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Lum and Abner, The Early Years, Volume 3
Liner notes and program descriptions written by Donnie Pitchford, President, National Lum & Abner Society

Click to listen to an audio sample

In May, June, and July of 1935, it seemed as if "Lum and Abner" and Horlick's Malted Milk would remain linked for many years to come. Demand for and production of the powdered product was continuing to rise, and the elderly Mr. William Horlick - "Lum and Abner" fan supreme - was delighted. Premiums related to the program would continue, with some of the most notable ones to come after the program ended its Mutual run and moved to NBC Blue. Notice the illustrations accompanying this page, both of which were taken from the richly illustrated volumes known as "Lum and Abner's Family Almanac." Three editions were issued - 1936, 1937 and 1938 - and are among the most desired L&A collectibles today.

In "Lum and Abner, The Early Years, Volume 3," "Hog King" Lum Edwards, following the embarrassing conclusion of his "reign," vanishes from Pine Ridge long enough to create concern for his well being and to become inspired with a new business idea: Lum and Abner open a motion picture theater in their town! Fans of "Lum and Abner" who have heard the longtime syndicated reruns of the show may recall this plot, but the version heard for years was a 1943 recycling of these scripts. Hearing the original performances, set deep in the Great Depression, enriches the "go for broke" spirit of Lum and Abner's entrepreneurial efforts ten-fold. We feel their thrill when the "Pine Ridge Planetarium" nears completion, as well as their frustration and anger when unfriendly competitor Squire Skimp muscles into their path. When Lum alone owns the theater, we grieve with the old fellow as his dreams go up in flames - literally! As great as the 1943 repeats were, the 1935 originals seem tinged with surprising realism, particularly in one touching episode where confused Abner, making one blunder after another, is harshly scolded by his partner. Abner's sudden tears and Lum's thoughtful apology are dramatic moments often not associated with most radio comedies.

Adding to the realism are references to actual places in Western Arkansas. Anyone who has visited Mena and Pine Ridge can readily picture Lum, Abner, and their friends making the "long drive" (about 18 miles) from Pine Ridge (then, in reality, Waters) to Mena. The Lyric Theatre was actually Mena's home for movie entertainment and, close by to this day, is the Skyline Restaurant, certainly the eatery so often referred to as "the resturnt with the merchant's lunch" visited by our fictional radio friends. It's easy to enter the Lyric - now the Ouachita Little Theater - and imagine hearing the voice of Abner or Cedric struggling to learn the operation of their film projector. In 1940, Chet Lauck and Tuffy Goff would appear in person at the Lyric to promote their first Lum and Abner motion picture, "Dreaming Out Loud." Of course, Pine Ridge exists today, and is the home of the Jot 'Em Down Store (the original Dick Huddleston Store) and Lum and Abner Museum.

Here's the complete content of this 10 CD set, offering forty consecutive broadcasts, digitally transferred from original 16" Victrolac transcriptions and fully restored for outstanding audio quality:

