Premier Collections:
Lum and Abner, The Early Years, Volume 1
Liner notes, program descriptions, and artwork by Donnie Pitchford, President, The National Lum and Abner Society

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"Lum and Abner" was often described as a comfortable radio program that felt like a trip "back home" to a world of winding, tree-shaded, unpaved roads, rail fences, friendly neighbors, church socials, family farms and the familiar old general store. It was all that and more! The characters of Lum and Abner brought gentle laughter to an America struggling with the Great Depression, but those same characters struggled themselves with plots and situations that generated suspense and pathos, as well as humor. Listeners returned to their radios each weeknight - or their neighbor's radio, if they could not afford one themselves - to hear how their "old friends" recovered from the misadventures of the previous program.

Born in Western Arkansas, boyhood friends Chester "Chet" Lauck and Norris "Tuffy" Goff began by delighting residents in their hometown of Mena with their many ad-lib dialect routines. An opportunity to perform in a variety show on Hot Springs radio Station KTHS in 1931 resulted in the creation of Lum Edwards and Abner Peabody, soon leading to a weekly program called "Lum and Abner." Before long, the two young men were learning to write scripts - enhanced by ad-libs - and face the formidable NBC microphone for the beginning of a career in network radio that would continue for the next twenty three years. Chet Lauck "tripled" as Lum, Grandpappy Spears, and Cedric Weehunt, while Tuffy Goff did likewise as Abner, Dick Huddleston, and Squire Skimp. Other characters were added as needed.

On April 2, 1934, Lauck and Goff commenced a new contract with their new sponsor, the Horlick's Malted Milk Company. In December of that year, the programs, originating from Chicago, were part of the Mutual Network lineup and began to be recorded and distributed on sixteen-inch RCA "Victrolac Records" to west coast radio stations. Through an arrangement with the National Lum and Abner Society, the First Generation Radio Archives is pleased and proud to present this collection of freshly transferred and newly restored recordings of this delightful and historic program. These forty shows - almost ten full hours of original broadcasts - represent the earliest continuity of "Lum and Abner" programs known to exist; there are only a few 1933 extant shows and the Horlick's transcriptions for shows #1-14 have yet to be found.

In the words of announcer Carlton Brickert, "Let's see what's happening down in Pine Ridge..."

Oil well For Sale (#15)
Lum and Abner hope to become wealthy in their new enterprise, and sell an oil well to a Mr. Carter of the Southwest Oil Company. However, shifty Squire Skimp turns out to be the company president!
Friday, January 4, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21801.jpg

Oil President Skimp (#16)
Lum, Abner and Grandpap attempt to divide their profits, but the sale of the oil well to Squire Skimp isn't as lucrative as the boys had hoped - in fact, they lose money!
Monday, January 7, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21802.jpg

Oil Well for Free? (#17)
Squire Skimp receives a visit from the Southern Pipeline Company and offers to give the oil well back to Lum and Abner... and with good reason!
Tuesday, January 8, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21803.jpg

Pine Ridge Oil Boom Over (#18)
The oil boom is over -- and Lum and Abner's contract with Squire Skimp disappears!
Wednesday, January 9, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
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Pine Ridge Matrimonial Bureau (#25)
Lum and Abner are now operating the Pine Ridge Matrimonial Bureau and the applications are pouring in. Squire Skimp wants to be a third partner.
Friday, January 18, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
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Peabody the Pinup Boy (#26)
The Matrimonial Bureau is swamped by mail from all over the country and Lum gets a brilliant idea: send pictures of Abner to women looking for a husband!
Monday, January 21, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21806.jpg

