Jot ‘Em Down Store Re-Opens to the Public: Abner’s “New Deal” and the Rise of the Department Heads

Originally Aired: February 26, 1935

In Lum & Abner #52, “Jot ‘Em Down Store Re-Opens to the Public,” Pine Ridge’s beloved store swings open its doors under brand-new management: President Abner Peabody. Fresh off a dramatic election (and a behind-the-scenes handover from Lum), Abner seizes his moment—reorganizing the store with a flurry of rules, posted signs, and a comic flurry of department head appointments. Lum and Cedric quickly find themselves assigned a string of official-sounding (but humble) offices: Cedric as Snappy Deliver Service, Cat Feeder, Fire Builder, and Wood Carrier; Lum, to his horror, is officially designated the “Sweep Out Store” officer, tasked with opening and cleaning up each morning. As Abner’s “new deal” for the store takes shape, the lines between leadership and labor blur hilariously, offering a classic dose of rural satire, big ambition, and good-natured bossing that fans of the series love.

Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), with voices of Cedric and additional Pine Ridge townsfolk

Tags:
LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, Horlicks, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, AbnerPresident, storecomedy, ruralcomedy, classicradio, vaudeville, departmenthead, Cedric, LumGetsSwept, AbnersNewDeal, GoffAndLauck