Lum's Ceremonial Disaster (#115)
Disaster strikes at the gala ceremony for the unveiling of the statue of "Lum Edwards, King of the Hogs." Will Lum give his speech? And what about all that barbecue?
Friday, May 24, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Lum Edwards - Vanished! (#116)
Embarrassed by the puny size of the statue, Lum has disappeared. No one has seen him all weekend and Abner and Grandpap fear for his life.
Monday, May 27, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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The Return of Lum (#117)
Lum returns to Pine Ridge from Kansas City with a new business idea: he wants to open up a moving picture theater!
Tuesday, May 28, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Pine Ridge "Pitcher Show" Planning (#118)
Lum and Abner discuss how to operate a picture show, and it soon becomes obvious that this will be another bold venture for the naive novices. Dick Huddleston offers the use of an old cotton warehouse as a theater.
Wednesday, May 29, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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The Old Cotton Warehouse (#119)
Plans for remodeling the warehouse get underway, but Abner's confused over the back of the theater being the front - or something like that. And where will they get a film projector?
Thursday, May 30, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Grandpappy Spears, Player Pianist (#120)
Lum and Abner hire Grandpap to "play" his player piano at their picture show. After all, they must have music with the films -- even if this is the era of "talkies."
Friday, May 31, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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What to Name the Theater? (#121)
Naming the theater inspires another spirited argument between pals and partners. The Bijou? The Lyric? The Orpheum? Hmmm...how about "The Pine Ridge Planetarium?"
Monday, June 3, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Picture Show Expenses (#122)
Will there ever be an end to the expense of this new business? Ordinarily, there would be...but there's one pesky little problem: Where will they get the films to show at the theater?
Tuesday, June 4, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Squire Picture Partner? Negative! (#123)
How about a film starring that amazing talking mouse named Mickey? Meanwhile, Squire decides he wants to be a third partner in the boys' theater. They turn him down and, typically, he's infuriated.
Wednesday., June 5, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Will Squire Compete? (#124)
If Squire can't share as a partner in the boys' movie theater, he just may start a theater of his own and become a fierce competitor -- much to the dread of Lum and Abner.
Thursday, June 6, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Squire's Theater Tactics (#125)
True to his threats, Squire undermines Lum and Abner by hiring Grandpappy Spears (pianist), Ezra Seastrunk (carpenter) and Cedric Weehunt (projectionist) away from them!
Friday, June 7, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Skimp's Hippodrome (#126)
Lum and Abner stand firm and will not give in to Squire's underhanded "offers." They have the support of Dick Huddleston, their faithful friend.
Monday, June 10, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Dick Huddleston to the Rescue (#127)
Dick pitches in to help Lum and Abner finish their theater, but Squire upstages our friends by announcing his opening -- one night earlier!
Tuesday, June 11, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Free Children's Matinee (#128)
Not to be outdone, Lum and Abner will open the Pine Ridge Planetarium ahead of Squire -- with a free matinee showing of a rootin' tootin' cowboy film, "The Texas Kid."
Wednesday, June 12, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Not Fit for the Children? (#129)
Guns! Violence! For kids? The suddenly civic-minded Squire Skimp does his duty and reports Lum & Abner's "terrible" film to the blue-nosed "Ladies Uplift League" of Pine Ridge.
Thursday, June 13, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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The Ladies Uplift League Boycott (#130)
The Ladies Uplift League forces "The Texas Kid" to ride off into the sunset -- and the children of Pine Ridge children are mighty sad to hear it.
Friday, June 14, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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No Business Like Slow Business (#131)
The Squire's threats to run Lum and Abner out of business may be coming to fruition...but wait! Lum has discovered an old city ordinance forbidding the operation of a theatrical business on the second floor of a building - and that's the exact conditions of Skimp's Hippodrome!
Monday, June 17, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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The Law and Lum's "Conscientious" (#132)
Poor Grandpap has been fired by Squire. As Justice of the Peace, can Lum use the law to close Skimp's Hippodrome and end the competition for his own theater?
Tuesday, June 18, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Lum, Do Yore Duty! (#133)
The Hippodrome is a fire hazard, so angry Grandpap and civic leader Dick Huddleston demand Lum perform his legal duty without delay.
Wednesday, June 19, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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The Squire and the Fury (#134)
Served a warrant for safety violations, Squire Skimp threatens vengeance against Lum and Abner.
Thursday, June 20, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Trial and Tribulation (#135)
