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Lum & Abner: Classic Small-Town Comedy artwork

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Lum & Abner: Classic Small-Town Comedy

Presented by lumabner

Step back into the heartwarming world of Pine Ridge, Arkansas, where Lum Edwards and Abner Peabody run their general store—and get into all kinds of hilarious misadventures along the way! Lum & Abner: Classic Small-Town Comedy brings you the best restored episodes of this beloved Old Time Radio show, featuring the quick wit, charming banter, and homespun humor that entertained generations.

Join Lum and Abner as they navigate small-town life, dream up ambitious schemes, and share the kind of laughter that never goes out of style. With crystal-clear remastered audio, accurate episode details, and cast information, this is the ultimate collection for Old Time Radio enthusiasts and new fans alike.

Subscribe now and experience a piece of radio history—one episode at a time!

246 episodes

  1. Lum to Be a Family Man

    Aug 27, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: January 22, 1940 Lum #247, "Lum to Be a Family Man," Lum anxiously awaits the arrival of Florence Beaumont, a wealthy widow whose newspaper advertisement for a husband he answered by letter. She sent a telegram saying she would arrive Monday to meet him in person, and Lum has spent the day frantically preparing, making multiple trips to the barber shop for hair tonic and having his gray hair dyed black with what appears to be shoe polish. Dressed uncomfortably in a too-tight collar and tie, he waits at the Jot 'Em Down store with his partner Abner, growing increasingly worried as the day wears on with no sign of Florence arriving by train, bus, or mail carrier. As the afternoon passes, Abner discovers the extent of Lum's deception in his letter to Florence. Lum claimed to be independently wealthy himself, describing a grand plantation with grazing cattle and cotton fields, when in reality he only owns two cows and can merely see his neighbor's cotton across the road. Despite these exaggerations and his increasingly absurd appearance, Lum remains optimistic that once Florence arrives, he can make her fall in love with him and they'll travel the world together with her fortune.

  2. Widder Beaumont’s Telegram

    Aug 27, 2026 · 14 min

    Originally Aired: January 19, 1940 In Lum #246, "Widder Beaumont's Telegram," Lum Edwards has his head in the clouds after responding to a newspaper advertisement from a wealthy Texas widow seeking a "kindly middle-aged man capable of handling a large estate" for matrimony. Having already sent off his letter and photograph, Lum is convinced he's about to marry into a fortune and now spends his time studying stock market reports instead of tending to the Jot 'Em Down Store and tourist cabins. He's even planning to use money from the cash drawer to travel to Nashville as soon as the widow accepts his proposal. Abner Peabody grows increasingly exasperated with his partner's wild fantasies. While Abner tries to manage the business and furnish their tourist cabins with secondhand furniture, Lum talks about leaving him a "downmint" (endowment) and claims he's been unconsciously waiting all these bachelor years for this woman he's never met. Despite Abner's protests that Lum doesn't even know if she'll marry him, Lum remains undeterred, insisting he'd marry her even if she looked like a hippopotamus—though he quickly adds he'd only do so if he were in love.

  3. Lum Has Second Thoughts

    Aug 26, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: January 17, 1940 Lum #245, "Lum Has Second Thoughts," In desperate need of money to furnish their new tourist camp, Lum has taken drastic measures by answering a newspaper advertisement from a wealthy Nashville widow seeking a husband to manage her substantial estate. Sharing his scheme with Cedric at the store, Lum boasts about Florence Beaumont and her fortune, explaining that he's already sent her a letter and his picture proposing marriage without ever having met her. His enthusiasm is palpable as he imagines the life of luxury that awaits him, declaring that with a million dollars, she can't be very ugly. However, when Grandpappy arrives and hears about the plan, he raises troubling questions that give Lum pause. Why would a wealthy woman need to advertise for a husband? What if there's something wrong with her? Most alarmingly, Grandpappy warns that since Lum has already proposed in his letter, she could sue him for breach of promise if he backs out after seeing her picture. Suddenly realizing he may have been too hasty in his pursuit of money, Lum begins having serious second thoughts about his matrimonial scheme.

