Lum & Abner: Classic Small-Town Comedy

Squire’s Plans for a Rival Theatre Threaten the Picture Show Dream

Originally Aired: June 7, 1935
In Lum & Abner #125, “Squire’s Plans for a Rival Theatre Threaten the Picture Show Dream,” Lum and Abner face a crushing setback in their new movie theater venture. After securing chairs and space at the lodge hall, they discover Squire Skimp has outmaneuvered them—renting the hall, poaching their seats, and even luring away their piano player, Grandpappy Spears. As if that weren’t enough, Cedric returns from projector training only to reveal he’s also been hired away by Squire. With every piece of their operation slipping away, Lum and Abner refuse to give up, determined to beat Squire at his own game. This episode delivers a potent mix of small-town rivalry, betrayal, and resilience—all wrapped in comedic frustration.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Squire Skimp, Grandpappy Spears, and Cedric Wehunt
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, SquireSkimp, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, ruraldrama, pictureShowWar, Horlicks, smalltownfeud, vaudeville, CedricWehunt, GrandpappySpears, contracttricks, betrayedBySquire

Worrying About Squire Starting Rival Theater

Originally Aired: June 6, 1935
In Lum & Abner #124, “Worrying About Squire Starting Rival Theater,” the fallout continues after Squire Skimp’s failed bid to become a partner in the Pine Ridge Planetarium. As the dust settles, Abner remains steadfast in his refusal to include Squire, while Lum frets over the threat of a competing picture show. Squire’s threat sends Lum into a spiral of confusion—complete with talk of “hands being tied” and “axes over their heads”—leaving Abner to conclude that his partner’s mental state might be slipping. But when word comes that Squire has rented the lodge hall and secured chairs for his own theater, it becomes clear: the competition is real, and the first shots in Pine Ridge’s cinema war have been fired. A hilarious and frantic episode of worry, metaphors gone wild, and rising stakes.
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, rivaltheater, Horlicks, PlanetariumPlot, vaudeville, classicradio, pictureShow, stubbornAbner, theaterwar, metaphormixup, lodgehall, cinemaShowdown

Squire Wants to Be a Third Partner in the New Theatre

Originally Aired: June 5, 1935
In Lum & Abner #123, “Squire Wants to Be a Third Partner in the New Theatre,” excitement buzzes through Pine Ridge as Lum and Abner’s picture show, the Pine Ridge Planetarium, nears completion. With plans underway and a film salesman on the way, the old fellows discuss big ideas—including securing a Charlie Chaplin or even a Mickey Mouse feature for their grand opening. But just as everything seems to be running smoothly, Squire Skimp reappears, proposing to buy his way into the business as a third partner. While Lum is tempted by Squire’s “showmanship,” Abner flatly refuses, recalling too well Squire’s past schemes. Sparks fly in this sharply comedic episode, as Abner stands firm, and Squire threatens competition. A delightful clash of ambition, nostalgia, and small-town determination.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Squire Skimp
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, SquireSkimp, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, smalltownrivalry, Horlicks, PlanetariumPlot, pictureShow, MickeyMouseMention, vaudeville, classicradio, silentfilmcomedy, CharlieChaplin, theaterbusiness, stubbornAbner

New Picture Show Costing a Lot of Money

Originally Aired: June 4, 1935
In Lum & Abner #122, “New Picture Show Costing a Lot of Money,” Lum and Abner find themselves overwhelmed by the ballooning costs of transforming the old cotton warehouse into the Pine Ridge Planetarium. From chairs that need nailing down to elaborate scenery, curtains, and even an exaggerated “Main Street” painted ad curtain, Lum's grand vision threatens to outstrip their $3,700 budget. Meanwhile, Grandpappy Spears is excited about his role as piano player and his new music records, while Abner questions the practicality of Lum's sky-high storefront artwork. The episode ends on a humorous note as they realize they’ve forgotten the most important element for their movie theater’s grand opening: the actual film to show. A charming snapshot of rural ambition and entrepreneurial chaos.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voice of Grandpappy Spears
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, PineRidge, vintagebroadcast, Horlicks, radiohumor, PlanetariumPlans, ruraltheater, smalltownbusiness, advertisementcurtain, grandopeningdrama, GrandpappySpears, vaudevillecomedy, classicradio, overspending, BirthOfANation, forgottenfilms

Trying to Name New Theater

Originally Aired: June 3, 1935
In Lum & Abner #121, “Trying to Name New Theater”, the Pine Ridge duo debates the perfect name for their newly refurbished picture show. Cedric is off to learn how to operate the projector, free passes are multiplying at an alarming rate, and Abner's patience with Lum’s generosity is wearing thin. As they wrestle with names like "Lum's Lyric," "Pine Ridge Picture Show," and even the baffling "Orpheum," a chance comment about a "planetarium" sparks the winning idea. In true backwoods fashion, they dub their venue the Pine Ridge Planetarium—mistaking it for a place to watch movie stars, not celestial bodies. A hilarious mix of miscommunication, homespun marketing, and classic small-town logic.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), supporting voice of Dick Huddleston
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, ruralcomedy, classicradio, Horlicks, namingtheater, planetarium, freepasses, backwoodslogic, vaudeville, CedricWehunt, smalltowncinema

