of that Now suppose you tell me what's on your mind Well, it's the flying politos Oh, I was wondering how long it would be before they became a problem. Then you've noticed it too, huh? All I can say is I'm frightened to death every time they go on with their act. Yeah, it's time. They quit Yes, Clyde. They're getting too old for such a dangerous act. And I've got to tell them. Oh Harriet How can I tell a couple of real troopers? They're too old for the Clyde baby circus I know how badly it makes you feel dear, but there's nothing else you can do I know I've got to get them off that high trapeze before Before there's an accident poor things. I wonder if they've saved any money probably not show people seldom do They've been working the act for so long They don't have to worry about some sort of job as long as I've got a circus There'll always be a job somewhere in it for the flying politos. You're a sweet man, Clyde. I Don't feel sweet. Oh, how do you feel? Oh, I I feel like Scrooge or Simon LaGrie. Don't you think you're being overly harsh with yourself? It doesn't matter I've still got to tell the high-flying politos that they're grounded And now back to Clyde baby's adventure entitled the flying politos Just a minute Clyde. Yeah, are you trying to tell Rita and me we're through look Geno? You're not through not with a circus that is then what's all this talk about the washing out our act, but just it Oh, it's just Geno we have what Clyde is trying to say is Well, he thinks you've been doing your flying trapeze act long enough You're entitled to arrest and you should start taking it easy in other words You wanted the flying polis to retire and live on our income. I suppose now You know, you'll always have a job with us Well, of course by the Clyde baby circus could never get along without you too. You're grounding us. Is that it Clyde? That's it, you know, I'm sorry, but after all the welfare of my performers is my responsibility And it's your responsibility to see that a couple of broken down acrobats Don't thrill your regular customers with a fall. It isn't part of the regular program. I Well, I wish you hadn't put it that way I'm sorry Clyde that that was a rotten thing for me to say You've been swell to us and Well, it's been wonderful working for you and with well, maybe I haven't made myself clear. You're not leaving us We don't take charity charity. What yes? We do that that just isn't true don't kill yourself Harriet you and Clyde are show folks You don't want to see a couple of thoroughbreds wind up hitched to a milk wagon. So you are turning us out to pass now Look, that's ridiculous. There are plenty of things around here that you can do important things. What right a couple of tire camels in the opening Spectacles Water wind up before the flying police listen client. Don't think we aren't grateful. We are we've enjoyed every season with Your circus, but the it's time. We made a change Why just the other day I was telling Rita about they're getting an offer from Williams He he wants to give a stop billing and in a tour of the car. Oh come off it Gino Williams shows washed up He canceled his tour in the middle of August and as far as a tour to Europe You'll be lucky to evade the sheriff. Well, there's plenty other spots for an act like the flying Polito Sure Split season with a car knee in East Dubuque a Grand Vogueville tour of one night Just a minute we can always get time and good time to Gino listen I'm your friend your acts through and you know it slide We need a form or years of top billing or top salary The only way we can get it is to continue our act But if it's money you need it if you're in some sort of a jam I am not in a jam. We've just got something to take care of We'll we'll manage somehow then you won't stay on with us. I've explained the head who we cannot now Rita, I think we should consider Betty's offer after all we we will manage, you know There is always a spot for an act like ours Well, I can't make you stay but don't forget your contract with me doesn't terminate till the end of the tour And I insist that you stay on that long will work out a contract Clyde It calls for a high trapeze act and that's what you will get till this circus tour is over Well, kind looks like we didn't accomplish too much for the Politos. They're proud people and Well, I think I'd have done just what they did Was that you Tina yes, sir, I just had to talk to you You see my dressing can is right next to mr.. Mrs. Polito and I couldn't help hearing your conversation matter of fact You should have been included in the conference after all you are part of the act Well, that's why I wanted to talk with you about you see I'm frightened too mr.. Beatty well then you agree with me Tina It is dangerous to let the Politos go on. Oh, yes Oh, it isn't for myself because I can handle my part of the act all right, but well, it's Rita and Gino Their timing is off way off. I wanted to tell you before but you've got sorry for them. Is that it dear? Yes, and well, I was afraid you might think I wasn't satisfied with my part in the act Well, you're the best part of the act Tina as soon as I can get you a partner I'll see that you replace the flying Polito Thank You mr.. Beatty, but truly that isn't why I came to see you I I wanted