  4. Lum Answers Ad in Newspaper

    Aug 26, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: January 15, 1940 Lum #244, "Lum Answers Ad in Newspaper," finds the partnership between Lum and Abner severely strained after a disastrous misunderstanding. Lum has just returned from Mexico, Missouri, where he fled believing the government was after him for running an illegal post office. It turns out Abner, along with Dick Huddleston and Grandpappy, deliberately withheld information that the case against Lum had been dropped, wanting to teach him a lesson. After Abner had to travel to Missouri and bail both Lum and Cedric out of jail for vagrancy, Lum is furious about the deception and the ordeal he endured hiding, riding freight trains, and nearly starving. Despite Lum's anger and threats to end their partnership, the two men grudgingly realize they need to work together. They turn their attention to their stalled tourist camp project, where streetcars sit waiting to be converted into cabins. With only nine dollars in the cash drawer and needing at least a hundred and fifty dollars for furniture and supplies, the partners face a familiar problem: another ambitious venture with no money to complete it.

  5. Found in Mexico -- Missouri

    Aug 25, 2026 · 14 min

    Originally Aired: January 12, 1940 Lum #243, "Found in Mexico -- Missouri," The government has dropped all charges against Lum for running an illegal post office, but there's a problem: Abner and Grandpap had been keeping this news from him as a prank to teach him a lesson. When they finally decided to tell Lum the truth, he had already fled, convinced the authorities were closing in on him. Now Abner and Grandpap worry that Lum has headed to Mexico to start a revolution, just as he'd mentioned earlier. The two men frantically search Pine Ridge for any sign of their missing friend, and Cedric has disappeared along with him. As guilt weighs heavily on them for taking their joke too far, they realize the dangerous situation they may have created. Desperate for answers, Abner and Grandpap begin discussing how to find Lum, considering placing advertisements in newspapers. Their concern deepens when they remember Lum talking about starting a revolution in Mexico, which Grandpap explains could get him killed. Overcome with remorse, they rummage through Lum's desk looking for his life insurance policy to see who should be notified, and they discover his last will and testament.

  6. Police Are Closing In

    Aug 25, 2026 · 14 min

    Originally Aired: January 10, 1940 In Lum #242, "Police Are Closing In," Lum Edwards remains a terrified fugitive, hiding in the feed room of the Jot 'Em Down Store after fleeing charges of operating an illegal post office. With a scraggly beard disguising his features, he depends on his partner Abner to bring him food while lamenting his desperate circumstances. What Lum doesn't know is that through Dick Huddleston's influence, the government has already dismissed all charges against him. However, Abner and Grandpappy Spears are conspiring to keep this information from Lum a bit longer to teach him a lesson about his schemes. When Lum ventures nervously into the store wearing his accidental disguise, Abner plans to introduce him to Grandpappy as "Mr. Williams" to test whether anyone would recognize him. The frightened entrepreneur, once so confident in his business ventures, now talks of fleeing to Mexico to start over while his friends debate how long to let him suffer. Lum's paranoia about detectives grows as he remains unaware that his ordeal could end the moment his partners decide he's learned his lesson about getting involved in risky enterprises.

  7. Lum Hides Out

    Aug 24, 2026 · 14 min

    Originally Aired: January 8, 1940 Lum #241, "Lum Hides Out," Lum has fled from Little Rock after being questioned by government officials about operating an illegal post office and is now hiding in the feed room of the Jot 'Em Down store. As Abner checks on his frightened friend early one morning, he finds Lum has gone to desperate lengths to avoid capture, even cutting a hole through the floor to hide under the store itself. Jumpy and paranoid, Lum startles at every sound, convinced bloodhounds are on his trail and that government agents disguised as Chinamen, Indians, or bearded strangers might appear at any moment. He's grown a scruffy beard after shaving his mustache for disguise and has been scrounging for food in the dark, accidentally eating dog food in his hunger. Abner repeatedly urges Lum to give himself up, warning that staying hidden will only make things worse when he's eventually caught. But Lum, convinced the government has enough charges to send him to prison for life, refuses to surrender and fantasizes about fleeing across the border to Oklahoma or even Mexico. As the dragnet closes in around Pine Ridge, Lum faces an impossible choice between his deteriorating life as a fugitive and facing the consequences of his innocent mistake.

