Lum & Abner: Classic Small-Town Comedy

Lum & Abner Sell Their Circus

Originally aired April 22, 1935, this episode finds the old fellows of Pine Ridge tangled up in the aftermath of their ill-fated circus venture. Having sold the show to Squire Skim for $1,000, Lum and Abner are stunned to discover that Squire quickly turned it for a $4,000 profit, leaving them swindled out of $3,000.
Back at Jot ’Em Down Store, Lum recounts the loss to Dick Huddleston and Grandpappy Spears, vowing that no one could out-trade him—though Squire apparently did just that. Meanwhile, Abner, still convinced Lum means to whip him for meddling with the circus money, goes to comic lengths to avoid him, sneaking out back doors and dodging around Pine Ridge. When Lum finally tries to corner him with the help of the others, Abner’s fright drives him straight through a plate glass window in a burst of slapstick panic.
With Horlick’s Malted Milk ads sprinkled throughout—including a testimonial about a once-ailing baby turned blue-ribbon healthy—this lighthearted installment captures the small-town missteps, misunderstandings, and homespun comedy that made Lum and Abner enduring radio favorites 

Money Disappears Again: The Circus Safe Mystery Deepens

Originally Aired: April 11, 1935
In Lum & Abner #84, “Money Disappears Again,” the circus receipts vanish for a third time—this time from a locked trunk Lum used as a decoy after two straight nights of theft. With more than $800 gone and performers to pay, Lum vows to set a trap, while Abner proposes an outlandish pitfall scheme borrowed from lion-catching lore. Suspicion centers on Squire Skimp—who’s been blaming everyone else—especially after Dick Huddleston points out Squire may have been skimming when he ran the show alone. The kicker: the latest theft happened while Lum, Abner, and Squire all drove to Greenwood together, leaving the office wagon “secure.” A cliffhanger setup of small-town smarts, circus chaos in Mount Ida, and sponsor tags from Horlicks keep the tension—and the laughs—high.
Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Dick Huddleston, Squire Skimp, and Cedric
 
Tags:
LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, circusarc, MountIda, Greenwood, SquireSkimp, DickHuddleston, CedricWehunt, safeheist, trapplan, Horlicks, ruralcomedy, vintagebroadcast, classicradio

Lum Will Hide the Money: Suspicions, Secrets, and Strange Shadows

Originally Aired: April 10, 1935
In Lum & Abner #83, “Lum Will Hide the Money,” the circus safe robberies push Lum and Abner to desperate measures. With receipts vanishing night after night, Squire Skimp delivers a dramatic speech proclaiming his innocence—while slyly suggesting that perhaps Lum himself is behind the thefts, influenced by Zenora. Abner won’t believe it, but doubts creep in when Lum admits Cedric somehow knows the safe’s combination by heart. To outwit the thief, Lum decides to stop using the safe and instead hide the circus money in a trunk overnight. But just as the plan is hatched, suspicious figures—including Zenora’s brother—are caught lurking around the wagon. With shadows moving in the night, trust unraveling, and tensions running high, the mystery only deepens.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), supporting characters including Squire Skimp, Cedric Weehunt, and Zenora’s brother (mentioned)
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, SquireSkimp, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, circuscomedy, Horlicks, LumSuspicious, CedricKnowsCombination, ZenorasBrother, robberyplot, classicradio, vaudeville, circusmystery, LumHidesMoney

Squire is the Main Suspect: Love, Loyalty, and a Vanishing Safe

Originally Aired: April 9, 1935
In Lum & Abner #82, “Squire is the Main Suspect,” the circus mystery deepens. After the safe is robbed of over $400, suspicion swirls inside the wagon office. Squire Skimp pleads innocence but can’t escape Lum’s growing doubts—especially after Squire repeatedly tries to pin the crime on others. Cedric is questioned, but his simple honesty rules him out. Meanwhile, Lum fiercely defends Zenora’s honor when Squire dares suggest she may have seen the combination. Just as things begin to calm, disaster strikes again: the safe is robbed a second time! With money vanishing under lock and key, trust frays, and all eyes turn once more toward Squire.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), supporting characters including Squire Skimp, Cedric Weehunt, and Zenora (mentioned)
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, SquireSkimp, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, circuscomedy, Horlicks, safecracking, Zenora, LumDefendsZenora, CedricQuestioned, robberyplot, classicradio, vaudeville, circusmystery

Circus Appearing in Mt. Ida: Love, Horses, and a Robbery

Originally Aired: April 8, 1935
In Lum & Abner #81, “Circus Appearing in Mt. Ida,” the circus is thriving—but trouble is brewing under the big top. Lum, hopelessly infatuated with the young bareback rider Zenora, is spending more time grooming horses and planning extravagant silver harnesses than actually running the show. Abner fumes over Lum’s neglect, while Squire Skimp worries about the circus finances. The tension peaks when Lum and the others discover the circus safe has been cleaned out—an inside job! Between romantic distractions, costly new posters, and missing money, Pine Ridge’s newest circus venture faces its biggest test yet.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), supporting characters including Cedric Weehunt, Squire Skimp, Evelina (mentioned), and Zenora (mentioned)
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, SquireSkimp, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, circuscomedy, barebackrider, Horlicks, LumInLove, Zenora, Evelina, robberyplot, classicradio, vaudeville, MtIda, circusfinances, travelingcircus