Matrimonial Bureau Mailbag (#27)
The boys read the day's mail and engage in a discussion of how to stop someone from talking with his hands.
Tuesday, January 22, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
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Hortense Kelly Loves Abner (#28)
The Matrimonial Bureau will be moving into the former Jot ‘Em Down Store building. Meanwhile, Hortense Kelly has fallen in love with Abner's picture and is planning to come to Pine Ridge very soon.
Wednesday, January 23, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
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Hortense Hits the Rails (#29)
A heated discussion takes place about Hortense Kelly. Abner receives a telegram from the lovesick lady who will be arriving in Pine Ridge to meet him tomorrow. There's only one little problem: Abner is a married man!
Thursday, January 24, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
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Abner's Train of Love (#30)
Abner goes to the Mena railroad depot to meet Hortense Kelly, not knowing that his wife Lizabeth and daughter "Little" Pearl are traveling on the same train!
Friday, January 25, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
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Abner's Jealous Wife (#33)
Lizabeth thinks Abner was having an affair with Hortense. Lum's brilliant plan to make peace between husband and wife is to tell Lizabeth that Abner has had a terrible accident!
Wednesday, January 30, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
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Broken Arms or Broken Marriage? (#34)
Abner is in bed with two fake broken arms and Lum has decided that it's time for then to go into yet another business.
Thursday, January 31, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
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Flashlights to the Rescue! (#35)
Lum and Abner decide to finance the reopening of Jot ‘Em Down Store by selling aluminum pocket flashlights. (Note: This is an interesting integration of the sponsor's product and premium into the main storyline of the series - and also explains why these episodes were deleted from the long-running syndication package. Amazingly enough, despite the programs being well over forty years old at the time, some 1980's listeners wrote to "Lum and Abner, Pine Ridge, Arkansas" for a defunct offer that was mistakenly left in one of the broadcasts!)
Friday, February 1, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
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Mr. Horlick to the Rescue (#36)
William Horlick agrees to distribute the boy’s flashlights as a premium for Horlick's Malted Milk. (Mr. Horlick was, in reality, both the president of Horlick's and a devoted fan of "Lum and Abner.")
Monday, February 4, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
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Letters, They Get Letters (#37)
More mail arrives for the Pine Ridge Matrimonial Bureau, but Lum is disappointed that there have been no requests for the flashlight.
Tuesday, February 5, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21815.jpg

Store Elections and Insurance Claims (#38)
Lum and Abner will hold an election for the office of president of the Jot ‘Em Down Store. Lizabeth files an insurance claim on Abner’s fake broken arms.
Wednesday, February 6, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21816.jpg

Abner's Injuries are Phony (#39)
The voting for president of the Jot 'Em Down Store heats up. Lum tells listeners on the party line that Abner’s broken arms are phony, and Lizabeth also hears Lum’s announcement!
Thursday, February 7, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21817.jpg

Lum and Abner Steal an Insurance Check (#40)
Abner makes a party line call asking for votes and Lum makes a speech at the schoolhouse. The insurance company has paid Abner $200.00 on his claim, so Lum agrees to break into Abner’s house and steal the check to keep Lizabeth from cashing it.
Friday, February 8, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21818.jpg

Who Robbed Abner's House? (#41)
Lum is very nervous: everyone in Pine Ridge is looking for the person who broke into Abner’s house -- and Lizabeth has found a clue!
Monday, February 11, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21819.jpg

Lum Edwards, Jailbird (#42)
Lum is accused of the robbery and is thrown in jail, so the citizens of Pine Ridge - thanks to Squire Skimp - force him to resign as president of the school board.
Tuesday, February 12, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21820.jpg

Lum Tells the Truth (#43)
Faithful friend Dick Huddleston gets Lum out of jail and Lum tells him the truth about the whole mess. (Note: Dick Huddleston was based on a real person from Waters, Arkansas who mounted a campaign to change the name of Waters to Pine Ridge in 1936.)
Wednesday, February 13, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21821.jpg

Store President Elections (#44)
Lum has the lead in the election for store president, but "the battle ain't over till the last shot is fired." Once again Abner gets confused...a shot is fired!
Thursday, February 14, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
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Abner Campaigns for Office (#45)
Lum is in bandages after being "shot" by Abner. The election is getting nasty! Abner hires Cedric to carry a campaign poster for him and Lum sabotages it.
Friday, February 15, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21823.jpg