  8. Lum Escapes from Prison

    Aug 24, 2026 · 14 min

    Originally Aired: January 5, 1940 Lum #240, "Lum Escapes from Prison," Lum and Abner find themselves in serious trouble with the Post Office Department after opening an unauthorized post office in their Jot'Em Down Store. While Abner has been released and sent back to Pine Ridge, Lum remains detained in Little Rock, facing multiple federal charges including selling stamps below regulation price, issuing personal checks instead of proper money orders, and tampering with United States mail. As Abner discusses the situation with Grandpappy Spears at the store, he struggles to follow Lum's instructions to hold a sale and raise money for a lawyer, though his attempt to save on advertising by simply telling customers about discounts after they've already made their purchases proves questionable at best. When Squire Skimp arrives with grim news, the situation becomes even more dire. He warns that any one of the charges against Lum could result in ten years in the penitentiary, possibly at Alcatraz. While Abner initially misunderstands Alcatraz as some kind of resort, the reality soon sinks in that his partner faces serious federal time unless they can mount an effective defense.

  9. Operating a Post Office

    Aug 23, 2026 · 14 min

    Originally Aired: January 3, 1940 Lum #239, "Operating a Post Office," Lum and Abner have reluctantly shut down their unauthorized post office operation after hearing they were under investigation by government detectives. Despite telling customers to go to Grandpa Spears' official post office at Dick Furtison's store, people keep coming in for their mail. Lum tries to convince Abner that the suspicious strangers weren't really detectives and that Grandpa Spears might have just been trying to scare them off to protect his own business. However, their hasty retreat from the postal service stings a bit, especially after all the expense of building mail boxes and a proper cage with a window. Not one to give up easily, Lum announces his intention to become the legitimate postmaster by pulling some political strings. This expression baffles Abner, who thinks Lum is talking about literal strings like the ones at carnival games or dinner parties. As Lum struggles to explain the concept of political influence to his confused partner, the two attempt to finish taking inventory of their store, with Lum suggesting they inflate their counts to show bigger profits.

  10. Lum’s New Year Resolution

    Aug 23, 2026 · 14 min

    Originally Aired: January 1, 1940 Lum #238, "Lum's New Year Resolution," On New Year's Day in Pine Ridge, the Jot 'Em Down Store is open more out of habit than expectation of business. Lum sits by the stove with Grandfather Spears, discussing his New Year's resolutions. Among his pledges for 1940, Lum's most significant resolution is to be nicer to his partner Abner, feeling he's been too impatient and aggravated with him. When Grandpap asks about it, Lum explains that while Abner's mind works slowly, he's well-meaning and deserves better treatment. When Abner arrives dressed in his Sunday suit, Lum immediately puts his resolution into action, offering his chair, fetching water, and treating his partner with exaggerated kindness. However, Abner grows increasingly uncomfortable and suspicious of Lum's uncharacteristic behavior. After Grandpap leaves, Abner confronts Lum, demanding to know what's wrong. When Lum reveals his resolution to treat Abner better, his partner rebels completely, insisting he doesn't like being treated nicely and won't stand for it. The well-intentioned resolution backfires spectacularly as Abner demands things return to normal.

  11. Automatic Washing Machine and Abner’s Limo Adventure

    Aug 22, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: June 28, 1939 Lum #182, "Automatic Washing Machine and Abner's Limo Adventure," Abner returns to Pine Ridge having sold his automatic washing machine patent for twenty-five hundred dollars plus royalties, and the sudden wealth has gone straight to his head. Sporting a tuxedo and wielding a walking cane, he hires a chauffeur to teach him how to drive his new red automobile. After dismissing the chauffeur, Abner takes to the streets himself, creating havoc throughout town by chasing citizens onto sidewalks and forcing Uncle Henry Lonsford's horse and buggy into a ditch. Grandpappy Spears and Squire Skimp demand that Lum, as mayor, do something about the menace Abner has become. However, Lum finds himself in a bind since Abner also serves as chief of police and won't arrest himself. Squire threatens to circulate a petition to remove both Lum and Abner from office, while Lum insists his partner will calm down once the excitement of his newfound wealth wears off. The situation reaches a crisis point when Abner comes barreling up to the store, forcing everyone to scatter.

