Abner Operating Store on Swap Basis

Originally Aired: March 6, 1935

In Lum & Abner #58, “Abner Operating Store on Swap Basis,” Pine Ridge witnesses a full-on store war as the divided Jot ‘Em Down Store becomes two separate businesses under one roof. Abner, now proudly operating on a “swap” system, will trade groceries for anything—cows, chickens, pigs, rabbits, or even a horse—while Lum sticks with cash and boasts “honest measurements.” The rivalry gets heated, with ropes down the middle, dueling telephones, and a frantic price war that sends flour plummeting from $1.15 to 30 cents in seconds. Grandpappy Spears, Dick Huddleston, and the rest of Pine Ridge get caught in the crossfire (and enjoy the bargains), as old friendships are tested in a rural retail showdown packed with one-liners and small-town logic.

Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), with supporting voices including Grandpappy Spears, Dick Huddleston, and Cedric

Tags:
LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, swapstore, Horlicks, ruralcomedy, pricewar, classicradio, vaudeville, storefeud, barnyardbarter, GoffAndLauck