Lum & Abner: Classic Small-Town Comedy

Squire Pays Abner $10,000 for Rights to Soap

Originally Aired: March 1, 1935
In Lum & Abner #55, “Squire Pays Abner $10,000 for Rights to Soap,” the Jot ‘Em Down Store’s new president, Abner Peabody, finds himself in hot water after impulsively buying 10 cases of “World Wonder Soap” from a smooth-talking salesman—and handing over $25 with only a receipt for proof. As Lum shakes his head at Abner’s business acumen, Pine Ridge erupts with talk about the soap’s magical cleaning powers and the suspicious sales demonstration that even fooled Grandpappy Spears. Enter Squire Skimp, always on the lookout for an easy profit, who offers to buy the exclusive territorial rights for the soap—ultimately handing Abner a windfall and a way out of his blunder. Packed with witty back-and-forth, misunderstandings about beds (and flower beds), and a classic Squire Skimp scheme, this episode perfectly blends small-town farce with rural charm.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Squire Skimp, Grandpappy Spears, and others
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, SquireSkimp, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, soapdeal, Horlicks, smalltownbusiness, ruralcomedy, classicradio, vaudeville, getrichquick, exclusiveagency, PeabodyProfit, GoffAndLauck

Abner Buys Ten Cases of Soap: The World’s Wonder Soap Comes to Pine Ridge

Originally Aired: February 28, 1935
In Lum & Abner #54, “Abner Buys Ten Cases of Soap,” Abner is riding high as the new president of the Jot ‘Em Down Store—and eager to prove his business smarts. When a smooth-talking salesman arrives in Pine Ridge with a pitch for “the world’s wonder soap,” Abner finds himself dazzled by a dramatic demonstration: axle grease vanishes from a silk handkerchief! Despite Grandpappy Spears’ skepticism and Cedric’s innocent confusion about the store business, Abner impulsively agrees to purchase ten whole cases, locking himself into a pricey (and suspiciously exclusive) deal. Meanwhile, the townsfolk gather to soak up the sunshine and debate the true secret to storekeeping profits. This episode sparkles with classic small-town misunderstandings, a traveling sales pitch, and Abner’s knack for falling for the latest scheme.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Grandpappy Spears and Cedric
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, wondersoap, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, Horlicks, salesman, exclusiveoffer, ruralcomedy, classicradio, vaudeville, impulsiveAbner, ChesterLauck, NorrisGoff, smalltownbusiness, soapdeal

Lum & Cedric Don’t Like Abner as Boss: Contraptions, Cracker Barrels, and the Iron-Handed President

Originally Aired: February 27, 1935
 
In Lum & Abner #53, “Lum & Cedric Don’t Like Abner as Boss,” the Pine Ridge Jot ‘Em Down Store becomes a comic battleground as Abner’s reign grows ever more eccentric. With Lum regretting his decision to step down, the store is now filled with Abner’s inventions—like a trick chair that dumps employees on the floor if they try to sit when a customer enters, and a proposed burglar alarm involving shotguns at every door. As Cedric and Lum grumble about sweeping, dusting, and Abner’s endless rules, even Abner gets caught in his own mousetrap, proving that no one (not even the president) is safe from his new system. Plans for a store sale are debated, but all anyone can really do is dodge Abner’s gadgets and survive the “new deal” until sanity returns to Pine Ridge.
 
Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), supporting voices including Cedric and Dick Huddleston
 
Tags:
LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, Horlicks, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, AbnerBoss, storecomedy, ruralcomedy, vaudeville, presidentAbner, trickchair, mousetrap, GoffAndLauck, Cedric, shotgunburglaralarm, classicradio, rulesgonewild

Jot ‘Em Down Store Re-Opens to the Public: Abner’s “New Deal” and the Rise of the Department Heads

Originally Aired: February 26, 1935
In Lum & Abner #52, “Jot ‘Em Down Store Re-Opens to the Public,” Pine Ridge’s beloved store swings open its doors under brand-new management: President Abner Peabody. Fresh off a dramatic election (and a behind-the-scenes handover from Lum), Abner seizes his moment—reorganizing the store with a flurry of rules, posted signs, and a comic flurry of department head appointments. Lum and Cedric quickly find themselves assigned a string of official-sounding (but humble) offices: Cedric as Snappy Deliver Service, Cat Feeder, Fire Builder, and Wood Carrier; Lum, to his horror, is officially designated the “Sweep Out Store” officer, tasked with opening and cleaning up each morning. As Abner’s “new deal” for the store takes shape, the lines between leadership and labor blur hilariously, offering a classic dose of rural satire, big ambition, and good-natured bossing that fans of the series love.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), with voices of Cedric and additional Pine Ridge townsfolk
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, Horlicks, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, AbnerPresident, storecomedy, ruralcomedy, classicradio, vaudeville, departmenthead, Cedric, LumGetsSwept, AbnersNewDeal, GoffAndLauck

Lum Wins Election by 17 Votes: Abner’s Sacrifice and the End of the Squire Skimp Scheme

Originally Aired: February 25, 1935
In Lum & Abner #51, “Lum Wins Election by 17 Votes,” Pine Ridge buzzes with anticipation as the votes are counted for the presidency of the Jot ‘Em Down Store. Squire Skimp anxiously oversees the tally, hoping to cash in on a contract that would award him 10% of Abner’s future earnings if Abner wins. As the count concludes, it’s revealed that Lum wins the election by a razor-thin margin—thanks to a surprising twist: Abner, in an act of self-sacrifice, campaigned for Lum to help avoid Squire’s grip. With honesty, humor, and a dash of rural cunning, the contract is torn up, Lum turns over the presidency to Abner anyway, and Squire is left outmaneuvered. This episode is a heartwarming portrait of friendship, cleverness, and Pine Ridge justice.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Dick Huddleston, Grandpappy Spears, and Squire Skimp
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, SquireSkimp, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, electionresults, Horlicks, smalltownpolitics, ruralcomedy, classicradio, vaudeville, friendship, AbnerSacrifice, LumWins, torncontract, GoffAndLauck