Squire manages to sway Lum's betrothed, Evalena Schultz, into threatening a breakup if the decision goes against Skimp. Lum decides to follow the law instead of his heart, fines Squire, and declares him guilty. Meantime, Horlick's offers a new premium: a recipe book for summer drinks.
Friday, June 21, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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The Fall of the Roaming Skimp Squire (#136)
Lum and Abner find the movie business is booming! Even the chastised Squire, claiming all is forgiven, buys a ticket to enter the show. The Squire groans about as badly as you did over the terrible title pun when he falls and apparently becomes injured.
Monday, June 24, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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"Dear Squire..." (#137)
It's too late to "lock the barn door after the horse is stole, " but, despite Abner's confusion over yet another "old Edwards saying," the boys write a letter of apology to Squire and claim full responsibility for the old skinflint's injuries.
Tuesday, June 25, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Skimp Limps Merrily to Mena (#138)
Lum and Abner's apology letter cheers Squire so much, he arises from his sick bed to visit a friend in Mena - who happens to be a lawyer.
Wednesday, June 26, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Squire's Grand "Court"-ship (#139)
Squire Skimp notifies Lum and Abner of a lawsuit for his alleged injuries in the amount of one thousand dollars.
Thursday, June 27, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Apology Absolutely Accepted (#140)
Can the dispute be settled out of court? What about that letter of apology, in which Lum & Abner took admitted responsibility for the poor lighting that supposedly led to Squire's "accident?"
Friday, June 28, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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"Peert" as a Cat Burglar (#141)
Level-headed Dick and Lum travel to Mena to hire a lawyer, while noodle-noggined Grandpap and Abner plan another course of action: sneaking into Squire's house to reclaim the notorious note.
Monday, July 1, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Bungled Burglary (#142)
Addled Abner is arrested during his failed attempt to retrieve the evidence and, in the confusion, Squire tricks him into an appearance of even more guilt.
Tuesday, July 2, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Sign on the Dotted Line (#143)
Lum is furious with Abner, but manages to sign what amounts to a damaging confession for a lawyer named Ferguson - a lawyer Lum later learns is working for Squire Skimp.
Wednesday, July 3, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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A-Courtin' They Go (#144)
Lum and Abner don't feel much like celebrating Independence Day, what with Squire's seemingly iron-clad case hanging over their heads.
Thursday, July 4, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Lum for the Defense (#145)
Every aspect of the trial seems to spell doom for our old friends, until Lum rushes into the courtroom at the last minute with important new evidence.
Friday, July 5, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Legal Lum the Lawyer (#146)
Having won the case, Lum decides to become a lawyer and takes Ezra Seastrunk as his first client.
Monday, July 8, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Edwards vs. Edwards (#147)
Upon building his first case (and discovering it to be against himself) Legal Eagle Edwards' new career takes a nosedive into oblivion.
Tuesday, July 9, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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A Resolve to "Unzolve" (#148)
In at attempt to get back to their Pine Ridge Planetarium, an argument ensues over the best ideas for the theater. A "split screen" decision has Lum seeing stars as the Planetarium owner, and Abner back behind the counter as owner of the Jot 'Em Down Store.
Wednesday, July 10, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Cedric Weehunt, Boy Mercantile (#149)
Running a store is a big job for little Abner, so he hires a big clerk - one named Cedric.
Thursday, July 11, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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A Hot Time in Pine Ridge (#150)
Abner becomes convinced their half-interest business swap was unfair -- but, soon enough, tragedy comes to Lum's Pine Ridge Planetarium when a fire breaks out.
Friday, July 12, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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From Stars to Cinders (#151)
Abner begins to suspect his former partner may have committed arson to collect the insurance money, but his suspicions are incorrect. Seems that poor, burnt-out Lum had had no fire insurance at all!
Monday, July 15, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Lum Edwards, Broken Clerk (#152)
His means of livelihood destroyed, Lum hints to Abner of his need for employment and is finally given the job of a clerk at the Jot 'Em Down Store.
Tuesday, July 16, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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Big Boss Peabody (#153)
Finally the boss, "Mr." Peabody lords his position over his former partner, making Lum's employment as miserable as possible.
Wednesday, July 17, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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That's All Lum Can Stands... (#154)
...and he can't stands no more! Lum quits the Jot 'Em Down Store to join in a business venture with a new and promising partner: Squire M. K. Skimp!
Thursday, July 18, 1935 - 15:00 - Mutual, sponsored by Horlick's Malted Milk
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