Squire Pays Abner $10,000 for Rights to Soap

Originally Aired: March 1, 1935

In Lum & Abner #55, “Squire Pays Abner $10,000 for Rights to Soap,” the Jot ‘Em Down Store’s new president, Abner Peabody, finds himself in hot water after impulsively buying 10 cases of “World Wonder Soap” from a smooth-talking salesman—and handing over $25 with only a receipt for proof. As Lum shakes his head at Abner’s business acumen, Pine Ridge erupts with talk about the soap’s magical cleaning powers and the suspicious sales demonstration that even fooled Grandpappy Spears. Enter Squire Skimp, always on the lookout for an easy profit, who offers to buy the exclusive territorial rights for the soap—ultimately handing Abner a windfall and a way out of his blunder. Packed with witty back-and-forth, misunderstandings about beds (and flower beds), and a classic Squire Skimp scheme, this episode perfectly blends small-town farce with rural charm.

Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Squire Skimp, Grandpappy Spears, and others

Tags:
LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, SquireSkimp, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, soapdeal, Horlicks, smalltownbusiness, ruralcomedy, classicradio, vaudeville, getrichquick, exclusiveagency, PeabodyProfit, GoffAndLauck