Retro Radio Podcast

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?

A study in American prisons. Even in America, there are those who don’t follow the rules of society, and find themselves in trouble with the law. More precisely, they go to a penitentiary, rather than capital punishment. Our French visitors go to Sing Sing to talk to the warden about the new conventional wisdom that men can be reformed. They just need a place for penitence, not to be simply tossed into prison.

More investigation into the hopeful system turns up mixed results. Early, strict penitentiaries kept inmates in virtual solitary confinement, and not allowed to speak. Living the life of a virtual monk. The whip being the means for punishment in breaking the rules. Even so, wardens realize that not every man can be reformed, and share their doubts. Is it because the inmates learn a trade that men reform? Why do men who behave well in prison, soon revert to their old ways. Quaker prisons are run like monasteries, with a vow of silence, and religious teaching. Does it reform… or break spirits… It only seems to add resentment, and to harbor dedication to not get caught again? Interviews with inmates reveal more glimpses at the failings of this new way of punishing crime.

Though philanthropists of the day want it to work, and are optimistic about it, cracks in the system are clear. At this point in history, only time will tell, but our Frenchmen don’t think its much better than the judicial system in the old country. I think they’re right.

A special doubletalk introduction is offered by Lou Holtz. Jack, Phil, and Don express how sad they’ll be at the close of the season, and being off the air for the upcoming 13 weeks. Mention of the war in Europe is touched on. Phil and Don are amazed that Jack doesn’t know anything about current world events. Audio fades for a moment, then is back as Jack puts Phil to his own little quiz of intelligence. The bickering between the guys is ended when Mary enters, and the discussion turns towards fashion, and leads into a poem about the seasons end.

Phil plays and sings, Couldn’t be Cuter Than You Are. The cast talk about Kenny being gone on his cruise to England, and Jack talks about his vacation plans.

After Don’s commercial, Mary sings, Says My Heart. Andy Devine joins the fun to share his vacation plans to Hawaii. Jack throws a farewell party, and invites the cast to his house. First he needs to phone Rochester to give him a heads up. Rochester manages to share secrets on Jacks domestic life as the party plans are made. Jack talks with his Chinese cook, Swing High. When plans fall through, Jack springs for a party at the Trokadero. Who says Jack is a stingy miser anyway?

After the closing commercial, Jak gives thanks to the writers, plugs a recent article in Radio Guide, then with Mary they introduce the Summer replacement show.

Everybody seems to like Mr Flint, the big banker and promoter in town. Annie has her doubts about the slick talking man though. Why is she so suspicious?

Two friends, Potato Face and Squinty, fill Joe and Annie in on the happenings in Simmons Corners since they’ve been gone. Namely the bridge, and other civic improvements. New parks, new improvements to Main Street, and more.

Leaping lizards, its good to see Jake Levy again. Will the store keeper fall for the smooth talking banker, and invest in stock in the bridge? Is it a good idea to take out a loan to leverage more investment? Annie doesn’t think so.

A web of lies has been exposed, and Lum knows the whole ordeal with the baby has all been a plot of Squire to get their store. All the players in the case are fictional, but who does the baby belong to? The baby has been kidnapped, and Squire is bold enough to show up in the store to face Lum and Abner. Is he telling the truth about Mr Finnely, and his wife?

Even if the story is true about watching the baby while they were travelling, why did Squire try to take the store? More secrets emerge to explain the newspaper ad, and other mysterious happenings. Though Squire has Abner over a barrel, Cedric enters to expose yet another secret to put Squire on the spot.

Will their settling up with Squire benefit them all? Will there be any hard feelings?

Not able to trust Squire, Lum and Abner decide to write a letter directly to the lawyer, Mr Blair. More lies about Squire are found out regarding his letters, and phone calls from the lawyer. Even the long distance call from the man in Kansas City has been faked.

Is there a legal case? Is the gold mine real? Who is the mysterious woman claiming to be the baby’s aunt? Who does the baby really belong to? The smooth talking Squire, unaware of the lies that Lum has found, enters to give his latest fictitious report from the lawyer.

Lum plays his own bluff to put Squire on the spot.

Squire blusters, and threatens his own law suit, but Lum only believes that he has the upper hand.

A study in American progress. Can society be perfected, or changed? The trait of equality isn’t responsible for either, but it puts those ideals into a different light. Public meetings are called to denounce the government, or deplorable conditions, or to suggest improvements to the quality of life. Taking a hand in government and discussing it seems the only concern. God is invoked as backing the purpose of the reformer.

Americans, whether on land or sea, seem to have a knack for succeeding and making money. Americans may not have the best ships, or skill, but they feel God is on their side. They fail, but they get back on their feet, and push on toward success. What makes American ships so efficient, compared to other nations?

Resources are abundant, and even if products aren’t durable, the expectation is that more can be made, and things are always improving. Anything is possible, is the attitude of Americans. Associations and societies are organized with the purpose of self improvement. A society against slavery, is spotlighted, and the push to defend equal rights. By comparison, our French travelers look at Southern oppression of slaves, and removal of their rights.

People of like mind band together for a cause to increase their public voice, and become stronger. One popular society was on temperance. What is that? Our travelers learn about the push to make alcohol of any kind illegal in the state.

American ideals include: The pursuit of virtue, and good. Not caring for what has been, but for the imagination of what is to come. Progress, and striving for perfection.

Curious happenings over the baby, and Squire’s change of mind have the gents baffled. Today, Abner and grandpap play checkers, and discuss the matter of Mr Finnely, and signing the store over to Squire to settle legal debts.

As Lum inventories the stock in the feed room, Cedric enters to collect junk for a scrap drive. Abner thinks the government is just making up the need for scrap iron, copper, and other metal, but Lum tells otherwise. In the process, Cedric spills the beans on a secret over at Squire’s house. What does it mean for the mystery of the baby?

Squire enters, but Lum knows he has been lying to them. Is Squire’s game of tricks up?

Late in the evening, Lum and Abner have the baby all ready to go. They’ll miss him, even if its just a short trip. They discuss the happenings of who the baby really is.

Is there still legal troubles? Are there dangers, or people in town to keep an eye on the gents? Jumping to conclusions, Abner gets fighting mad over strangers taking little Charlie away. A phone call comes in from Lizabeth to say that Squire is there for the baby.

In the store, the gents worry that if they sign papers for Squire Skimp, they’ll lose the store. Is it worth it to cover their legal expenses? Who is Mr Finnely, is he really the baby’s father?

Strangers lurk, and Abner springs into action with a baseball bat. Squire is accompanied with another man. Why did Squire curiously change his mind on the papers, and taking the baby?

Attention, a secret coded message for members of Annie’s club will be given right after the show.

Ford now, Annie and Joe are on the farm, and talk about the barn yard animals. The smell of Ma Silo’s cookies call them into the kitchen.

Pa Silo tells how business is booming in Simmons Corners. A new bridge is being built across the river to save time for travelers.

Mr Flint stops by the farm to try to get Pa Silo to invest in the bridge project. Will Pa, one of the most prosperous citizens of Simmons Corners, get in on the ground floor of the bridge? The slick talker doesn’t have Annie fooled.