Squire Skimp, Campaign Manager (#46)
The restocking of the Jot ‘Em Down Store begins and Abner hires Squire to be his campaign manager. Meanwhile, the Horlick's flashlight offer blazes on!
Monday, February 18, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21824.jpg

Squire Handles Abner's Money (#47)
Abner asks Squire to cash the $200.00 insurance check so he can send the money back and the Squire is more than happy to oblige -- that old skinflint is ALWAYS interested in handling someone else's money!
Tuesday, February 19, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
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Abner's Surprise Donations (#48)
The Mena newspaper reports that Abner has made a $180.00 donation to the public library - which is news to Abner, too! What has Squire Skimp been up to?
Wednesday, February 20, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21826.jpg

Misused Insurance Claim Money (#49)
It is learned that Squire Skimp donated Abner’s insurance money to the library, keeping $20.00 for himself as a commission!
Thursday, February 21, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21827.jpg

Vote for Lum, Says Abner (#50)
Lum considers dropping out of the election. The Squire claims a 10% commission on Abner's income. Abner tells the citizens to vote for Lum! The flashlight premium offer ends.
Friday, February 22, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21828.jpg

President Lum - or Abner? (#51)
Lum wins the election by seventeen votes and promptly resigns in favor of Abner, who becomes the new Jot 'Em Down Store president!
Monday, February 25, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
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Jot 'Em Down Store Reopens (#52)
President Peabody institutes a "New Deal": Cedric has been dubbed the new "S. D. S." ("Snappy Delivery Service") and Lum is assigned the title "S. O. U." ("Store Opening Upper").
Tuesday, February 26, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
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Abner, the Unpopular Boss (#53)
Lum and Cedric decide they don't like having Abner for a boss. Seems that President Peabody has made several unpopular changes in the store -- including one with a shotgun -- and all of his "inventions" seem to backfire on him.
Wednesday, February 27, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21831.jpg

Abner Buys World's Wonder Soap (#54)
The ever-gullible Abner buys ten cases of World’s Wonder Soap from a fast-talking salesman.
Thursday, February 28, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21832.jpg

Squire Sells Soap (#55)
Squire Skimp pays Abner $100.00 for the exclusive rights to sell World’s Wonder Soap. Perhaps Abner isn't so gullible!
Friday, March 1, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21833.jpg

Lum and Abner "Unsolve" Partnerships (#56)
Abner wants to start trading merchandise for livestock and produce, but an angry Lum decides to dissolve their partnership in the Jot 'Em Down Store.
Monday, March 4, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21834.jpg

Lum and Abner Divide the Store (#57)
With a rope dividing the store building in half, Lum and Abner begin splitting up the contents.
Tuesday, March 5, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21835.jpg

Dick Huddleston, Peacemaker (#58)
Abner decides to operate his half of the store on a swap basis. Meanwhile, Dick Huddleston tries to make peace between the old friends.
Wednesday, March 6, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21836.jpg

Abner Gets Snake Hogan's Horse (#59)
Abner gives town bully Snake Hogan $50 worth of groceries in trade for a decrepit horse. (Note: This element of trading for a horse and multiplying rabbits would later find its way into the script for the Lum and Abner motion picture "The Bashful Bachelor".)
Thursday, March 7, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21837.jpg

Abner Mortgages Circus Animals (#60)
A broken-down circus comes to Pine Ridge. Abner extends credit to them and takes out a mortgage on their animals.
Friday, March 8, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21838.jpg

No More Swapping in Store (#61)
Almost all of Abner’s merchandise is gone, so the swap idea comes to a halt. Seems that one of Abner's cows has eaten Sister Simpson's garden and the goats are in trouble, too!
Monday, March 11, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21839.jpg

Abner Forecloses on Circus Animals (#62)
The circus starts to leave town without paying their grocery bill, so Abner forecloses on the animals! 
Tuesday, March 12, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick’s Malted Milk
http://www.radioarchives.org/scans/21840.jpg

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