Lum & Abner to Travel with the Circus: Goodbye Pine Ridge, Hello Zenora

Originally Aired: April 5, 1935
In Lum & Abner #80, “Lum & Abner to Travel with the Circus,” it’s official—our beloved duo is hitting the road! After Lum's chance meeting with the dazzling bareback rider Zenora, he’s suddenly eager to leave Pine Ridge behind. Abner’s packed (eventually), Cedric is already promoting the show in Charleston, and Grandpappy Spears is left in charge of the Jot ‘Em Down Store. But saying goodbye isn’t easy. As Lum avoids breaking the news to Evelina, he’s crushed to find she may not care as much as he hoped. Meanwhile, Abner’s botched haircut adds levity to the emotional goodbyes. It’s an episode full of transition, jealousy, and—of course—horse talk.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), supporting characters including Grandpappy Spears, Cedric, Evelina (mentioned), and Zenora (mentioned)
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, SquireSkimp, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, circuscomedy, barebackrider, Horlicks, LumLeaves, Zenora, Evelina, smalltownromance, classicradio, vaudeville, goodbyePineRidge

Lum Falls in Love with Zenora: Horses, Heartstrings, and Circus Business

Originally Aired: April 4, 1935
In Lum & Abner #79, “Lum Falls in Love with Zenora,” the circus may be in town, but it’s love—not lions—that’s taming Lum. While Abner and Squire debate the logistics of moving the show and managing circus tensions, Lum becomes completely captivated by a new bareback rider named Zenora. Her dazzling equestrian act isn’t the only thing that’s caught his eye. So smitten is Lum, he suddenly decides he will join the traveling circus after all—much to everyone's surprise. Could Zenora’s charm finally be the thing to pull Lum away from Pine Ridge?
This episode gallops through classic themes of small-town loyalty, romantic whimsy, and comedic misdirection—all under the big top.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), supporting characters including Squire Skimp, Cedric, Dick Huddleston, and Zenora (mentioned)
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, SquireSkimp, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, circuscomedy, barebackrider, Horlicks, LumInLove, Zenora, smalltownromance, classicradio, vaudeville, travelingcircus, equestrianromance

Dick Smashes Lum & Abner's Glasses: A Spectacle Scam Exposed

Originally Aired: April 3, 1935
In Lum & Abner #78, “Dick Smashes Lum & Abner's Glasses,” Pine Ridge is abuzz with trouble—this time from a pair of poorly chosen spectacles. After being swindled by a smooth-talking traveling salesman, Lum and Abner struggle with worsening vision, absurd headaches, and a new dependency on thick, distorting eyeglasses. Enter Dick Huddleston, back from a trip, who quickly sees through the scam. In a no-nonsense intervention, he smashes the defective glasses and urges the duo to take action before more townsfolk fall victim. With circus troubles brewing and Squire Skimp still pulling strings, this episode highlights small-town gullibility, quick-talking charlatans, and Dick's timely heroism.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), with supporting voices including Dick Huddleston and Grandpappy Spears
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, spectaclefraud, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, Horlicks, smalltownscam, classicradio, vaudeville, eyeglasscon, DickHuddlestonReturns, GrandpappySpears, SquireSkimp, circusdrama, comedyintervention

Lum Borrows $20,000 from Union Bank to Save the Circus

Originally Aired: April 2, 1935
 
In Lum & Abner #77, “Lum Borrows $20,000 from Union Bank,” Lum and Abner find themselves in a financial tailspin after their circus move to Belleville hits another snag—a $200 city license fee. With the show tent already set up and no funds left, Lum makes a desperate call to the Union Bank to secure a loan and keep the circus afloat. Meanwhile, Abner, convinced it’s raining despite clear skies, refuses to leave his porch, hilariously misinterpreting Lum’s expressions and contributing little to solving the crisis. A classic mix of rural wit and escalating predicaments, this episode showcases Lum’s determination and Abner’s lovable confusion as the duo scrambles to save their latest venture.
 
Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Grandpappy Spears and Squire Skimp
 
Tags:
LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, SquireSkimp, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, circuscomedy, Horlicks, smalltownfinance, classicradio, vaudeville, ruralantics, UnionBankLoan, rainconfusion

Circus Moves to Belleville: Overhead, Elephants, and Empty Pockets

In Lum & Abner #76, “Circus Moves to Belleville,” the partners regroup after the storm that blew down their big top in the county seat. With animals recaptured and the show on the road again, Lum and Abner try to make sense of their circus finances—but Abner takes “overhead” a bit too literally, blaming trapeze artists and the tent itself instead of expenses. The fat woman’s food bill rivals the elephants’, receipts don’t cover costs, and Squire Skimp’s accounting leaves the duo scratching their heads. Just as they’re tallying their losses, a phone call from Belleville brings new bad news: a $200 city license fee must be paid in cash before the circus can open. Lum’s optimism clashes with Abner’s doubts in this classic tale of mismanaged showbiz and small-town wit