Retro Radio Podcast

Witness a robbery in progress, but Wild Bill and Jingles are too late to stop it. Instead, they help the sheriff get the wheels of justice rolling, while putting a stop to vigilante justice. The hard men of the railroad work crews are held at bay for the moment, but unless Bill can discover who wants the railroad company to go bankrupt, things could blow up again. It’ll take a special trap to catch the crooks, but there’s still a lot on the line to lose if things go wrong. Shady characters and plot twists keep on coming but listen close, it all adds up to the answers that Bill is looking for. Time for the trap to go down, and bring this mystery to a close. Watch out though, since the bandits have plans of their own to ambush and kill Wild Bill.

Court has been in session, and Abner shares with Lum that he doesn’t think things are going their way. It seems everything they do only serves to get the judge more upset. As theyh wait for the next session, their lawyer, Mr Wallford comes out to assure them he has a handle on the case, and is still optimistic. An easy case. In the courtroom, Lum is called to be a witness for the other side. How will he stand up against the questioning? Get ready for a heated debate as legal arguments pour forth. Will Lum be tricked into admitting he has the pearl, and show it to the judge? PS: Abner confuses the word gavel, for gravel. This was a topic of contention in a Vic and Sade episode where Sade couldn’t pronunce that word. Try as he might, Rush couldn’t convince her to say it right, and Vic just plain gave up trying. This must be a common mispronunciation. I remember hearing plenty of people say it in certain rural areas, although not so much anymore. I guess folks are better educated these days when it comes to such things. Check it out to see what I mean at Vic and Sade – A Gross Of Gravels. 420716. There’s lots of guest voices today. If I’m not mistaken one is the voice ofDoc from Gunsmoke.

When their lawyer visited, and wanted to see the pearl, Abner discovered it was missing from their hiding place. Where did it go? Who knew where it was hidden? Lum and Abner discuss the possibilities of who had the opportunity to take it. Hhow will the missing pearl affect the legal case that Squire is bringing against Lum and Abner. Cedric enters to get a Lumburger. Why does he want it so soon after breakfast? And why does he want in the shape of a heart? It’s a little early for Valentines Day. As they try to get back to searching for the pearl, Doc Withers comes in. Will he help them search, or be a distraction? Will they be able to retrace their steps to figure out where the pearl went?

Molly reads an article about cattle that are marooned in deep snow, but Fibber keeps interjecting his own comments that prevent her from finishing the story. Imagine that, Fibber interupting and not listening. Perish the thought. Old Timer visits to tell the jokes, and Fibber can’t help from butting in. The old guy does manage to tell a story about raising pigeons. Well, he at least starts it. Billy Mills plays, Powder Your Face with Sunshine. Molly reminds Fibber on the merits of good manners, then they get a few definitions of words mixed up. Mayor Latrivia visits, and Fibber tries to keep his interuptions under check, but it isn’t working very well though. When Harlow Wilcox comes in for the mid show commercial, will Fibber be able to control himself? Teeny pops in, but will Fibber be able to second guess her as he interjects his comments? She manages to give a book review of Robinson Cruso, and Fibber actually manages to control himself for a little while. The Kingsmen sing, Siesta. Just when he was making progress, Fibber has a relapse when Doc Gamble visits. When Fibber admits his weakness, and that he talks too much, it begins to make Doc worry a little. Can fibber be quiet for just five minutes? The bet is on, and Doc and Molly have a nice little conversation. What’s up with that? When Fibber’s secret method of keeping quiet is revealed, he needs Doc Gamble’s professional services. How did Fibber manage it? Listen to find out, but please don’t try his methods at home. Fibber is a trained radio comedian.

A pretty blonde, Dottie, slips into her mink coat as she is stopped by two thugs on her way out to the streets. She has a purse that becomes the object of attention. To cover her tracks, she tries to leave the purse with an old lady and friend. Are the thugs buying the handoff as an accident? The trail of the purse soon leads to the office of Richard Diamond. The thin guise of having Richard find the owner of the purse comes to an end when one of the gangsters comes calling. What’s the importance of the purse? It’s important enough to lead to a corpse, and Richard Diamond is left holding the bag as far ass the cops are concerned. Will his friend Hellen be able to shine some light on the value of the handbag? The situation goes from bad to worse when Hellen gets roughed up, more bodies are layed at the feet of the cops, and Richared goes on a personal quest for justice. When he finds the gangster, he learns the secret of the handbag, and who killed which body, and why. With all the loose ends nicely tied up, Richared unwinds with an evening of crooning, romance and comedy with his girlfriend Hellen.