to tell you that I know why they won't give up their act. Oh Why Tina well, it's their son their son Harry did you know they had a son? I know I'm surprised as you are well I have one and he's the reason they keep on working well I don't quite understand what all their money goes to put him through school I see never worked in his life always had the best the finest school summer camps prep school and now It's a university. Well, I guess it's their business if they want to spend their money on a son's education Yes, but he's living like a prince. Well, they work so hard still my dear it is Rita's and Gino's business Well, you're right, but it makes me so darn good and mad I'd like to give that high and mighty young man a good talking to I tell him I'd ask him why he doesn't work his way through school like plenty of other boys do Take it easy Tina my goodness you're getting that pretty little face yours all stormed up, but it's true And when we get to Chicago next week, I'm gonna tell him so right to his face Oh, does he live in Chicago Tina? Oh, he goes to school there. The University of Chicago. Well, it's a fine school Yes, my understand that the men's dormitories at the University are very fine, but not fine enough for his lordship Oh, no, he must have his own apartment. Well, Tina. I still say none of that's our business card right, honey I don't think it would be prudent for you to interfere. Well, I suppose it isn't my place too, but Gee, well, I'd give just to tell him what his folks are going through just for him. You know Harriet I'm half inclined to agree with Tina. So am I, but Well, it just isn't any of our business. I think it is a couple of friends of mine are endangering their lives twice a day in my Circus when we get to Chicago, I think I'll have a talk with a certain young man who's important enough to make them do it Clyde isn't this campus perfectly beautiful sure is this part's called a midway That large building is the international house students from all over the world live there What a place to go to school. That's what you should be doing young woman instead of working with a circus Don't think I wouldn't like to See that chapel over there. It's the Rockefeller Memorial has the largest Carolyn bells in the world in its tower Well, here we are You girls wait in the cabin. I'll go see if his lordship is in It's a pretty fancy joint for a schoolboy to be living in why mr. Beatty, don't you know nothing is too good for an acrobat son I'll be back in a minute Can I assist you sir what yes, would you ring mr. Palito's room, please? Palito, I'm sorry, sir. We have no one but that name. Well, you must have his name is Jean Palito, Jr Oh, we uh, we have a gene Paul Jr. Are you sure you have the name correctly? Well, of course his name is Hey, wait, did you say Jean Paul, Jr? That's right. Maybe I did have the name wrong. Would you ring mr. Paul, please? Oh, he's not in sir. Well, when do you expect him? Well, not for several hours He's over at the gymnasium Bartlett gymnasium across the campus. Oh, is he on the basketball team or something? Oh, no, mr. Paul is a gymnast and a very good one too, sir a gymnast Of course, thanks So you can take the boy out of the circus, but he still has the circus in his blood Hey, hey fella, you tell me if gene Paul's around. Yeah, that's someone the giant bar. Oh, thanks You mean that fella? Yeah, pretty good, isn't he? Well, that's putting it mildly He's excellent big ten champ on the bar the parallel bars in the rings. Well, it's great Hey, you look familiar you and old grad Son I went to school with iron bars around it iron bars. You mean you went to a reform. Oh Wait, I get it. You you're Clyde Bady, aren't you? That's right. Gee, mr. Bady My name's Homer Cransfield. I'm a freshman at what would gee I'm sure glad to know you I'm glad to know you too. Hey, would you do me a favor and ask gene Paul to step over here for a minute? Sure sure Hey, Gene come down off there. Somebody wants to see you somebody important Be careful. Are you addressing upperclassmen? Oh nuts Clyde Bady's over there? He wants to talk with you Bady Did you say Bady? Yeah, he probably wants to sign up for his circus You well wanted to see me sir. I wanted to see Gene Palito junior, but you'll do I think well I gotta go. I'll see you at the circus, mr. Bady. So long Homer name is Homer, isn't it? That freshman is quite a character isn't he Palito? My name is Paul gene Paul. Oh, oh I see well It could be a coincidence, but there's a marked resemblance between you and a couple of swell people I know their name is Palito and their acrobats in my circus. Look here. Just what is it you want? Just interested in seeing how the other half lives your way out of line mr. Bady I know I am I can see now that I've stuck my nose in where it doesn't belong you certainly have but as long as I've made Myself look this bad. I might as well get a little satisfaction out of it You are Rita and Gino Palito son, aren't you? I can't see how that could possibly concern you I'm making it my concern if you'll excuse me. I'll go take my shower wait Look, I don't like the position. I've got myself into that's your problem Okay, mr. Stuff shirt listen to this if I've made a mistake if you're not gene Palito Then all I've done