  12. Jack Benny, Honorary Degree

    Aug 22, 2026 · 13 min

    Originally Aired: March 10, 1939 Lum #135, "Jack Benny, Honorary Degree," Pine Ridge University has been awarding honorary degrees to distinguished individuals, and Jack Benny has called to say he'll be arriving to receive his diploma. However, when Lum and Abner are waiting at the Jot 'Em Down Store, they grow skeptical. Lum believes the phone call was just a prank, especially since Benny called collect. When a man claiming to be Jack Benny finally arrives, Lum and Abner refuse to take him at his word, having dealt with imposters before. They devise tests to prove his identity, demanding he tell funny jokes and play the fiddle that's been gathering dust under the counter. The visitor struggles with the joke-telling but eventually wins them over with his violin playing and his stingy haggling over the price of gumdrops. After surviving a mousetrap in the cracker barrel and enduring Lum's prepared speech, the real Jack Benny finally learns what his honorary degree is for: Doctor of Fisticuffs and heavyweight champion of radio, awarded in recognition of his famous feud with Fred Allen.

  13. Lum Engaged to Bertha

    Aug 21, 2026 · 14 min

    Originally Aired: February 22, 1939 Lum #128, "Lum Engaged to Bertha," When Cedric delivers Lum's marriage proposal note to the wrong Bertha—Bertha Skinner instead of Bertha Skimp—Lum finds himself accidentally engaged to a woman he never intended to marry. The situation spirals out of control as Bertha Skinner accepts the proposal and her father eagerly plans an engagement party for that very evening. Desperate to escape this unwanted marriage, Lum enlists Abner to visit the Skinner household and explain the terrible mistake. However, the plan backfires spectacularly when Abner reveals that Lum doesn't love Bertha and only wants her money, prompting old man Skinner to chase him off the property with a shotgun. Back at the store, a panicked Lum tries to devise new schemes to break the engagement, including the far-fetched idea of having Abner and Elizabeth adopt him so Abner can refuse parental consent to the marriage. As the engagement party looms closer, Lum grows increasingly frantic, realizing that once the announcement is made public, escaping this accidental betrothal will become nearly impossible.

  14. L&A Christmas Story

    Aug 21, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: December 23, 1938 Lum #102, "L&A Christmas Story," On a snowy Christmas night in Pine Ridge, Lum, Abner, and Grandpappy Spears trudge through deep snow following the East Star toward the old Gaddis barn. Doc Miller has been called to help a young couple from Pleasant Valley who, after spending their last nickel on taxes and finding no room at the hotel, have taken shelter in the abandoned barn where the woman is about to give birth. When Grandpappy tells Lum and Abner about the situation, they immediately gather blankets, an oil heater, and a box of groceries to bring to the couple in need. As the three men make their way through the cold night, they reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of helping others. Lum remarks that doing for somebody else is what makes it feel like Christmas, while they praise Doc Miller's selfless dedication to helping people regardless of whether he'll be paid. When they finally arrive at the barn and knock gently on the door, Doc Miller greets them, and they discover just how desperately their supplies are needed.

  15. Lum in England & Abner in Chicago

    Aug 20, 2026 · 15 min

    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.

  16. Lum Wants Abner to Go

    Aug 20, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: June 27, 1938 Lum #52, "Lum Wants Abner to Go," Lum is preparing for his departure to England on Friday to collect his enormous 30 million pound inheritance, and he's determined not to make the journey alone. When Abner drops by while Lum's clothes are being washed, Lum makes his pitch: he needs a treasurer he can trust to help carry all that money back home, and he wants Abner for the job. The offer is tempting - Lum promises to pay all of Abner's expenses and give him a salary, plus they'll take a bicycle tour through Europe visiting England, Holland, France, Switzerland, and Italy. There's just one problem: Abner would have to sell his half of the store to afford the initial trip, spending his last cent on what seems like a frivolous adventure. The real obstacle, however, is Abner's wife Lizabeth, who's already waiting on a late dinner. When Lum takes matters into his own hands and telephones her directly, he tries to sell her on the idea of Abner becoming his treasurer for life. As Lum navigates the delicate conversation, promising to look after Abner and even agreeing to skip Paris to ease her concerns, the question remains whether Lizabeth will allow her husband to embark on this grand European adventure.

  17. No Groceries on Credit

    Aug 19, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: June 24, 1938 Lum #51, "No Groceries on Credit," Lum finds himself in a predicament after selling his half of the Jot 'Em Down Store to Squire Skimp. Having spent his entire thousand dollars on legal fees to claim an English inheritance and a ticket to Europe, Lum now needs groceries to tide him over until his July 6th departure from New York. When he asks Squire for credit at the store he once co-owned, Squire firmly refuses, enforcing a strict no-credit policy for everyone. Gone are the days when Lum could nibble crackers from the barrel or extend neighborly credit to hungry townsfolk. Lum turns to his old partner Abner for help, but a hilariously confusing conversation ensues about Grandpap's situation at Dick Huddleston's competing store next door. Abner explains that Grandpap's "hands are tied" regarding extending credit, which Lum takes literally, leading to an extended Abbott-and-Costello-style misunderstanding about whether Grandpap is actually bound with rope. As the two friends talk in circles about tied hands, stepladders, and Dick's orders, Lum's grocery dilemma remains unsolved.

