Lum & Abner: Classic Small-Town Comedy

Abner in Bed with Two Broken Arms: A Price for Trouble

Originally Aired: January 31, 1935
Abner in Bed with Two Broken Arms: A Price for Trouble
Abner Peabody has finally paid the price for all the chaos surrounding Hortense Kelly—and it wasn’t cheap. After days of dodging trouble, facing Lizabeth’s wrath, and getting tangled in a love scandal, Abner now finds himself stuck in bed with both arms broken!
As Lum stops by to check on his old partner, he struggles to hold back his laughter and disbelief at how Abner managed to get himself into such a ridiculous predicament. Meanwhile, Lizabeth isn’t exactly feeling sympathetic—if anything, she’s enjoying the fact that Abner is finally in no position to argue with her!
With Abner unable to do anything for himself, Lum starts to realize that this might be the only time in history that Abner will actually listen to reason. But will Abner learn anything from this painful lesson, or is he already plotting his next scheme to get back at Lum?
Keywords:
"Lum and Abner broken arms episode," "Abner Peabody in bed injured," "Classic radio comedy 1935," "Old Time Radio small-town humor," "Pine Ridge matrimonial disaster," "Lum and Abner slapstick injury," "Vintage radio sitcom episode"
Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), Lizabeth Peabody

Lizabeth’s Jealousy: Abner Caught in a Scandal

Originally Aired: January 30, 1935
Lizabeth Thinks Abner is Having an Affair with Hortense: Trouble at Home
The Hortense disaster has reached its peak—just as Abner thought he was in the clear, Lizabeth gets wind of the whole affair! Now, Abner finds himself in hot water at home, as Lizabeth is convinced that her dear husband has been carrying on a secret romance behind her back.
Desperate to explain the situation, Abner tries to tell her it was all Lum’s fault, but Lizabeth isn’t having any of it. Meanwhile, Lum is enjoying the chaos—until he realizes that if Lizabeth doesn’t forgive Abner, the whole matrimonial bureau scheme could fall apart!
As gossip spreads like wildfire through Pine Ridge, Abner scrambles to prove his innocence. But with Sister Simpson and the town’s biggest talkers fueling the rumors, will he ever convince Lizabeth that he’s not running off with Hortense?
Keywords:
"Lum and Abner Hortense affair," "Lizabeth suspects Abner," "Classic radio comedy 1935," "Old Time Radio small-town gossip," "Pine Ridge matrimonial scandal," "Vintage radio humor," "Lum and Abner mistaken romance"
Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), Lizabeth Peabody, Sister Simpson

Abner Goes to the Railroad Depot to Meet Hortense: A Nervous Wreck

Originally Aired: January 25, 1935
Abner Goes to the Railroad Depot to Meet Hortense: A Nervous Wreck
The moment of truth has arrived—Hortense Kelly is on her way to Pine Ridge, and Abner has no choice but to meet her at the train depot! After days of panic and trying to find a way out of this mess, Abner, reluctantly dressed in his Sunday best, makes his way to the station, hoping against hope that Hortense won’t recognize him.
Meanwhile, Lum is enjoying every minute of Abner’s misery, reminding him that this is what happens when you send out your picture to every single woman looking for a husband. But the fun stops when Dick Huddleston arrives with shocking news—Hortense isn’t traveling alone. She’s bringing her entire family with her, and they’re all expecting a wedding!
With the train pulling in and no way to escape, Abner braces for the biggest disaster of his life. Will he go through with meeting Hortense, or will he make a run for it before it’s too late?
Keywords:
"Lum and Abner train depot mix-up," "Abner Peabody meets Hortense," "Classic radio comedy 1935," "Old Time Radio romance humor," "Pine Ridge matchmaking disaster," "Small-town humor," "Vintage radio mistaken identity"
Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), Dick Huddleston

