Premier Collections:
Lum and Abner, Volume 2
Liner notes written by Elizabeth McLeod; show descriptions written by Ivan G. Shreve Jr.

Click to listen to an audio sample

One of radio's most enduring comedy serials, "Lum and Abner" was the story of two lifelong friends and business associates and their dealings with their fellow residents of the town of Pine Ridge, Arkansas. Deep in rural Polk County, in the shadow of the Ouachita Mountains, Pine Ridge was depicted as a town unto itself -- where anything could happen and often did. The creation of native Arkansans Chester H. Lauck and Norris "Tuffy" Goff, the series took an affectionate look at the twists and turns of human nature, as seen thru a lens of folksy rural humor and mountain dialect. Its gently meandering plots and the subtle absurdity of its characterizations combined to make "Lum and Abner" a favorite, especially with small-town audiences, for more than two decades -- and the series continues to attract new fans more than seventy years after Lauck and Goff first came to the microphone.

The recordings in this set were taken off the ABC network line at the time of each episode's live broadcast by the Keystone Broadcasting Corporation for extension-spotting use by Miles Laboratories, Inc. The transcriptions were placed on stations in rural markets not served by the live broadcasts, and were aired about two weeks after the programs were heard live over ABC. The dates indicated here are the dates of those original live airings, and the program numbers follow the sequence back to the start of the Keystone recordings in 1942.

Most of these episodes have long been available as edited reissues produced by Chester H. Lauck Enterprises for syndication in the 1970s, but the recordings in this set are complete with the original commercials for Alka Seltzer and One-A-Day vitamins, omitting only the opening and closing theme music, which due to union restrictions had to be supplied to stations on a separate disc. The recordings are presented here in sparkling, digitally-restored audio quality -- if you listen close, you may even hear Chet and Tuffy shuffling their script pages on the tabletop as the broadcasts proceed.

The storyline in these twenty consecutive programs follows the sequence of episodes in the Archives' first "Lum and Abner" Premier Collection, as Pine Ridge is all astir over the arrival of B. J. Webster (portrayed by longtime L&A supporting player Frank Graham). Webster is a smooth-talking entrepreneur determined to draw attention to Pine Ridge by constructing a health resort around a mineral spring on property owned by the ever-contrary and uncooperative Grandpappy Spears. Lum, as usual, is an early convert to the cause, but Grandpap proves to be a far more difficult sell.

Here is the complete content of Lum and Abner, Volume 2:

