Lum & Abner: Classic Small-Town Comedy

Abner’s Kidnapping Has the Whole Town Upset

Originally Aired: September 6, 1935
Lum & Abner #190, "Abner's Kidnapping Has the Whole Town Upset,"
In a misguided attempt to restore his reputation and become a hero, Lum concocts an elaborate scheme to stage Abner's kidnapping. After reluctantly agreeing to the plan, Abner is now hiding at Lum's house while the whole town of Pine Ridge buzzes with excitement over the supposed crime. A ransom note demanding fifty dollars has been left on Abner's pillow, and news of the kidnapping spreads like wildfire through the community. As Lum returns from town, he finds a nervous Abner hiding under the dining room table, terrified that someone might discover him.
The townspeople are inventing increasingly wild stories about the kidnapping. Ezra Seastrump's wife claims she saw Abner in a black car with a handkerchief in his mouth, while Luther Phillips insists he saw suspicious characters in Abner's yard. Lum even adds his own false lead about a man matching Abner's description being spotted at a Mount Idy filling station. When Sister Simpson calls to discuss the terrible news, Lum cleverly plants the idea that whoever rescues Abner will be considered a real hero, setting the stage for his own triumphant "rescue."

Kidnapping Abner

Originally Aired: September 5, 1935
In Lum & Abner #189, "Kidnapping Abner," Lum Edwards attempts to restore his tarnished reputation by orchestrating an elaborate scheme: he'll kidnap Abner with his partner's permission, then heroically "rescue" him to win back the good graces of their fellow Pine Ridge townspeople. At midnight, Lum sneaks through Abner's bedroom window to execute the plan, but nothing goes smoothly. He has to douse the sleepy Abner with water to wake him, an alarm clock goes off at the wrong time, a lamp gets knocked over, and Abner's dog raises a ruckus as they escape.
The bumbling kidnapping turns into pure chaos as Abner jumps through a closed window, injures his leg, and insists on running away in his nightshirt without proper clothes. As the pair stumbles through the darkness with Abner complaining about his sore feet and refusing to walk any further, Lum is reduced to carrying his "victim" piggyback down the road. The ridiculous spectacle leaves Lum questioning why he ever thought this harebrained scheme would help his reputation in the first place.

Lum Wants to be a Hero

Originally Aired: September 4, 1935
In Lum & Abner #188, "Lum Wants to be a Hero," Lum finds himself desperate to restore his reputation after the Western Sterling Silver Company collapses, leaving him ostracized by the townspeople who blame him for their losses. In a scheme born of desperation, he devises an elaborate plan to stage a fake kidnapping of his partner Abner, believing that rescuing him will transform Lum into a hero and restore the stockholders' confidence. Lum even arranges for Grandpappy Spears to run their store temporarily, planning to tell everyone he's bought them out since customers refuse to patronize a business associated with Lum.
Abner initially resists the harebrained scheme, worried about fooling people and especially concerned that his wife Elizabeth will see through the deception. However, Lum expertly manipulates his partner's loyalty by playing on their friendship and reminding Abner of past favors. Despite his misgivings, Abner reluctantly agrees to be "kidnapped" and hide in Lum's house. As they work out the details, including Lum's insistence on using a ladder for authenticity even though Abner's window sits just three feet off the ground, the absurdity of their plan becomes increasingly apparent.

Stockholders Want Their Money Back

Originally Aired: September 3, 1935
In Lum & Abner #187, "Stockholders Want Their Money Back," Lum Edwards finds himself in dire straits after being left holding the bag in a fraudulent silver mine scheme. After hiding in Abner's barn to avoid angry investors, Lum cautiously emerges to face a hostile Pine Ridge community. When he ventures out on the rolling store with Abner, customers literally turn their backs and retreat into their homes at the sight of him. Even Mose the barber refuses to serve him when other customers walk out. Dick Huddleston visits Lum to discuss the situation, explaining that as president of the mining company, Lum is being held responsible for the seven thousand dollars that the absconded promoter Squire Skimp collected from townspeople.
Despite the community's cold shoulder threatening to bankrupt their joint store, loyal partner Abner refuses to dissolve their partnership. When Abner reports taking in only a dollar and sixty cents on his entire delivery route, he insists on standing by Lum no matter the financial consequences. However, tensions escalate when Abner warns that Caleb Weehunt, the blacksmith, has been making threats about what he'll do if he doesn't get his investment back, adding physical danger to Lum's mounting troubles.

Abner Hides in Barn

Originally Aired: September 2, 1935
In Lum & Abner #186, "Abner Hides in Barn," Lum finds himself in a desperate situation, hiding in Abner's barn loft to avoid angry stockholders of the Great Western Silver Mine. The disgruntled investors, led by the particularly enraged Caleb, are threatening violence against Lum and Squire Skimp after discovering the mine is a fraud. They learned that a man named Worthington, who had offered a million dollars for the mine, was actually a fake brought in by Squire to drive up stock prices and sell more shares. Though Lum protests his innocence, claiming he knew nothing of Squire's scheme and even bought more stock himself, the stockholders believe he was in on the swindle.
As Abner brings Lum his noonday meal of turnip greens and cornbread, Lum works on a letter to explain his innocence to the stockholders. He addresses it to Abner and signs it "somewhere's in the USA" to keep his location secret, intending for Abner to read it at a stockholders' meeting. However, Lum nearly gives away his hiding place when he accidentally includes in the letter that he's hiding in Abner's barn loft, forcing him to quickly revise his words.