Abner Receives Telegram from Hortense: A Bride on the Way

Originally Aired: January 24, 1935
Abner Receives Telegram from Hortense: A Bride on the Way
Abner’s worst fears have come true—Miss Hortense Kelly, the woman who fell in love with him after receiving his picture, is on her way to Pine Ridge! After days of worrying about whether she’d actually follow through on her promise to visit, Abner receives a telegram that confirms the nightmare:
📜 “Darling, I will arrive tomorrow. Can't hardly wait to see you. Love, Hortense.”
Now in full-blown panic mode, Abner demands that Lum fix this mess before Elizabeth finds out. Lum suggests writing Hortense a letter to explain the mistake, but before they can send it, Dick Huddleston arrives with the fateful telegram—it’s too late. Hortense is already on her way!
With Elizabeth still out of town and the town’s gossips ready to spread the news, Abner is convinced he’s about to become an accidental bigamist. Will he be able to escape this matrimonial disaster before it’s too late?
Keywords:
"Lum and Abner Hortense telegram," "Pine Ridge matrimonial mishap," "Classic radio comedy 1935," "Old Time Radio romance humor," "Abner Peabody mistaken identity," "Small-town matchmaking gone wrong," "Vintage radio humor"
Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), Dick Huddleston

Matrimonial Bureau to Move into Store: Business is Booming

Originally Aired: January 23, 1935
Matrimonial Bureau to Move into Store: Business is Booming
The Pine Ridge Matrimonial Bureau is growing faster than Lum and Abner ever expected, and their small operation in Lum’s house can’t keep up with demand. With hundreds of letters arriving daily, they decide it’s time to expand into the Jot ‘Em Down Store, turning it into the official headquarters for matchmaking in Pine Ridge!
Excited about their new office, Lum spends the day painting a sign for the business, complete with a very muscular-looking Cupid and some questionably placed lovebirds. Meanwhile, Abner is less concerned with decoration and more worried about where they’ll get the money to keep the bureau running—especially since their only source of income is free board from Sister Simpson, who’s still waiting for them to find her a husband.
But things take a hilarious turn when Dick Huddleston delivers a stack of letters addressed directly to Abner. To his horror, he realizes that the Matrimonial Bureau has been sending out his picture to potential brides all over the country! Even worse, one woman has fallen in love at first sight and is on her way to Pine Ridge to marry him. Will Abner be able to explain the mix-up before Elizabeth finds out?
Keywords:
"Lum and Abner matrimonial bureau," "Pine Ridge matchmaking business," "Classic radio comedy 1935," "Old Time Radio romance humor," "Abner Peabody mistaken identity," "Small-town humor," "Vintage radio matchmaking mishap"
Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), Dick Huddleston

Reading Matrimonial Bureau Mail: Love Letters & Laughs

Originally Aired: January 22, 1935
Reading Matrimonial Bureau Mail: Love Letters & Laughs
The Pine Ridge Matrimonial Bureau is busier than ever, and Lum and Abner can barely keep up with the mountain of letters from hopeful romantics across the country. From lonely hearts searching for a spouse to bizarre domestic disputes, the old fellows attempt to tackle each case with their unique brand of small-town wisdom and humor.
Among the letters:📜 A man desperate to catch the attention of a mysterious woman who passes by his house every day—but she never speaks!📜 A frustrated wife trying to figure out how to make her husband move from behind the stove so she can sweep the floor.📜 A concerned woman whose husband gestures wildly with his hands while driving, making every car ride a terrifying experience.
As Lum and Abner sort through these quirky dilemmas, Abner starts to get suspicious—why does one of the letters contain a photo of himself? Could it be that Abner Peabody is unknowingly becoming the face of the bureau’s matchmaking efforts?
Keywords:
"Lum and Abner matrimonial bureau," "Pine Ridge matchmaking service," "Old Time Radio comedy," "Classic radio humor 1935," "Vintage romance advice," "Small-town humor and wisdom," "Abner Peabody matchmaking mishap"
Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody)

Matrimonial Bureau Swamped by Mail: A Love-Filled Frenzy

Originally Aired: January 21, 1935
Matrimonial Bureau Swamped by Mail: A Love-Filled Frenzy
The Pine Ridge Matrimonial Bureau has taken off in ways Lum and Abner never imagined! After making an announcement over the party line, letters from hopeful romantics all over the country start pouring in. Women are eager to find a husband, men are seeking advice on love, and domestic disputes are thrown in for good measure.
As Lum and Abner sift through the stacks of letters, they hilariously attempt to solve marriage problems—including how to get a stubborn husband to stop sitting behind the stove all day. Meanwhile, Abner is shocked when he finds his own photograph included in a batch of potential suitors. Lum sees an opportunity—why not send Abner’s picture to all the single women to keep them interested while they search for real matches?
Will Abner unknowingly become Pine Ridge’s most eligible bachelor? Or will this scheme backfire in the most unexpected way?
Keywords:
"Lum and Abner matrimonial bureau," "Pine Ridge matchmaking service," "Vintage radio romance comedy," "Old Time Radio domestic advice," "Classic radio humor 1935," "Marriage problems and solutions," "Abner Peabody romance mix-up"
Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody)

