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