Box Thirteen. September 12, 1948. Program #4. Mutual net origination, Mayfair syndication. “Actor’s Alibi”. Commercials added locally. The first episode in which “Suzy” works for Dan Holiday and not for the Star-Times. Murder in a radio studio, death by electrical transcription? Alan Ladd, Frank Hertosig (writer), Rudy Schrager (composer, conductor), Sylvia Picker, Ted Hediger (director), Vern Carstensen (production supervisor). 26:30. Audio condition: Very good to excellent. Otherwise complete. J. David Golden

An important phone call is anticipated as Lum and Abner await word from a lawyer they want to hire. Will their man be able to handle the case against Grandpap and Squire for the pearl that was found in an oyster? Ben Withers listens as Lum and Abner talk about an invention. Does Squire know exactly how much the pearl is worth? He offered a settlement of $800, but Lum had it appraised, and learned it was as much as $4000. Turning attention towards Doc Withers, Lum asks if the extra work that he’s doing for them in the store and restaurant interferes with his veterinary practice. Doc assures them it isn’t, and begins telling about another doctor friend of his. A stranger comes into the restaurant. Is he a customer for a Lumburger? Nope, it’s the much awaited lawyer. Can he help out with the case? What new twist might develop to complicate things?

Don wants a change from the usual opening, and wants to be announced by Jack, and switch parts. To add to the change, Mary and Kenny change parts. Kenny delivers Mary’s springtime poem. It all falls apart when Johnny doesn’t want to play along. He plays, We Saw the Thief. Before the 1960’s, Income Tax day was March 15th. Jack and the cast do some roll playing about paying taxes. Jack and Mary run the tax office while Johnny, and other characters pay their taxes. Kenny sings, Lets Play Some Music and Dance. The show is still being broadcast from New York, and Kenny is lonely. Jack agrees to take him to the zoo. Right after Johnny Green plays, Let Yourself Go. The zoo provides the chance for animal jokes. Oh my. If you listen between the skips, there’s a joke about Kenny getting the bird, the kind without feathers. I’m pretty certain the voice actor who is the zoo keeper is Joe Kern, but he almost sounds like Bert Gordon, the Mad Russian. Don offers another Jello recipe in the closing credits. Yum.

Box Thirteen. June 5, 1949. Program #42. Mutual net origination, Mayfair syndication. “Design For Danger”. Commercials added locally. Ex-convict Johnny Tide is returning to Watertown seeking revenge. Alan Ladd, Sylvia Picker, Vern Carstensen (production supervisor), Richard Sanville (director), Rudy Schrager (composer, conductor), Frank Lovejoy, Edmond MacDonald, Gene Levitt (writer), Bob Mitchell (writer). 26:58. Audio condition: Excellent. Otherwise complete. J. David Goldin

Doc Ben Withers will hold down the fort as Lum and Abner get ready for a road trip to Mena. They want to have their pearl assessed to make sure how valuable it is. Cedric manages to get them safely to the jewler, and after unpinning the pearl from his clothes, Abner hands it over to Lum. Meanwhile he and Cedric talk about what it would be like to live in the big city. Abner warns Cedric off of the worldliness of the sodas at the fountain, and the wrong kind of women. Will Abner be forced into having the talk with Cedric, that his dad should have already had with him? Will his tale of women who are prettier than a speckled pup under a new wagon, and smelling and tasting sweet get us in trouble with the censors? The story of the wrong kind of woman is cut short when Lum rushes out with the verdict from the jeweler.

Gunsmoke. May 15, 1954. CBS net. “The Indian Horse”. Sustaining. Obnoxious Lieutenant Flagg wins a horse race against Sy Pilcher, old Howling Dog is another matter however. William Conrad, Parley Baer, Harry Bartell, Ralph Moody, Paul Savage, John Dehner, Norman Macdonnell (writer, director), Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Rex Koury (composer, conductor), George Walsh (announcer).