Operating the Pine Ridge Matrimonial Bureau: Love and Lawsuits

Originally Aired: January 18, 1935
Operating the Pine Ridge Matrimonial Bureau: Love and Lawsuits
Lum and Abner’s latest business venture, the Pine Ridge Matrimonial Bureau, is booming—letters are pouring in, and they’ve even got their first wedding scheduled! However, not everything is going smoothly in Pine Ridge. Squire Skimp’s $4,200 lawsuit against them looms large, threatening to take everything they own.
As Lum rehearses for his role as justice of the peace, Abner struggles with a more personal dilemma—he still hasn’t told Elizabeth that their oil fortune never existed, and now she’s demanding money to return home. Meanwhile, just as they’re beginning to settle into their new business, Squire Skimp arrives with an offer—he’ll drop the lawsuit if they let him become a third partner in the matrimonial bureau.
Furious at yet another underhanded scheme, Lum throws him out—but as Abner points out, if they lose the case, they’ll lose everything. With no way out, their only hope is the missing agreement Squire signed, which would prove he assumed all liabilities for the oil well. But where could it be? As Lum prepares for the wedding, he unknowingly stumbles upon the long-lost document—hidden in his old coat pocket all along!
Keywords:
"Lum and Abner matrimonial bureau," "Squire Skimp lawsuit," "Pine Ridge matchmaking business," "Classic radio comedy 1935," "Old Time Radio legal troubles," "Small-town wedding humor," "Vintage small-town humor"
Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), Squire Skimp

Pine Ridge Oil Boom Over: Riches to Rags

Originally Aired: January 9, 1935
Pine Ridge Oil Boom Over: Riches to Rags
The Pine Ridge oil boom has officially gone bust, and Lum and Abner find themselves right back where they started—or worse. After learning that their supposed oil well was actually a Southern Pipeline leak, the town quickly empties out, leaving Lum and Abner penniless and without a business to fall back on.
As they sit in Lum’s house, reality starts to sink in. With no grocery store, no oil fortune, and no money for food, they scramble to figure out their next move. Meanwhile, Squire Skimp, who tricked them into selling the well, is now on the hook for over $4,200 in stolen oil—but when they go to check their signed agreement, it has mysteriously disappeared!
With Squire Skimp involved, could this be yet another scheme? And more importantly, can Lum and Abner pick themselves back up after losing everything?
Keywords:
"Lum and Abner oil boom collapse," "Pine Ridge pipeline disaster," "Squire Skimp tricks Lum and Abner," "Classic radio comedy 1935," "Old Time Radio oil scheme," "Southern Pipeline oil loss," "Vintage small-town humor"
Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), Squire Skimp, Dick Huddleston

Squire Receives Visit from Southern Pipeline

Originally Aired: January 8, 1935
Squire Receives Visit from Southern Pipeline
Squire Skimp’s slick business dealings may have finally caught up with him! After tricking Lum and Abner into selling their oil well, Squire takes full ownership of the Southwest Oil Company—but soon, a visitor from the Southern Pipeline Company arrives with some unexpected news.
Meanwhile, Lum and Abner, now completely broke, try to scrape together enough money just to buy a meal. As they debate asking Squire for an advance on their royalties, Dick Huddleston rushes in with a shocking revelation—the oil well isn't a well at all! Instead, they accidentally drilled straight into an underground pipeline, meaning the “oil strike” was actually stolen oil!
Now, with Squire Skimp fully responsible for the damages, he makes a desperate attempt to back out of the deal and give Lum and Abner back their property. But will the duo fall for his scheme once again, or have they finally outsmarted Squire?
Keywords:
"Lum and Abner Southern Pipeline," "Squire Skimp oil scheme," "Pine Ridge oil company sale," "Classic radio comedy 1935," "Old Time Radio business scams," "Southern Pipeline oil disaster," "Vintage small-town humor"
Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), Squire Skimp, Dick Huddleston