  18. Counting Sheep

    Aug 19, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: June 22, 1938 In Lum #50, "Counting Sheep," Lum has sold his interest in the store to Squire Skimp and is preparing for a disastrous European trip - having spent all his money on what turns out to be a bicycle tour of the continent. Meanwhile, back at the Jot 'Em Down Store, Abner is minding the business with his brother-in-law Grandpappy Spears, better known as Jake. When Squire leaves for the county seat, Abner discovers that Jake hasn't been organizing the feed room as instructed but has been spending his time thinking up another one of his infamous inventions. Jake reveals his latest scheme: a device to help insomniacs by using the store's old silent movie camera. Since people have trouble visualizing sheep when trying to fall asleep, Jake believes he can film actual sheep for them to count. Despite Abner's skepticism about Jake's past failed inventions - including a disastrous windmill-powered sorghum press - Jake insists this idea will make them both rich without requiring any investment. As Jake begins to explain his plan in detail, the ever-scheming Lum approaches, forcing the conspirators to keep their conversation secret.

  19. Lum to Leave for England on July 3rd

    Aug 18, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: June 20, 1938 Lum #49, "Lum to Leave for England on July 3rd," Lum excitedly shares his travel plans with Abner at the Jot 'Em Down store, having just purchased tickets for a steamboat voyage to England departing July 3rd. After selling his half-interest in the store to Squire Skimp for $1,000 to fund his claim to an English estate, Lum has used $500 for attorney fees and the remaining $500 for an all-inclusive tour package. The trip covers everything from train fare to New York, steamboat passage, hotels, meals, and transportation throughout Europe, which means Lum won't need to carry any money abroad. He'll spend four days in London before the tour continues through other European countries including Holland. As Lum enthusiastically describes the itinerary to Abner, the conversation meanders through topics like the famous Dutch boy who plugged the dike with his finger. Abner questions the logic of the story, wondering why the boy didn't simply use a stick or cork instead. Despite Lum's grand plans, Abner notes that only four days in London might not provide enough time to settle the estate business that prompted the entire journey.

  20. To England Via Siberia

    Aug 18, 2026 · 14 min

    Originally Aired: June 17, 1938 Lum #48, "To England Via Siberia," Lum has sold his interest in the Jot 'Em Down Store and is making plans to travel to England to claim an inheritance awaiting him there. After studying a map with Abner, the two believe they've discovered a revolutionary route: driving to England via the North Pole, which would minimize water crossings. However, as Abner discusses the plan with others in Pine Ridge, concerns begin to mount about the feasibility of their proposed journey. Meanwhile, tensions simmer between Abner and Squire, who now runs the store with Lum. Squire complains about Abner being late and not working hard enough, while Abner grows increasingly unsettled about the partnership. When Abner meets with Lum to discuss the trip, he raises troubling objections learned from Mose Moots at the barbershop: frozen radiators near the North Pole, no filling stations in Siberia, and the peculiar problem of six-month-long Arctic nights that could drain their car battery. The conversation takes an absurd turn as Abner contemplates opening a filling station and tourist camp in Siberia, complete with ice igloos for lodging.

  21. Lum’s Ocean Voyage

    Aug 17, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: June 15, 1938 Lum #47, "Lum's Ocean Voyage," In this episode, Lum visits the Jot'em Down Store, now renamed Skimp's Cash Store after Squire Skimp purchased his half interest in the business. Abner, who still owns fifty percent of the stock, has been reduced to little more than a clerk under Squire's strict management. The new owner forbids sitting down, prohibits loafing, and runs such a tight ship that even Jake is considering quitting. Abner has secretly penciled his name onto the store sign in small letters, afraid to make them any bigger lest Squire discover his act of defiance. Meanwhile, Lum continues planning his upcoming voyage to England and enlists Abner's help to examine a globe map at Squire's desk. As they study the route from Pine Ridge to New York and across the Atlantic Ocean, Abner grows concerned about the journey. He warns Lum that the ocean is much bigger than it appears on the globe and worries about him finding his way, even with hundreds of other passengers aboard the ship.

