Grand Opening of Circus Tomorrow

Originally Aired: March 22, 1935 In Lum & Abner #70, “Grand Opening of Circus Tomorrow,” the Pine Ridge circus venture teeters between chaos and comedy. After Abner’s ill-fated glass-partition lion stunt leaves him bandaged and shaken, the boys reconsider their suitability as animal trainers. Squire Skimp continues to prioritize spectacle over safety—planning to act as a “barker” (not the canine kind)—while dodging the actual risks. Lum and Abner reflect on their roles, only for Squire to break the news: they’ve been replaced. Surprisingly, both friends are relieved, putting the circus first. As the grand opening looms, this episode delivers a delightful blend of physical comedy, backwoods logic, and Squire’s ever-suspect scheming.

Cast: Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voice of Squire Skimp

Tags: LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, SquireSkimp, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, circuscomedy, liontrainer, Horlicks, ruralcomedy, classicradio, vaudeville, glasspartition, Abnerinjured, circusopening, go-getters-and-waiters