Lum & Abner: Classic Small-Town Comedy

New Picture Show Costing a Lot of Money

Originally Aired: June 4, 1935
In Lum & Abner #122, “New Picture Show Costing a Lot of Money,” Lum and Abner find themselves overwhelmed by the ballooning costs of transforming the old cotton warehouse into the Pine Ridge Planetarium. From chairs that need nailing down to elaborate scenery, curtains, and even an exaggerated “Main Street” painted ad curtain, Lum's grand vision threatens to outstrip their $3,700 budget. Meanwhile, Grandpappy Spears is excited about his role as piano player and his new music records, while Abner questions the practicality of Lum's sky-high storefront artwork. The episode ends on a humorous note as they realize they’ve forgotten the most important element for their movie theater’s grand opening: the actual film to show. A charming snapshot of rural ambition and entrepreneurial chaos.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voice of Grandpappy Spears
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, PineRidge, vintagebroadcast, Horlicks, radiohumor, PlanetariumPlans, ruraltheater, smalltownbusiness, advertisementcurtain, grandopeningdrama, GrandpappySpears, vaudevillecomedy, classicradio, overspending, BirthOfANation, forgottenfilms

Trying to Name New Theater

Originally Aired: June 3, 1935
In Lum & Abner #121, “Trying to Name New Theater”, the Pine Ridge duo debates the perfect name for their newly refurbished picture show. Cedric is off to learn how to operate the projector, free passes are multiplying at an alarming rate, and Abner's patience with Lum’s generosity is wearing thin. As they wrestle with names like "Lum's Lyric," "Pine Ridge Picture Show," and even the baffling "Orpheum," a chance comment about a "planetarium" sparks the winning idea. In true backwoods fashion, they dub their venue the Pine Ridge Planetarium—mistaking it for a place to watch movie stars, not celestial bodies. A hilarious mix of miscommunication, homespun marketing, and classic small-town logic.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), supporting voice of Dick Huddleston
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, ruralcomedy, classicradio, Horlicks, namingtheater, planetarium, freepasses, backwoodslogic, vaudeville, CedricWehunt, smalltowncinema

Lum & Abner Hire Grandpap

Originally Aired: May 31, 1935
In Lum & Abner #120, “Lum & Abner Hire Grandpap”, the picture show project takes center stage as the duo tries to secure music for their new theater. With no budget for a player piano, Lum hatches a plan to use psychology on Grandpap Spears—hoping to rent his piano and hire him to play it. What starts as a simple negotiation quickly spirals into a full-blown family affair, with Grandpap angling for free passes for himself, his wife, their ride, and potentially half of Pine Ridge. This episode features sharp-witted back-and-forth, humorous manipulations, and classic small-town antics as Lum and Abner learn just how expensive “free” can be.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), with voice of Grandpappy Spears
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, GrandpapSpears, playerpiano, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, ruralcomedy, classicradio, Horlicks, smalltownnegotiation, backwoodsbargain, theaterlaunch, vaudeville

Cotton Warehouse for Theatre: Slanted Floors and Picture Show Plans

Originally Aired: May 30, 1935
In Lum & Abner #119, “Cotton Warehouse for Theatre,” the entrepreneurial duo dives headfirst into the world of cinema by converting an old cotton warehouse into Pine Ridge’s first picture show. While Lum focuses on formality—renting folding chairs and searching for a proper projector—Abner takes a more “inventive” approach, raising one end of the building to save on remodeling costs. Their hilarious misunderstanding of theater logistics, including the great debate over front versus back and a misadventure involving player pianos and candy-bucket benches, highlights the pair’s classic backwoods ingenuity. It's a charming glimpse into their small-town dreams of showbiz success.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Grandpappy Spears and Dick Huddleston
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, cottonwarehouse, picturehouse, playerpiano, projectorhunt, smalltownventures, theatrecomedy, Horlicks, classicradio, vaudeville, slapstickrenovation, ruralinnovation

How to Operate a Picture Show: Slanted Floors, Shadow Puppets, and Ticket Trouble

Originally Aired: May 29, 1935
In Lum & Abner #118, “How to Operate a Picture Show,” Lum returns to Pine Ridge with a bold new idea: open the town’s very first moving picture house. As he ropes Abner into the scheme, the two wrestle with the logistics of running a cinema—from slanted floors and high ceilings to shadow puppet distractions and ticket-taking confusion. Abner wants front-row seats for him and his family, but Lum insists he’s on ticket duty. The episode builds with classic misunderstandings, hilarious logic twists, and a last-minute offer to rent Dick Huddleston’s cotton warehouse as their venue. Will Pine Ridge finally get its nightlife? Or will Abner let everyone in for free?
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Dick Huddleston
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, picturehouse, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, slantedfloors, Horlicks, ticketboothantics, ruralcomedy, classicradio, vaudeville, smalltowncinema, freeadmissionfiasco, GoffAndLauck

