The first crocus of Spring, Bing Crosby, makes his way to the mike to joke about flowers, growth, and Springtime.

Playlist

* Flying W. (Bing)

* Do You Know How Lucky You Are. (Bing)

* Fred Astaire jokes about his retirement, return to movies and his dance school.

* Peggy Lee joins the jokes then help out with a medley.

* Puttin on My Top Hat. (Fred and Bing)

* Cheek to Cheek. (Peggy and Bing)

* Lovely Day to be Caught in the Rain. (Fred and Peggy)

* Fine Romance. (Fred, Peggy, and Bing)

* Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. (Peggy Lee)

* Dearly Beloved. (Bing and Peggy)

* Dreaming of a White Christmas. (Peggy and Bing)

* Spoof medley of songs not in the film, Holiday Inn. (Fred, Peggy, and Bing)

* Catalog Day.

* King Kamahamaha Day.

* Philco Day.

The Lone Ranger fights for his life against a band of the worst bandits in the West. The outlaws meet in a cave to organize. They rain down such terror that the very people the Lone Ranger has helped in the past regret their friendship with him.

Are people losing trust in justice, and in the Lone Ranger? What would happen if the Lone Ranger were taken out of the picture? Would the rest of the pillars of the community crumble? The people begin to rally together, but as the bandits regroup to keep the pressure on, who will end up with the strongest willpower to survive?

Note: There seems to be a big gap in episodes that has pretty much all of the shows from 1939 missing. I thought I had a collection of them, but I can’t find them anywhere. If they turn up, I’ll go back and post them when I find them. In the time that’s missing, the voice actor who played the Lone Ranger died in a car wreck, and was replaced by Brace Baemer through a few weeks of shows that featured Tonto, and a Lone Ranger who was recovering from a bad injury. Brace Baemer wouild be the only voice of the Lone Ranger for the rest of the run of the radio show. With other actors portraying the masked man in film. Later, and most notably on TV, Clayton Moore became the enduring face of the Lone Ranger.

After recognizing the signs from old blue, Dick Huddleston has led the rescue party to the the cave in site. The digging has gone on for quite some time and some of the friends from town lose hope. Only the most diligent friends remain, and take a break as they enjoy a healthy meal. The more they dig, the more bleak things look. Should they give up and pursue some clues that Squier has come across this morning?

Inside the cave Lum insists he has seen and smelled biscuits and hot chicken. Abner thinks his friend is losing his mind. In there weakened condition, Abner thinks Lum is pulling on him, and calling him a fried chicken. Hey, what’s that sound? Could it be the sound of digging?

On the outside, by now even the most diligent friends begin to doubt. Only old blue persists in his digging efforts. When Cedric and Grandpap are ready to leave, old blue bristles and blocks the rescue party from leaving the excavation site. That’s all it takes for the friends to redouble their efforts.

Dinner plans are sprung on Gildersleeve when he learns that Ben will be over. How is the job situation of the recently released Navy vet going? Marjorie would prefer he had a job with a briefcase, but Ben is a whiz at mechanics. How are Leroy and Marjorie spending their Spring breaks? When Runsome Bullard pops in, he shares how the problem of a trolly car being put on an empty lot could cause problems.

An inspired Gildy makes the rounds with a petition to restrict zoning ordinances. Distractions begin when Leila Ransom thinks the idea of living in a trolly car is romantic. Will it really reduce property values? A visit in Peavy’s drug store adds to the number of folks who may be against the petition.

The more he gets around, the more Gildy finds that throwing weight around, or using influence is resisted. He discovers the plight of real people behind the issue of the trolly car, and housing shortage. Should this be more about property value, and money? Or more about helping people?

After dropping off his friend at a sanitarium to recover from alcoholism, Harvey and Victor’s wife, Donna drive through the night. By the time he gets home, the doctor reports Victor has escaped. When he’s found again, the doc warns if Victor doesn’t lay off the booze, his next stop may be an insane asylum.

Taken far from any alcohol, Victor finds himself at sea, on Harvey’s yacht, with a small crew, and his wife Donna. Suddenly Victor is paranoid and jealous. Is his wife cheating on him? Is she and Harvey planning to do him in? Now that he’s dried out, the doc claims Victor has all the symptoms of insanity. What does this mean for Victor’s wife?

