Retro Radio Podcast

A study in American education. One notable thing our French travelers found was the lack of children running through the streets. Some may be working in factories, as they do in Europe, but the majority are in school. Schools, churches, and roads are the things that Americans feel is key to pave the way to a successful future. There are roughly a quarter of the population between age 5 and 16, the age of kids in schools. A high value in primary education is the norm. No matter the expense.

What about teachers for all this education? From the beginning we find teachers with substandard salaries. Teachers only stayed on for as long as they could, before advancing to a higher career. Associating with a teacher might be fine in private, but they are disdained to be seen with in public.

Education isn’t at an equal standard through the country. Though standards fall off in southern and western regions, everyone prides themselves on their education. Reveling in what they know, and ignoring challenges to advance to higher learning. Why bother with literature, or arts, or college, if you can be successful in business with your primary schooling? Being self educated is a badge of honor, even if it is lacking.

Cedric enters the store to complain to Abner about his new boss, Mousey Gray. As Abner returns with his own complaints about Lum’s management style, a stranger has entered the store. The quiet man with a foreign accent stays silent for a while, listening to the complaints.

Cedric doesn’t mind the duties of his job with Mousey’s new travel agency, considering they haven’t brought in any money at all, he thinks its asking too much to sign a commitment to withhold 10% of his wages for war bonds.

Abner agrees, telling that Lum wants him to do the same thing, but the quiet man can remain silent no longer. He tells how hard conditions are under Nazi rule, and how lucky he was to escape to America. What if the Germans win the war? Might those same harsh demands be made here as well? Lum arrives to see if Abner has a vacation spot in mind, but is surprised to hear Abner’s decision to forego a vacation and agree to the wage deduction. Cedric is motivated to take his giving to an even higher level.

A study in American Freedom. Does freedom have any drawbacks? When majority rules, the idea is that if you have a different spin, you’re welcome to it… just keep it to yourself… or else. What do Americans think of the findings of our French travelers? They love to hear about their successes, being industrious, how great their women are, but just don’t offer any negative criticism. Hurt feelings are sure to abound.

Beaumont and D’Toukfel discuss experiences in folks expressing their ideal of freedom and equality. Sometimes the majority wants to press the minority, and other stigmas get squashed in social pressure. Individualism suffers, and it takes a brave man to step out for his cause. People give lip service of being a free country, but many discrepancies are exposed.

One area our Frenchmen have had trouble with is the lack of quality arts and literature in America. They explore why the mediocrity exists. It’s hard for authors to be self expressive when the majority demands middle of the road content. Is it really a fact that the majority is where the wisdom lies? Public opinion even has an iron hand on manners, and propriety. Going against the grain, and being independent is frowned upon in polite society.

Majority opinion is demonstrated to put a tailor out of business, including the lawyer who defended him, all for operating his business on a Sunday, when it isn’t acceptable among majority opinion. Though the negro race is equal and free on paper, and in the legal system, prejudice in the public opinion effectively bars them from voting. If the majority is so oppressive to the minority, why do people put up with it?

Despite the contradictions in the system, it places the watchful eye of tyranny on the people, and not on a corrupted government to lay the iron fist on the people.

As we look in on Pine Ridge, we find Lum and Abner are still trying to plan where to spend a few days on vacation. Mousey and Cedric are to come over to give an illustrated lecture on vacation spots. Will it be some far flung place like New York, or San Fransisco?

Abner wonders, “Will Mousey’s illustrated slides be some of Snake Hogan’s magic lantern slides?” The free, introductory trip to promote the travel agency really isn’t going to be free. It could cost $5.

Hanging blankets over the windows, Mousey and Cedric get their presentation ready. What do wheat fields of the mid-west, school houses, or family pictures of Mousey’s inlays have to do with scenes of New York? There’s still one more catch to get that free trip to New York.

Still looking for a place to spend their vacation, Lum and Abner discuss landmarks to see. Taking a note from their famous, fictitious book, Gilbert the Boy Traveller, Lum suggests an idea. Should the gents get away from it all, and return to nature?

Lum wants to take only their brains and bare hands to carve out a place to relax. Abner thinks he’d rather take Gilbert along with them on the trip. Will Abner settle for a trip to Texas, and visiting relatives?

Sticks, bugs, and other intrusions on creature comforts begin to wear Lum down. What will he eat? Maybe a mattress to sleep on? How about a checkerboard? Will a roadside cabin be rugged enough for him? A hotel… maybe? Movies? Music? Dancing? Nothing like the rugged, back to nature life.

It’s time for a change of pace, and as Lum and Abner take time away from the store, they discover a new business in town. Popping into Dick Huddleston’s store, Lum learns about the travel agency. Lum also learns that Mousey is the new employee, manager, and owner of the business. It’s just like a mother to him.

Will the travel itineraries meet Lum’s needs? The 16B is Mousey’s recommended package, but does it have the same features as the 77W that Lum wants?

Mousey reviews the touring package, and features. Why doesn’t Lum want that 16B package? Cedric may have some news to throw Mousey for a loop, and cancel all his bus tours.

Leaping lizards! Annie finds a baby as she and Joe go to check out the new bridge project. Annie is ready to give the errant mother a piece of her mind! Until they meet Mrs Rinelli, and discover they know her son. It was Caesar who was supposed to be watching the baby, and mama sets him straight.

With a promise to come back to see little Rosa again, Annie, Joe, and Caesar go to watch the bridge construction. Caesar knows about the bridge because his father is part of the work crew. Leaping lizards, Annie is amazed at the activity. The kids set out to meet the impressive Mr Strong, the bridge engineer.

Back on a regular routine in the store, Abner gets the chance to go on a hunting trip. Lum won’t let him go, since he’s trying to get the books in order. Isn’t that Lum’s department? All but the odd entries that Abner snuck into them. Special favors for customers, and Checker scores, for example.

Cedric enters, wanting to get a folding cot. Abner finds one, and they puzzle over the directions on how to put it together. Cedric has doubts, and changes his mind, but the determined Lum and Abner throw themselves into showing him how its done.

It’s so simple, a child could do this… right? Lum ends up being caught, and his suspenders tangled. Maybe Abner can make that hunting trip after all.

On a hidden ranch in the hills of Mexico, a Nazi spy prepares a plan to disrupt relations between Mexico and America. A government official is to be tied up, and thrown from a plane. The dire incident has the attention of David Harding, and he learns about new technologies with special light bulbs. It’s thought the high frequency lights are directing enemy planes. If they can be detected, a raid can be made on the enemy hideout. Sure enough, houses are identified that lead to the ranch used as a base.

David has a secret about that official who was killed. How will it help him on his raid? Posing as a German operative, David infiltrates the operation. A scream in the dark signals that all may not be going well.

The trap begins closing when support planes are spotted in the skies. Meanwhile, David Harding arrests the spies, and a counter operation is put into place to glean intelligence on the Nazi’s who may arrive in the future. Will it work? Of course it will, for the first time since the Crusades, a great Christian army has arisen to drive out all the Nazi forces. Or so says David Harding.

With the case of the baby settled, and legal entanglements solved, the gents settle into tending the store. Though they kick themselves for not knowing better, its just a ruse to act strong, while they miss the baby. Time to pay strict attention to business.

Grandpap enters to tell about losing out on money. He can’t get to Cherry Hill for a tournament, and its because he needs someone to keep an eye on a baby. Will Abner be able to help?

Lum claims to have important business to take care of, and both the gents secretly try to do grandpap the favor of babysitting. Will they come clean with each other? Will they get the job to watch a baby after swearing off of it?