With the explosion of success from the Lumburger, there ought to be a way for Lum and Abner to cash in on it to resolve their troubles at being sued. They’re just too busy to pursue it, and share details of the upcoming trial. A joint case between Squire and grandpap that threatens to take their pearl away from them. Lum figures they have a good case, and relies on waiting until he’s in the witness stand to make a dramatic and empassioned plea. Lawyers are just a good waste of money when you have the legal prowess of Lum Edwards. Calling on Doc Withers, Abner wants an outside opinion on the actual worth of the pearl. Is he really qualified to put a price on it? Why is Squire back, and so willing to drop the case and try to buy the pearl outright?

Wistful Vistful has been coated with thre feet of snow through the night. Fibber and Molly remember childhood days of playing in the snow, and going on a date on a sleigh ride. Doc Gamble pops in to swap insults with Fibber, and tells secrets about some of Fibbers medical history. Doc likes the idea of a sleigh ride and Fibber has a farmer friend named, Mell Ofa Hess who has one he might be able to rint for all his friends to have a special day. Doc encounters the closet before he manages to head out. Billy Mills plays, Lavender Blue. A hit song of that folk singing sensation, Burl Ives. After some calling around, Fibber talks to Molly about who all is going, and other logistics behind getting the sleigh ride started. Harlow Wilcox tells how he inadvertently proposed while on a sleigh ride. Of course it transforms into a commercial. Fibber tries to call Mayor Latrivia, but ends up chatting with Mert the phone operator instead. The Old Timer visits, and gets a little confused about the sleigh ride, but agrees to join the fun. Old Timer talks about all his girlfriends. The Kingsmen sing, A Little Bird Told Me. (Hey, that was just featured on a recent Phil Harris episode, and sang by Alice Faye.) Molly gets a phone call to say that harlow has to bow out of the sleigh riding fun. Mayor Latrivia stops in to sign up for the sleigh ride. Fibber gets confused about playing Hockey with playing Hooky. The frustrated Mayor just can’t win, but is saved by the telephone bell. It looks like the Mayor won’t be able to go. Things begin to take a down turn when more bad news comes in and others can’t go. Wallace Wimple stops in to say he has to take a raincheck. Seems there’s some issues between him and Mel. It turns out that even Mel can’t make it, but the sleigh does. At least Fibber and Molly set out on their own sleigh ride all by themselves. It may be less sociable, but they might have some private fun of their own, and that can’t be all bad. Trivia: I mentioned Burl Ives, and though he doesn’t appear in the show himself, he is from the tiny town of Jasper, Illinois. Fibber and Molly originate from Bloomington, Illinois. Finally, the Retro Radio Podcast originates from Altamont, Illinois. How’s that for wierd similarities? Here’s another, on the very day I’m podcasting this, we just had enough snow fall to cause schools to take a day off. There probably aren’t any sleigh’s around here o rent, but i bet I could the wheelchair ramp on my back deck as a ski slope.

Mousey Gray has popped into the Meadowlark restaurant, and tells how he and Gussie are on a diet. Abner is too worried about the pearl, and the law suit that Squire Skimp is bringing up to get possession of it. Is grandpap coming over to listen to Lum’s reasoning, and to give up his claim on the pearl? Though Lum would give anything in the world to know what grandpap might be cooking up with his friend Doc Withers, the listener eavesdrops in on the two old friends. Ben tries to talk sense to grandpap, and lays out the episodes of friendship and loyalty of Lum and Abner. Will grandpap realize that he couldn’t have any better friends? Will the bonds of friendship prevail?

His quiet night of having little to do is brought to a harsh end when a couple of thugs give Dick Diamond a beating. Why do they want to do that? The roughing up is to convince Dick to avoid taking a certain case. Guess who comes calling at our hero’s door? How much money will it take Dick Diamond to forget being beaten to a pulp? The story of Mr Worton’s son emerges. The younger Worton has spent time in prison for a murder that he didn’t commit. The ruse was pulled off so well that even the younger Worton believes that he killed a man. The travesty of justice, combined with a nice paycheck is enough to appeal to Dick, but he may have trouble avoiding his not so friendly thugs. Wade through a parade of shady characters, gangsters, and scandal. Dick has his hands full as he tries to see that justice is served. How will he bring the real killer to justice? Despite his efforts facing off with the dangerous hardcases, Dick may find the job is one that has taken care of itself.