Listeners to Cast Their Votes: A Campaign Twist and a Secret Withdrawal

Originally Aired: February 22, 1935
 
In Lum & Abner #50, “Listeners to Cast Their Votes,” the presidential race for the Jot ‘Em Down Store hits its boiling point as Abner considers stepping down—not because he’s losing, but because he’s winning. With nearly 800 votes over Lum, Abner grapples with the consequences of a contract that would force him to hand over 10% of his future earnings to the conniving Squire Skimp. Meanwhile, Lum tries to play fair, but both men face unexpected dilemmas as Sunday night’s deadline looms. In a surprising twist, Abner secretly campaigns for Lum to win… all to spite Squire and protect his own future. This episode is a delightful mix of backwoods politics, moral wrestling, and small-town charm.
 
Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Dick Huddleston and Squire Skimp
 
Tags:
LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, SquireSkimp, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, campaigncomedy, flashlightpromo, Horlicks, smalltownpolitics, ruralcomedy, classicradio, vaudeville, electiondrama, Abnerwithdraws, voteLum, GoffAndLauck

Insurance Money Donated: A Campaign Gone Wrong

Originally Aired: February 21, 1935
 
Synopsis:
After entrusting Squire Skimp to cash a $200 insurance check, Abner learns from the newspaper that a $180 donation was made in his name to the county library—without his consent. As Lum warns him of legal trouble for accepting the insurance payout under false pretenses, Abner grows increasingly desperate to recover the funds. He confronts Squire, who calmly defends the donation as a political maneuver and claims his 10% cut. Furious and determined to do what’s right, Abner demands the remaining $20 and vows to return the money to the insurance company—even if it costs him the election.
 
Keywords: “Lum and Abner insurance check mix-up,” “Squire Skimp campaign scandal,” “$180 library donation episode,” “1935 Lum and Abner radio,” “Horlicks sponsor episode,” “Jot ’Em Down Store politics,” “classic rural radio comedy”
 
Cast: Chester Lauck (Lum), Norris Goff (Abner), Earle Ross (Squire Skimp), Carlton Bricker (announcer)

Newspaper Reports on Abner: Big Promises, Bigger Trouble

Originally Aired: February 20, 1935
Newspaper Reports on Abner: Big Promises, Bigger Trouble
With Squire Skimp running Abner’s campaign, the election stunts escalate—culminating in a newspaper headline announcing Abner’s $180 donation to the public library, a contribution he never actually made. As Lum and Dick Huddleston puzzle over the news, they uncover a trail of exaggerated promises and shady maneuvers, including Abner jumping from a belfry into a fire net to impress child voters. When Lum realizes Abner gave Squire the insurance check to cash—and the donation matches that amount exactly—he races to confront Squire, fearing the worst.
Keywords: “Lum and Abner newspaper donation,” “Squire Skimp misuses insurance check,” “February 1935 radio episode,” “Jot ’Em Down Store election,” “Horlicks flashlight campaign,” “Abner jumps in safety net,” “Pine Ridge political schemes”
Cast: Chester Lauck (Lum), Norris Goff (Abner), Clarence Hartzell (Dick Huddleston), Earle Ross (Squire Skimp), Carlton Brickert (Announcer)

Squire to Cash Check: A Favor with Fine Print

Originally Aired: February 19, 1935
Squire to Cash Check: A Favor with Fine Print
As the Jot ’Em Down Store election nears its chaotic climax, Abner—now fully under the spell of Squire Skimp’s campaign schemes—hands over a $200 insurance check for Squire to cash on his behalf. The only catch? It’s tied to a phony arm injury, and Lum warns Abner that trusting Squire with money is like handing a fox the keys to the henhouse. Despite the tension, Abner stays loyal to his campaign manager, even as Lum and Cedric brace for the inevitable trouble that’s bound to follow.
Keywords: “Lum and Abner insurance check,” “Squire Skimp campaign plan,” “Jot ’Em Down Store president race,” “Horlicks flashlight promotion,” “February 1935 Pine Ridge radio,” “Abner fake arm injury plot,” “small-town radio comedy”
Cast: Chester Lauck (Lum), Norris Goff (Abner), Earle Ross (Squire Skimp), Clarence Hartzell (Cedric, Dick Huddleston, Grandpappy Spears), Carlton Brickert (Announcer)

Restocking the Store: Shortcuts and Shenanigans

Originally Aired: February 18, 1935
Restocking the Store: Shortcuts and Shenanigans
With two truckloads of new merchandise delivered to the Jot ’Em Down Store, Lum is eager to stock the shelves—but Abner’s chaotic system of stacking canned goods upside-down and mixing unrelated items has Lum pulling his hair out. As Lum struggles to maintain order, Abner’s efforts to save time only cause more headaches. Meanwhile, the presidential race heats up when Abner hires Squire Skimp as his campaign manager, promising a sudden and dramatic turnaround in the polls.
Keywords: “Lum and Abner store restocking,” “February 1935 radio episode,” “Squire Skimp campaign manager,” “Horlicks flashlight offer,” “Jot ’Em Down Store president race,” “canned goods chaos Abner,” “Pine Ridge radio comedy”
Cast: Chester Lauck (Lum), Norris Goff (Abner), Clarence Hartzell (Dick Huddleston), Earle Ross (Squire Skimp), Carlton Brickert (Announcer)