A Lynch Mob for Abner

Originally Aired: August 30, 1935
In Lum & Abner #185, "A Lynch Mob for Abner," tensions run high in Pine Ridge after the stockholders discover that the mysterious Mr. Worthington, who offered a million dollars for the Great Western Silver Mine, was a fake brought in by Squire Skimp to inflate stock prices. When Abner stops by Lum's house to inform him that the stockholders are holding a secret meeting at Sister Simpson's place, Lum is indignant that he, as president and general manager who controls 57 percent of the stock, wasn't invited. Despite owning the controlling interest, Lum finds himself deliberately excluded from the proceedings.
As Dick Huddleston and Cedric stop by with bits of information about the meeting, Lum grows increasingly suspicious about what the angry stockholders might be planning. The visit from Dick reveals that folks in town have been asking about a letter from the chief of police, and Sister Simpson has figured out Squire's scheme to defraud the investors. With Abner attending the meeting as the only one who can report back, Lum anxiously waits to discover what actions the betrayed stockholders are plotting against those they hold responsible for their losses.

Sell the Mine

Originally Aired: August 29, 1935
In Lum & Abner #184, "Sell the Mine," Lum becomes enthusiastic about expanding their silver mining operation into a full-scale manufacturing business. He envisions building a factory right in Pine Ridge to produce silverware, jewelry, and other goods, which would bring jobs and prosperity to the entire town. The only problem is finding the money to make his grand vision a reality. As Lum excitedly plans for new buildings, a railroad, and skyrocketing property values, Abner struggles to keep up with his partner's ambitious schemes.
The two partners wrestle with various solutions to their financial dilemma, including selling more stock or making deals with Squire Skimp. When they recall that Mr. Worthington previously offered them a million dollars for the mine, Lum hatches a plan to sell him a partial interest to raise capital for the factory. However, their logic becomes increasingly tangled as they try to work out whether they can sell the mine and still have something to process in their proposed factory. Lum decides to contact Worthington in Arizona, but their planning session is interrupted just as he gets the address from Squire.

Lum Decides to Buy a Trailer for an Office

Originally Aired: August 28, 1935
In Lum & Abner #183, "Lum Decides to Buy a Trailer for an Office," Lum faces a frustrating predicament after the stockholders of the Great Western Sterling Silver Company refuse to pay him a salary as general manager or fund a helper for Abner on their rolling store. Despite recently ousting Squire Skimp from office and taking over management duties himself, Lum finds the stockholders maddeningly tight-fisted. He's determined to establish a proper office befitting his new position, arguing that a company president shouldn't be seen weighing out nickel-and-dime purchases from a traveling store when important business deals need conducting. The situation grows more complicated as customers begin calling, expecting the store to make its regular rounds.
Abner remains skeptical of Lum's grand ambitions, pointing out that he has plenty of time to handle both jobs and shouldn't neglect their actual moneymaking business. As tensions mount over who will do the work and how they'll manage both enterprises, Lum considers hiring Grandpappy Spears to help in the store, though he can barely afford it. The two partners bicker over responsibilities and fall into their typical comedic misunderstanding when Lum mentions someone "filling his shoes."

Lum Becomes Proud Owner of Silver Mine

Originally Aired: August 27, 1935
In Lum & Abner #182, "Lum Becomes Proud Owner of Silver Mine," Lum takes his newfound position as president and general manager of the Great Western Sterling Silver Company very seriously—perhaps too seriously. After the stockholders vote to oust Squire Skimp and install Lum in his place, with Squire graciously handing over his shares to give Lum controlling interest, Lum becomes consumed with his own importance. When Abner arrives to collect him for their grocery store delivery route, Lum announces he's far too busy with mining business to bother with such mundane matters as weighing potatoes and slicing cheese.
Abner finds himself in a predicament as Lum insists he can't risk having million-dollar ideas bounced out of his head by truck bumps or interrupted by customers wanting a dime's worth of cheese. The two partners attempt to work out a solution involving Grandpappy Spears as replacement help, but they quickly tie themselves in knots trying to figure out how to pay him without either partner bearing an unfair burden. Their convoluted reasoning about splitting grocery payments and stockholder assessments reveals the comedic chaos that erupts when Lum's newfound executive status collides with the practical realities of running their humble store.

Stockholders in Silver Mine Upset w Squire

Originally Aired: August 26, 1935
In Lum & Abner #181, "Stockholders in Silver Mine Upset w Squire," tensions are running high in Pine Ridge as Squire Skimp returns from Arizona without having sold the Great Western Sailing Silver Company mine. Lum and Abner have been doing well with their new grocery store on wheels, but their attempt to expand to Cherry Hill hits a snag when armed businessmen and the mayor block them at the town bridge. Lum diplomatically talks his way out of the confrontation, even earning invitations to the Rotary Club, though he privately admits the rickety bridge wouldn't have supported their store anyway.
Meanwhile, Abner and Grandpappy approach Lum with surprising news. The angry stockholders, furious that Squire hasn't delivered any dividends and is now planning to move to Oklahoma, have held a secret meeting without their company president. With the mine in Arizona, the stockholders in Pine Ridge, and Squire heading to Oklahoma, the investors see disaster ahead. Their solution: convince Lum to take full control of the operation away from Squire, who reportedly passed up a million-dollar offer for the mine.