Lum in England & Abner in Chicago

Originally Aired: July 21, 1938 In Lum #70, "Lum in England & Abner in Chicago," Chester Locke and Norris Goff reunite their beloved characters across the Atlantic in a groundbreaking transatlantic broadcast. Lum Edwards calls Abner Peabody from London using a short-wave radio telephone connection, prompting immediate confusion from Abner, who can't understand how they're talking without telephone poles across the ocean. As the costly ten-dollar-a-minute call ticks away, Abner insists on singing for what he believes is a radio audience, while Lum desperately tries to redirect the conversation to discuss the inheritance that brought him to England in the first place. The pair falls into their familiar rambling pattern as Abner asks about Lum's voyage and activities abroad, learning about Lum's experiences with ship entertainment, square dancing, and his traveling companion Harriet Wood. Lum shares observations about English customs and holidays while checking on friends back in Pine Ridge like Cedric, Grandpa, and Shirley May. Just as Lum attempts to finally reveal important information about his inheritance, Abner interrupts to wait on a store customer, leaving the expensive international call hanging in the balance.