Lum & Abner Hire Grandpap

Originally Aired: May 31, 1935
In Lum & Abner #120, “Lum & Abner Hire Grandpap”, the picture show project takes center stage as the duo tries to secure music for their new theater. With no budget for a player piano, Lum hatches a plan to use psychology on Grandpap Spears—hoping to rent his piano and hire him to play it. What starts as a simple negotiation quickly spirals into a full-blown family affair, with Grandpap angling for free passes for himself, his wife, their ride, and potentially half of Pine Ridge. This episode features sharp-witted back-and-forth, humorous manipulations, and classic small-town antics as Lum and Abner learn just how expensive “free” can be.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), with voice of Grandpappy Spears
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, GrandpapSpears, playerpiano, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, ruralcomedy, classicradio, Horlicks, smalltownnegotiation, backwoodsbargain, theaterlaunch, vaudeville

Cotton Warehouse for Theatre: Slanted Floors and Picture Show Plans

Originally Aired: May 30, 1935
In Lum & Abner #119, “Cotton Warehouse for Theatre,” the entrepreneurial duo dives headfirst into the world of cinema by converting an old cotton warehouse into Pine Ridge’s first picture show. While Lum focuses on formality—renting folding chairs and searching for a proper projector—Abner takes a more “inventive” approach, raising one end of the building to save on remodeling costs. Their hilarious misunderstanding of theater logistics, including the great debate over front versus back and a misadventure involving player pianos and candy-bucket benches, highlights the pair’s classic backwoods ingenuity. It's a charming glimpse into their small-town dreams of showbiz success.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Grandpappy Spears and Dick Huddleston
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, cottonwarehouse, picturehouse, playerpiano, projectorhunt, smalltownventures, theatrecomedy, Horlicks, classicradio, vaudeville, slapstickrenovation, ruralinnovation

How to Operate a Picture Show: Slanted Floors, Shadow Puppets, and Ticket Trouble

Originally Aired: May 29, 1935
In Lum & Abner #118, “How to Operate a Picture Show,” Lum returns to Pine Ridge with a bold new idea: open the town’s very first moving picture house. As he ropes Abner into the scheme, the two wrestle with the logistics of running a cinema—from slanted floors and high ceilings to shadow puppet distractions and ticket-taking confusion. Abner wants front-row seats for him and his family, but Lum insists he’s on ticket duty. The episode builds with classic misunderstandings, hilarious logic twists, and a last-minute offer to rent Dick Huddleston’s cotton warehouse as their venue. Will Pine Ridge finally get its nightlife? Or will Abner let everyone in for free?
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Dick Huddleston
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, picturehouse, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, slantedfloors, Horlicks, ticketboothantics, ruralcomedy, classicradio, vaudeville, smalltowncinema, freeadmissionfiasco, GoffAndLauck

Lum Returns: A Disappearing Act and a Silver-Screen Dream

Originally Aired: May 28, 1935
In Lum & Abner #117, “Lum Returns,” panic grips Pine Ridge after Lum vanishes without a trace following the failed unveiling of his self-funded statue. Fearing the worst, the townsfolk drag the mill pond and spread sightings from every direction. Just as hope fades, a call reveals the truth—Lum’s back! He reappears with surprising cheer, explaining his spontaneous trip to Kansas City as a soul-searching retreat. Reinvigorated, he announces a bold new plan to open a picture show in Pine Ridge, aiming to bring modern entertainment to the countryside. This episode is a heartwarming turn from despair to ambition, rich with humor, friendship, and small-town dreams.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), supporting voices including Grandpappy Spears, Cedric, and Dick Huddleston
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, Horlicks, statueceremony, missingLum, picturebusiness, smalltowncomedy, vaudeville, classicradio, KansasCitytrip, ruraladventure, GrandpappySpears, Cedric, millpondsearch

Lum Missing: Abner and Grandpap Fear the Worst

Originally Aired: May 27, 1935
In Lum & Abner #116, “Lum Missing: Abner and Grandpap Fear the Worst,” the residents of Pine Ridge are gripped with worry after Lum vanishes following the failed unveiling of a statue he had commissioned of himself. When no one showed up for the event—thanks to a prank by Moe’s Moose and the barbershop gang—Lum left in disappointment and hasn’t been seen for three days. Abner, Grandpap, and Dick Huddleston fear something terrible has happened as they recount Lum’s recent heartbreak and eccentric plans, including filling Pine Ridge with statues of himself and Abner. A phone call from Evelina, who Lum stood up for a date, only deepens their concerns. The episode is a heartfelt and humorous look at friendship, pride, and small-town drama.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Dick Huddleston and Grandpap
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, missingperson, Horlicks, statueunveiling, Moe’sMoose, prankgonewrong, smalltownmystery, vaudeville, classicradio, ruraldrama, GoffAndLauck, Evelina, Grandpap