Discussing Lum's Business (#641)
Abner gossips to Grandpappy Spears that Lum has finally met the mysterious stranger known as "B.J. Webster." Mr. Webster, having seen a barber chair in the store, somehow got the idea that Lum was a barber…and wanted Lum to shave him!
Wednesday, June 21, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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The Story of Ponce De Leon (#642)
Lum and Abner speculate on why the mysterious stranger, B.J. Webster, is so interested in getting water samples from Grandpap’s spring. Lum ends up having to explain to his partner who Ponce de Leon was.
Thursday, June 22, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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B J's Business Meeting (#643)
Mr. Webster has scheduled a meeting among the big businessmen in Pine Ridge, and Lum is miffed because he’s not received an invitation. He coaches Abner as to how to act as his "secretary" in order to impress Webster.
Monday, June 26, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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To Build Health Resort (#644)
Abner can’t remember anything about the speech Mr. Webster gave at the meeting the previous night, so Lum informs him that Webster wants to build a health resort near the springs on Grandpappy Spears’ farm. Grandpap isn’t too wild about the idea, though.
Tuesday, June 27, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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No Property Development (#645)
With Grandpappy Spears putting his foot down on the health resort idea, Lum and Abner get the idea to use a little "reverse psychology" to talk Grandpap into accepting Mr. Webster’s plan by enlisting the help of Abner’s father Phinus.
Wednesday, June 28, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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Taking Cedric's Picture (#646)
Phinus manages to switch Grandpap’s opinion on the health resort...after Grandpap decided to approve it. In the meantime, Lum and Abner help Cedric Weehunt take a picture of himself.
Thursday, June 29, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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Grandpap Agrees to Resort (#647)
Grandpappy has changed his mind about the resort, so a meeting is scheduled to discuss the "corporation" that will run the enterprise. Abner is willing to settle for being a hotel bellhop, but Lum has loftier ambitions: he wants to be the president!
Monday, July 3, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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Lum Will Hire Architect (#648)
Abner tries to explain to Cedric what the resort hotel is all about and how Grandpappy Spears agreed to go along with the project when he was made president of the corporation. Lum has settled for a consolation prize: being on the committee to hire the architect.
Tuesday, July 4, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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Suspicious of B. J. Webster (#649)
Phinus Peabody starts to have some qualms about Abner’s involvement in the health resort enterprise supervised by B. J. Webster. When Abner tells Lum about Phinus’ suspicions, Lum starts to have second thoughts as well.
Wednesday, July 5, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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Lum to Analyze Spring Water (#650)
With his curiosity aroused about the authenticity of B.J. Webster’s claims, Lum decides to undergo an independent analysis of the spring water. Naturally, Abner will be doing most of the heavy work.
Thursday, July 6, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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Teaching Cedric to Dance (#651)
Cedric has plans to attend the big dance in Elderberry Grove, but his preparations are stymied by the fact that he doesn’t how...to dance, that is. Abner offers to show him the two-step and even takes a spin around the store with Lum!
Monday, July 10, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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Results on Spring Water (#652)
Lum has received the results on the spring water sample, and it would appear that B.J. Webster is right about its health properties...but Abner begins to get ill after Lum describes what’s actually in the water.
Tuesday, July 11, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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B. J. Webster Gets Analysis (#653)
With the spring water analysis in, Lum and Abner prepare to take the money from the savings account over to B. J. Webster. Webster (in his first on-mike appearance) decides to stop by the Jot ‘Em Down Store to examine the boys’ independent water results.
Wednesday, July 12, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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Job at Defense Planet (#654)
Abner’s father Phinus drops by the store and tells Lum and Abner that, despite the objections of her husband, Agatha Clark wants to get a job in the defense plant. Lum argues that since there aren’t enough people to work in the plants, women should be encouraged to take jobs.
Thursday, July 13, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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Health Resort Riches (#655)
Lum tries to teach Abner the principle of "it takes money to make money" but it would appear economics isn’t Abner’s strong suit. This spirited discussion is interrupted by the arrival of Grandpappy Spears, who asks the boys not to refer to him as "Grandpap" anymore.
Monday, July 17, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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B. J. Webster Sole Owner (#656)
Told by Grandpap that the health resort corporation isn’t accepting any more investors, Lum and Abner soon learn that the corporation has been dissolved (or as Lum puts it, "un-solved"). Meanwhile, Abner’s father wants Lum to swear out a warrant…for his own arrest!
Tuesday, July 18, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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Invest in Health Resort (#657)
Distressed by rumors that Mr. Webster and Grandpappy Spears are squeezing out all potential investors in the health resort, Lum and Abner go to Webster’s office for a showdown.
Wednesday, July 19, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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Efficiency Measures at Work (#658)
The boys are still trying to figure out how they went to B. J. Webster’s office intending to invest in the health resort and instead walked away with a $50 loan. Meanwhile, Cedric has been making suggestions on how to improve working conditions at the defense plant.
Thursday, July 20, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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Grandpap to Sell Land (#659)
Cedric shows off his new beard to Lum and Abner. Abner then gets the idea to use the beard to disguise himself as a potential investor in the health resort...and tests out his scheme on Grandpappy Spears!
Monday, July 24, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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Can't See Perez Spears (#660)
Grandpap has asked Lum to notarize a deed that will transfer his farm to B. J. Webster and his investors, but Lum is hesitant to do so. Trying to protect Grandpap’s interests, Lum sneaks a clause into the deed that will allow the farm to revert back to his old friend in case Webster doesn’t deliver. Now if he can only get in to see "President" Spears...
Tuesday, July 25, 1944 - 15:00 - sponsored by Alka Seltzer & One A Day Vitamins
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