is make a fool of myself. That's obvious. I'd rather feel like a fool and feel that I'd taken somebody's life What? What do you mean you don't have to throw a knife or pull a trigger to be instrumental in someone's death What are you talking about? Sometimes you can be so stupid. You don't realize you're in any way response for heaven's sakes What are you trying to say? You don't even have to care But let me tell you this if you are gene Palito and your father and mother fall from the high trapeze You're gonna feel like a murderer Back to Clyde Bady's adventure the flying Palito's Clyde realizes that Gino and Rita Palito are risking their lives each time they perform their high trapeze act But when Clyde visited their son at the university he was reluctant to even discuss his parents now It's performance time again and Clyde and Harriet are anxiously watching the figures on the high trapeze Palito said if I was gonna hold them to their contract They were gonna finish out the tour with the act that it stipulated. Did you tell him they'd get the same salary for doing a safer? Yes, and they were insolvent. Oh dear. I'm almost afraid to look up there. You and me both Could I speak with you a moment you yes? I came to see how sorry I am for my actions yesterday. I Well, I was wrong from afraid. I was a bit rough on you, too. Oh Harriet. I want you to meet Jean Paul My name is Palito Jean Palito, Jr. I'm very happy to meet you. You must be Mrs. Bady That's right. I had no idea Rita and Gino had such a handsome son. Hey, not take it easy Harriet You scared this young fellow to death. I don't scare that easy, Mr. Bady Thanks Scott Rita almost fell off the pedestal. He had grabbed her just in time. Oh, that scares me. I See what you mean, Mr. Bady. Oh, I had no idea of this Mother and dad have no business doing an act like that. I've tried to make him quit. They won't listen to me Maybe they'll listen to me Yeah, they'll be down here in a minute. Mr. Bady I don't think you've got a very good impression of me yesterday. To be perfectly honest I thought you were kind of stuff that you were right. I've been taking things for granted I didn't realize what mother and dad were doing for me. Oh here. They come. I'll bet they'll be happy to see you Jean I'm not so sure Rita Gino. Come over here. Will you kind of gave the customers a thrill, huh? Jean what are you doing here mother? Look here is Jean. I know I saw him from up there That's why I almost slipped off the pedestal. Hello, mother. Oh dad. Hi son glad to see well. I'm not you agree You never come to the circus. Why have you disobeyed me, but mother? I never mind. We will discuss it later I've got to change now mothers upset and I guess it's because she's surprised to see you here It's all right dad. I suppose I shouldn't have come during your performance. You better go change I'll wait around here for you. See you later son. Looks like I've sort of started something. It's all right, mr. Beatty. I'm glad you did. Hi everybody. Oh Tina come here. I'd like you to meet someone. Sure miss Tina Foch Mr. Jean Toledo. Don't forget the junior. Let's get the junior, please. How do you do? Mr. Toledo. Oh And a Chilean here isn't it Mrs. Beatty? Well, yes it is. And if you'll excuse me, I'll get out of this fancy costume Well, no matter how you look at it, mr. Beatty. It appears I'm persona non grata around here It appears so junior. It certainly does Look off it dear. No, how about you son? Yes, please now Gin why did you break your promise to me? I was worried about you and dad worried Why should you suddenly become worried about us? It was something mr. Beatty said to me when he came out to school yesterday Also, mr. Beatty's been sticking his nose into our business again, but mother never mind Listen to me Your father and I have been in this business a long long time. We know what we're doing mother you don't understand only one thing You're never going to have anything to do with the circus You are going to have the best education you can get but don't interrupt your father and I have seen to it that you Have the best of everything the least you can do is carry out our wishes now mother I don't think you've been quite fair. Jean was worried about I will do the worrying for this family And I say my son is not going to lead the life that we've led it hasn't been such a bad life read Huh on the road nine months for the year sleeping on stuffy trains dressing and drafty tents No real home living out of the trunk. Do you call that a good life? Why do you do it money? Because I want you to have the things that we don't don't you think I should have something to say about that You'll have nothing to say about it. You will do what I want you to do You will stay away from the circus you will study and do the work you'll make something of yourself I won't have you in show business You yes, it's me I don't think we have anything to say to one another I think we do then you'll be talking to yourself because I have nothing to say to you Miss Foch help me. Why should I want to help you because you admire my mother and dad? Well, at least that's true Look, I've never been around a circus. I know nothing about show business The few weeks out of the year the folks have spent with me. They'd never allow the