After an outburst on the yacht, our crew find themselves exploring a deserted island for fresh water. After a night of searching, all that’s found is poisonous water, but when dawn breaks, it’s a knife hilt that protrudes from Victor’s chest that did him in. Or does the Whistler have one last twist up his sleeve?

When Abner’s dog, old blue, return to town covered in red Clay, a search party was formed to find them in the woods. So far, the source of the clay has not been found. Grandpap, and Squire recount their failed efforts to find Lum and Abner.

Old blue has been doing his best to lead the way, but now Grandpap thinks that the gents may be somewhere else, like in jail. Why does Grandpap believe that? It has to do with a strange dream that he tells squire all about.

Out in the woods, Dick and Cedric follow old blue. Does he want them to go squirrel hunting? His behavior seems strange for that. Has he got a wild cat cornered and that old mineshaft ahead? When old blue digs and the red play, it dawns on dick that the gents are trapped in that cave in. There’s no time to waste, and they race to town to form the rescue party.

Homicide Detail. An unidentified woman is found strangled in a hotel room, and its up to Joe Friday to find the killer.

A visit to the crime lab presents the clues that are known in the case thus far; The report of a married couple who were attacked at their hotel is given. In voiceover,. Joe Friday tells of other accounts of women being brutally murdered. Ben Romero begins to get disgusted over the lack of progress, when an important clue falls in their laps. But will the cops miss the connection in identifying the woman? Joe’s voiceover continues to describe the investigation of the woman and to marital troubles.

Past landlords confirm the description of the abusive husband. Doris Frasier has also had trouble holding jobs, due to her abuse. The investigation continues to paint a consistent picture of a battered woman. But have they turned up enough evidence to hang their case on? Despite indications he may be his wife’s killer, her husband has overwhelming support in his whereabouts the night of the murder.

A man known only as George gets the attention of the detectives. The investigation heats up, drugs are involved in George’s past. Time for confrontations. Visiting George on his job helps locate the connections needed,. And lies crumble.

Although a search party has been organized by Dick Huddleston and friends in town, the gents are still trapped in the Silver mine. Lum and Abner holed up as best as they can. Lum naps, while Abner talks to himself. Is there a concern that Abner is getting sick?

Out in the Woods grandpap, Squire, and Dick follow old blue, Abner’s Hounddog. The red Clay on his fur is a clue. Will the friends manage to find what Old Blue is trying to tell them? They crossed paths with Cedric, who recounts where he has searched.

Back in the mine, the gents are weak and hungry. How much longer can they hold out on the meager supply of sardines and crackers?

Ken Carpenter, John Scot Trotter, Stitch Henderson, Charioteers, Lena Romei.

Playlist

* My Heart Goes Bump De Bump (Bing).

* Hawaiian War Chant (Spike Jones and his City Slickers).

* Spike jokes with Bing about being John Scot Trotters former drummer.

* Love in Bloom (Bing sings and is backed up by Spike and the City Slickers).

* Fascinating Rhythims ()Stitch Henderson piano instrumental.

* Little Surplus Me )Lena Romei).

* All By Myself (Bing).

* On the Boardwalk in Atlantic City (Charioteers).

* The Things We Did Last Summer (Bing).

Note: In the first commercial Ken calls Bing by his real name, Harry.

Love in Bloom was a hit for Bing in 1934, before becoming associated with Jack Benny.

Note: this is clearly a wrong day for this episode, not sure what year it was aired, but the day is probably correct. Enjoyed a brief interruption to the story about being trapped in the silver mine.

In the Jot Em Down store, the gents seem to have made it out of the silver mine. Cedric has entered to show off how different he looks in his new clothes. He is going to a dress rehearsal, but he doesn’t have on the right kind of costume. Does he even know what role he is playing in the play?

Cédric claims to be the main character, so would that make him George Washington? Abner tries to help by offering details about George Washington. He seems to be standing up in a boat to cross of Delaware, to get his silver dollar.

Using a few odds and ends around the store, Lum and Abner try to fixed up Cedric to look like George Washington. At least well enough to attend his rehearsal. Powdering Cedric’s hair with flower, painting gold buckles on his pants, a few lace doilies, and a pigtail. yeah, that should do the trick. And just what is Cedric’s main role in the play?