Lum Returns: A Disappearing Act and a Silver-Screen Dream

Originally Aired: May 28, 1935
In Lum & Abner #117, “Lum Returns,” panic grips Pine Ridge after Lum vanishes without a trace following the failed unveiling of his self-funded statue. Fearing the worst, the townsfolk drag the mill pond and spread sightings from every direction. Just as hope fades, a call reveals the truth—Lum’s back! He reappears with surprising cheer, explaining his spontaneous trip to Kansas City as a soul-searching retreat. Reinvigorated, he announces a bold new plan to open a picture show in Pine Ridge, aiming to bring modern entertainment to the countryside. This episode is a heartwarming turn from despair to ambition, rich with humor, friendship, and small-town dreams.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), supporting voices including Grandpappy Spears, Cedric, and Dick Huddleston
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, Horlicks, statueceremony, missingLum, picturebusiness, smalltowncomedy, vaudeville, classicradio, KansasCitytrip, ruraladventure, GrandpappySpears, Cedric, millpondsearch

Lum Missing: Abner and Grandpap Fear the Worst

Originally Aired: May 27, 1935
In Lum & Abner #116, “Lum Missing: Abner and Grandpap Fear the Worst,” the residents of Pine Ridge are gripped with worry after Lum vanishes following the failed unveiling of a statue he had commissioned of himself. When no one showed up for the event—thanks to a prank by Moe’s Moose and the barbershop gang—Lum left in disappointment and hasn’t been seen for three days. Abner, Grandpap, and Dick Huddleston fear something terrible has happened as they recount Lum’s recent heartbreak and eccentric plans, including filling Pine Ridge with statues of himself and Abner. A phone call from Evelina, who Lum stood up for a date, only deepens their concerns. The episode is a heartfelt and humorous look at friendship, pride, and small-town drama.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Dick Huddleston and Grandpap
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, missingperson, Horlicks, statueunveiling, Moe’sMoose, prankgonewrong, smalltownmystery, vaudeville, classicradio, ruraldrama, GoffAndLauck, Evelina, Grandpap

Things Go Wrong at Unveiling Ceremony

Originally Aired: May 24, 1935
In Lum & Abner #115, “Things Go Wrong at Unveiling Ceremony,” Lum’s dreams of immortalizing himself in Pine Ridge history take a comedic nosedive. The town is all set for the grand unveiling of a statue honoring Lum Edwards—King of the Hogs—with a dramatic oration and ceremonial flair. Dressed in elaborate lodge regalia and mounted on a white horse, Lum prepares to dazzle the crowd. But there’s just one problem: the crowd never shows up. Despite the speech, the costumes, and the barbecue, only three attendees appear—Dick Huddleston, Squire Skimp, and Cedric. Crestfallen, Lum quietly retreats, leaving his ambitions and his monument in silence. This episode captures the bittersweet hilarity of small-town pride meeting small-town reality.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Grandpappy Spears, Dick Huddleston, and Squire Skimp
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, KingOfTheHogs, PineRidge, statueunveiling, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, classicradio, Horlicks, ruralcomedy, vaudeville, smalltownfailure, lodgecostumes, monumentmishap, noonecame

Discussing Story of King Midas

Originally Aired: May 23, 1935
In Lum & Abner #114, “Discussing Story of King Midas,” the partners tally up recent profits—$2,300 from the hog deal (after Squire Skimp’s expenses and commission) and more than $1,400 already in the bank from their circus—giving them about $3,700 to dream on. That sparks Abner’s fanciful riff on King Midas: turning houses, mountains, even his teeth to gold, while Lum patiently points out the comic catastrophes that would follow (you can’t eat if every biscuit turns to bullion!). Around town, handbills go out for the unveiling of Lum’s statue with free barbecue, and the Horlicks photo giveaway hits its Sunday-midnight deadline—an episode that blends tall talk, small-town promotion, and a gentle lesson about easy riches.  
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Cedric Wehunt and Squire Skimp
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, SquireSkimp, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, KingMidas, goldtouchgag, statueunveiling, freebarbecue, photographpromo, Horlicks, smalltownschemes, ruralcomedy, classicradio, moneytalk, hogdeal, circusprofits

Squire Returns from Chicago with the Check: A Monumental Celebration in Pine Ridge

Originally Aired: May 22, 1935
In Lum & Abner #113, “Squire Returns from Chicago with the Check,” excitement runs high in Pine Ridge as Squire Skimp returns from the big city with payment for the hogs—just in time for Lum’s latest vanity project. Convinced his fortune has turned, Lum finalizes plans for his grand statue unveiling, already engraved with “Lum Edwards, King of the Hogs.” He books barbecue for 400 people, announces the ceremony over the party line in disguise as “Mr. Smith,” and organizes speeches, banners, and music to mark his self-dedicated monument. Meanwhile, Abner frets over the check and half expects trouble from the slick-talking Squire. When Squire finally arrives, all smiles and success, it seems Lum’s ambitions—and his appetite for grandeur—have never been higher.
Cast:Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), with supporting voices including Squire Skimp and Dick Huddleston
Tags:LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, SquireSkimp, Horlicks, monumentcomedy, selfpromotion, ruralcomedy, smalltowncelebration, barbecue, classicradio, vanityproject, KingOfTheHogs, GoffAndLauck