subject to be brought up Yesterday I I saw my mother very nearly slip off a platform 50 feet in the air it It frightened me frightened me and mr. and mrs. Beatty So what they mustn't be allowed to do that act anymore then you couldn't go to the university anymore You'd have to give up your fancy apartment Maybe haven't forbid your highness would have to go to work. I have a very strong back miss Foch Wait You're you're serious about this, aren't you? Yes, don't you want to finish school? I mean go on to be a doctor or lawyer something if I can But if your father mother stopped working wife miss foch, would you mind feeling my arm your arm? What oh? Muscles I see what you mean. I told you I have a very strong back What's going on here? I'll conspiracy now take it easy with the nerve of that little Mother please don't a mother me by what right does that before she girls speak to me about matters of concern our son Look, nobody's concerned about our son. Oh, no, they're certainly putting on the good acting Don't you see Rita see see what it's us. They're all worried about Lala thank them to mind their own a business. They think we threw And honey, I think they're right. What? You too. Let's face it. They act slipping if it weren't for that pretty little Tina for shop They're with us. We'd lay an egg The only thing thrilling about the flying Polaris is Some night at timing will be worse than usual. That's our cue. We're on right. Let's go for three. This is our last performance What you heard me? This is our last performance now come along hurry. We miss our cue Mrs. Beatty I Hope you don't mind my coming back here like this not at all matter of fact I'm glad you're here just before they went on your dad told me this is to be the last performance for the flying Politos That's a relief What a mother have to see about that. Well, not very much your dad's always been such a mild temperate sort of man But this time he's the boss good for dad The act started I'll be glad when it's finished. Oh, look at the team out there. Isn't she a picture? She's a picture any place. I know there must be something beside the animals that attracted you to the circus Why mr. Beatty didn't you know that miss foesh hates me like poison love hate I didn't go to a university my boy, but I learned a long time ago how close those two emotions are Read a mr. Timing the trapeze is swinging while She's in trouble. What's caught in the guide rope? What's dad trying to do? He's building up momentum trying to reach her from his trapeze swinging crazy He can't reach her if he leans any farther. He'll fall. You know Gino Don't try to reach her we'll get somebody up there, but George lower. Mrs. Polito's trapeze They can't the rope that's angled the poison jams. Let me by mrs. Beatty. Jean, where you going up after my mother? Look at that boy climb that rope That line is caught in the edge of the trapeze bar if it doesn't slip off you'll reach her man I've never seen anybody go up a rope that fast only that rope doesn't slip Rita's hanging head down you reach her in a second Watch it easy There he made it. He made it Well checked over the last of the contracts honey. Where's the winter gone? It's like a time again. Oh, would you see who that is please? Wonderful Politos glad to see you Well, Clyde you look like you pretty busy Well, you know how it is at this time of the year contracts rehearsal schedules roots and all those dull details Speaking of contracts you got one there for the flying politos. What? What do you mean now look here Clyde? You don't think you can send the circus on the road without the flying politos of course you can after all How many years has the act of being on the bill but but I didn't think that you didn't think you could do without an act Like the flying politos did you well? This is kind of a surprise. I thought the act was over finish the politos No, as long as there's a circus there will be flying politos. Well now listen friends I thought we had this thing all settled last fall we're all getting all worked up Clyde Come on out in the practice arena for a minute. Okay, but you think I'm gonna let you to do a high-flying act again You're wrong all your horses. Who said anything about us, but you said that the flying politos sure I did here Take a look up there Clyde God you see what I see and how Brother look are they good? Okay now how about that contract same billing same money as before now wait a minute You're not going to stop a young man working this summer to earn his way through the university. Are you? No? I just wanted to know how you wanted the billing. Oh printed like this client Tina and Jean the flying politos Clyde Betty will return in just a moment here again is Clyde Betty The politos are a great family like all circus performers. They exemplify the sense of loyalty that's a part of circus life I'll have another story of danger and excitement to tell you when next we meet All stories are based upon incidents in the career of the world famous Clyde Betty and the Clyde Betty circus The Clyde Betty show is produced by Shirley Thomas the flying politos was written by RT Smith and Frank Hart house it All names used were fictional and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental This is a Commodore production