Retro Radio Podcast

Trouble has exploded for Lum and Abner when they couldn’t raise $5k to bail out their mine inspectors for trespassing. Abner and Cedric decide to run an auction to keep from having to sell the store. How does Lum feel about that?

Abner raises questions that they shouldn’t be held entirely responsible for the captured trespassing inspectors, since their lawyer is the one who hired them. Will they be able to talk sense to Squire about taking possession of the store to pay their debts?

Lum steps out to talk to Squire, and Abner relays a phone message to grandpap from his wife, Charity Grandpap brags about his past success with auctions. Cedric and Mousey enter to interrupt the master auctioneer. Will the big spenders walk away with the store for a song?

Will they be able to back their bids of 10 cents… 11 cents… $50k? Lum races in with important news that changes things.

* The scene in the big city police station finds the sergeant setting one of his officers straight after an arrest.

* Whattaman of Rought Town can’t make up his mind to fight his challenger. He tells about his job at the lunch counter.

* OO Macintyre shares what happened when a popular lecturer took the podium at a ladies meeting.

* Will Rogers has a lot to say about the government, and gold, as is portrayed in a short humorous drama.

* Milt Gross features his character, Joe Runt. The mild mannered man is on the search for a chicken.

A study in American religion. Religious institutions have remained distinct from government institutions. Our French travelers are amazed at the cross-denominational preaching in a prison from pastors of different faiths to the inmates each week. It works because they stick to general morality, and not teaching dogmas of the faith to far.

Sunday is noted as different from the week when even New York city streets are silent. Men on the street ensure that carriages aren’t permitted to drive past a church, and disturb worship. To be well received in society, a declaration of belonging to a church is vital. Worship is more from habit than convictions. With the abundant choices of religions, every one has the right to choose a creed, and mode of worship for themselves.

An extreme tolerance in religion is noted. Or is it an attitude of indifference? A priest shares the power in religion is to stay out of seeking political power, and seeking liberty and equality. A protestant minister shares that he feels there’s no conflict or pressure with government. Judges in court even declare that it is unheard of for people not to believe in God, and that religious teaching is the basis for good laws, and testimony.

Separation of church and state doesn’t mean to take God out of daily life. What do politicians say? Men in high position, or talent may not express their faith, but hold that religion is on the side of democracy.

Religion Takes no part in government, but is regarded as the first political institution.

Jack complains about not having energy, although Don marvels at the things that Jack has been able to do through the season. Phil joins the fun to talk with Jack about each other’s looks, and grooming. Mary has a secret to tell about Jacks undergarments. Kenny is a bit perky when he tells how exhausted he is. Jack “Cowcatcher” Benny tells about his long eyelashes he had as a kid. Somehow the goodlooking conversation turns into a commercial.

Kenny Baker sings, Let Me Whisper I Love You.

Jack plugs Kenny’s upcoming film that he’ll be working on. He’s going to play the Macado. Whatever that is. Jack tries to define it for the cast, but I don’t think he knows either.

As he tries to put in a good word in honor of Father’s Day, Jack is interupted by Andy Devine. Andy has news about a beauty contest and his pa. Jack finally gets to his play, Back Home in Indiana. Jack and Mary are Pa and Ma, while Phil and Kenny are their sons. And Andy? He gets to play their daughter.

Phil plays some transition music, What Do You Hear from the Mob in Scotland.

The play is meant to honor Father’s Day as ma and pa talk about their children. The jokes flow freely as the kids tell of their success in life. Jack manages to slip in a joke about his rival, Fred Allen. Petunia has a special surprise for old pa.

At home, Pa Silo gets a kick out of the write up in the newspaper on Annie’s surprise birthday party. Ma and Pa talk about Annie’s special ring, that kiddies can get one just like it, and how proud Annie is of hers.

Sandy barks to welcome Annie and Joe home. Will Ma be put out if Annie is this late in coming home all week? She tells how she and Joe have taken on the job to help Jake in his store. They’ll have a gay time of it, and get paid too!

Pa Silo is pleased, especially at the idea of Annie having her own spending money, with Christmas coming soon. Ma adds her ideas on how Annie might brighten up the shop while she’s in charge.

Legal fees have shot up, and doubts are raised that the gold mine has any worth. Them bank fellers know everything, and when Lum’s credit reputation is called out, he hates and despises them. Still Lum and Abner are ready to fight to protect the baby left in their charge.