  22. Squire Renames Store

    Aug 17, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: June 13, 1938 Lum #46, "Squire Renames Store," finds the Jot 'em Down Store under new management after Lum has sold his half interest to Squire Skimp to raise money for his claim to an English estate. Abner is now stuck working alongside the pushy Squire, who immediately begins transforming the sleepy country store with aggressive sales tactics and relentless merchandising displays. Squire drives Abner ragged, insisting he arrange special displays, limit employee Jake's lunch breaks, and greet every customer with a hard sell on everything from flour to canned plums. When Lum drops by for a friendly visit, he's shocked by the changes. Squire immediately tries to sell him items he doesn't need, and Abner complains bitterly about the constant pressure to push merchandise. The transformation becomes comically evident when Abner unconsciously launches into a rehearsed sales pitch about California blue damson plums packed in maple sugar syrup, using the exact language Squire has drilled into him. The once easygoing general store has become a high-pressure sales operation, leaving both Lum and Abner to wonder what they've gotten themselves into.

  23. Raising Money for Trip

    Aug 16, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: June 10, 1938 Lum #45, "Raising Money for Trip," Lum faces a tantalizing opportunity but a significant obstacle. After receiving letters from New York attorneys claiming he may be heir to a fortune left by Samuel Edwards in England, Lum needs to raise five hundred dollars for a retainer fee to pursue his inheritance. Convinced he's a "full-blooded Englishman" and rightful heir, Lum desperately searches for ways to raise the money. He proposes selling the Jot 'em Down Store to his partner Abner, arguing they can rely on their matrimonial bureau business instead. Abner firmly resists, pointing out the store is his only guaranteed way of making a living and reminding Lum that their third partner, Squire Skimp, hasn't done any work yet takes a third of the profits. When Squire Skimp arrives at the store, Lum sees a potential solution and eagerly greets him with talk of a business proposition that could double his money. Despite Abner's warnings about getting entangled in financial dealings with the shrewd Squire, Lum begins explaining his inheritance situation, setting up what promises to be a risky negotiation.

  24. Lum’s English Frame of Mind

    Aug 16, 2026 · 14 min

    Originally Aired: June 8, 1938 Lum #44, "Lum's English Frame of Mind," Lum has received an exciting letter informing him that he may be the descendant of Samuel Edwards, who came to America from England in 1778, making him eligible for a share of a large estate the English government plans to divide. Convinced beyond doubt that he is one of the rightful heirs, Lum has already begun planning his move to England. When Abner arrives at the Jot 'Em Down Store, he finds his partner composing a real estate advertisement to sell his property, describing his modest forty acres as a "palatial home in picturesque setting" with beautiful gardens. As Lum grows increasingly convinced of his English heritage, he begins to feel like a foreigner in America. He worries about learning to speak "the English language" and insists that he and Abner now think differently because they're from different nationalities. Abner tries to reason with his partner, suggesting that Lum wait until he has proof before making such drastic plans, but Lum remains undeterred, certain that his name proves his connection to the Edwards family and ready to embrace his newfound English identity.

  25. Lum English Estate

    Aug 15, 2026 · 14 min

    Originally Aired: June 6, 1938 Lum #43, "Lum English Estate," Lum receives astonishing news from a firm of attorneys claiming he may be heir to a vast English fortune. The letter states he could be a descendant of Samuel Edwards, who came to America in 1778, and heir to the estate of William Jensen worth 30 million pounds sterling and stocks. Naturally excited, Lum has been showing everyone the letter and has already quit the store business, convinced his fortune is imminent. He's sent back information about all his ancestors and relatives, though he'll have to share the inheritance with other family members claiming their part. At the Jot 'Em Down Store, Abner discusses the situation with Grandpappy Spears, who humorously mistakes the "30 million pounds sterling" for sterling silver teaspoons like the souvenir spoon his wife Elizabeth treasures. Meanwhile, their lazy employee Jake returns late from dinner as usual, prompting Abner to warn him that Lum is getting fed up with his lackadaisical work habits. The episode captures the excitement and confusion surrounding Lum's potential windfall as the Pine Ridge community buzzes with speculation about what this inheritance might mean.