Election Day in Pine Ridge: President or Pretender?

The race is on in this laugh-filled episode of Lum and Abner, as the old fellows of Pine Ridge decide to settle the question of who should be president of their soon-to-reopen Jot ’Em Down Store—with an election!

Still pretending to have two broken arms to win back sympathy from his wife Elizabeth, Abner figures that if his injuries linger, maybe he should just be made president—after all, all he'd have to do is “sit around and sort of boss things.” But Lum isn’t having it. He’s always been president, and he doesn’t plan on giving up the title now.

To avoid another full-blown argument, the pair agree on a democratic solution: let the customers decide! When sending in a Horlicks wrapper to get one of the aluminum flashlights they’re giving away, listeners can vote by writing either “Lum” or “Abner” on the back of the label. It’s an all-out campaign—with stump speeches, slogans, and appeals to sympathy (especially Abner’s fake injuries).

But the scheme takes a wild turn when Elizabeth finds Abner’s accident policy and files a claim—meaning if she discovers his arms aren't really broken, he might be facing more than just lost votes…

Blending pitch-perfect satire with sweet small-town charm, this episode shines with the kind of folksy wit that made Lum and Abner beloved radio legends.

Keywords: "Lum and Abner election episode," "Jot ’Em Down Store president vote," "Horlicks flashlight promotion," "February 1935 radio comedy," "Abner fake broken arms," "Lum vs. Abner rivalry," "Pine Ridge radio sitcom classic."

Cast: Chester Lauck (Lum), Norris Goff (Abner), Carlton Brickert (announcer).