Squire is upbeat, and not concerned over the debt that Lum owes him. That’s a good sign. Although, Squire is all about entangling the gents into contracts, promissory notes, and a paper trail to ensure he’ll get paid, even if the mine falls through.

Grandpap enters to tell the latest on Cedric. The boy is making a success out of himself with that gold mine. As grandpap relates his confused story about Cedric, Squire comes running back… uh-oh… this won’t be good.

Traveling at night, the Andersen’s find that they are lost. The visit with the Palmers was fine enough, but Jim grumbles about the matter of being lost. If only Jim can find that shortcut he was looking for. Through the dark, cold, rainy night, nerves jangle a little when Jim discovers he had driven in a circle, and is where he started 2 hours ago. What next… an empty gas tank?

Earlier tales of ghost stories begin to grow fear, first in the girls. Is there anything to spooky apparitions? Can Jim find a friendly farmer to wake up to help them? Should Jim admit to the family that they are stranded next to a cemetery? Just think of it as a monument instead of a tombstone.

Spooky sounds soon unnerve the ever patient Margret, and… where’s Bud… is he missing? Have the Andersen’s found a haunted house to take shelter in? Would they be better off to have stayed cozy and dry in the car? Owls, creaking sounds, wolf howls, cats screeching, and a chair that disappeared? Is there rational explanations to the spooky sounds that seem to multiply? How will this crazy night end? Will Kathy live to finish the 4th grade?

After confusion over selling their old delivery truck, Lum finds him in trouble in paying the commission to the repair shop for making the deal. This won’t lead them to a trip to the penitentiary will it? Squire has been on his best behavior with the gents lately. You don’t think it has to do with the gold mine… do you?

With Cedric still acting as president, Lum and Abner receive a phone call from one of the Abernathy boys, his secretary, to announce a meeting of the board of directors of the gold mine.

Squire enters with more legal problems in the fight for the gold mine. The aunt, Mrs Logan, is putting up a fight, and the fees are mounting. Is there a chance there isn’t any gold in the mine? Is there a chance that Clarabella will dump Gomer Bates for president Cedric?

Fibber gets a letter from the postmaster general. Is the government really asking Fibber for advice? In response to the request, he can’t write anything nice… can he? Molly thinks the mail service is fine, and the government needs to know it. The Old Timer visits and tells his opinion on the postal service. His sentiments deal with his father’s relation to the post office. He is followed by a PSA that touts diversity in a community to make it strong.

As Fibber tries to think of shortcomings of the post office, Molly thwarts him. Teeny visits. Her observations on her mail man seem to play into Fibber’s plan of scandal, but not after she tells the whole story. Doc Gamble enters, and has his usual criticisms of Fibber. Will he have anything to teardown about the postal service?

At long last, Fibber may have found his point of contention to criticize the post office on.

Bonus Track:

None today. Just Keith on his own, without the Retrobots, or opening theme music. Help the podcast keep going, consider a healthy sized donation so we can make some repairs to technology.

A study in American manners. Our two French travelers remark on the value that equality holds. Particularly that any woman can expect to travel anywhere, and be greeted with respect by everyone. The relationship between servant and their master is more loose and casual than the aristocrats are used to. American ladies are remarkable as being guardians of morality. Fresh, natural, are there any drawbacks to American society?

Things move at remarkable speed, and nobody has time to set down roots in a place. Flaws in equality means a rich man doesn’t have to sacrifice his money when rubbing elbows with the lower classes, only his pride.

Americans seem to love equality, love of wealth, and being indebted to treatment of women. Not for who they are, but just that they are women. An irksome habit, but men wouldn’t have it any other way. Women’s attitudes lean to the point of being glacial and egotistical.

What about the formal education of young ladies? From age 5 to 18, girls learn music, charm, and about anything but math or science… unless they’re the tall girls. How do men see the differences in male and female social standing? Wealth is the apparent aristocracy in America, and gossiping women do what they can to move in those circles. Racial equality is touted, but our visitors begin to notice it isn’t put into practice.

In social venues, where talent is below European standard, conversation during the performance is the norm. On the other hand, outside the circle of high society, the middle class entertainment runs to more professional performance.

class, culture, and morality differences are noted, yet men and women are considered equal.