Lum & Abner 33-xx-xx (xxxx) Preparing For A Lion Hunt

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Lum & Abner – Preparing For A Lion Hunt

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Air Date: October 20, 2025
Featured Show: Lum & Abner (originally aired in 1933)
Main Theme:
A comedic look at the misadventures of Lum and Abner as they prepare for a farcical lion hunt in their small town, blending Golden Age radio nostalgia, slapstick humor, and gentle satire about rural life and old-time ingenuity.

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Overview

This episode drops listeners into Pine Ridge, where Lum and Abner—famous for their bumbling schemes—are gearing up for a lion hunt after a circus lion, previously trapped in the jail, is accidentally set free and is now terrifying the community. Their preparation mixes fact, fiction, and plenty of comic misunderstanding, particularly about big-game hunting and their recently acquired elephant, temporarily named "Baby." A running subplot involves a town contest to pick a name for the elephant, with an enticing new Ford car radio as a prize.

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Key Discussion Points & Comic Highlights

1. Planning the Great Lion Hunt

• [03:09] Lum arrives at the garage to find Abner prepping for a lion hunt, complete with an elephant.
  • Lum is baffled by Abner's decision to take the elephant, “Baby,” along.
  • Abner is adamant:

    “Well, now, that's what that book says.” (Abner, 03:26)

• Lum questions the logic:

  “Who ever hear to huntin lions with the elephant?!” (Lum, 03:21)

• Comic exchange on book learning vs common sense:
  • Abner has read a book on lion hunting in Africa (given to him by Dick Huddleston) and insists this is the way it's done.
  • Lum retorts:

    "You can’t make no huntin’ dog out of an elephant, I can tell you that right now." (Lum, 03:58)

  • Abner:

    "Well, I never seen one on trail neither." (Abner, 03:54)

2. On the Elephant’s Name and Condition

• The elephant, unnamed officially, is called “Baby” by Abner, to Lum’s dismay:

  “Just call him Elephant till after the contest is over.” (Lum, 05:03)

• Abner worries about the elephant’s looks, suspecting it’s deformed:
  • “He looks like he ain't big enough for his health, don't he? ... His skin don't fit him very good.” (Abner, 05:34)
  • Lum’s folksy wisdom:

    “They just ain't built for style. They run more for comfort.” (Lum, 05:56)

• Discussion of contest to name the elephant, awaiting submissions.

3. Community Reactions to the Loose Lion

• [06:31] Dick Huddleston arrives with town updates.
• Lum and Dick note that while the lion’s toothless and can't hurt anyone, it still frightens the residents:
  • “Ezra Sea Trunk was telling me that him and his whole family slept in the storm cellar last night.” (Dick, 07:26)
  • Lum brags:

    “I slept right in my house! ... Just locked all the doors and winders..." (Lum, 07:35)

• Memorable Hunt Tale:
  • The last attempt at lion hunting ended with Abner and Lum up a tree, treed by Luther Phillips’s wild steer rather than the lion.

4. The Name-the-Elephant Contest

• Lum explains the contest:

  “We wanted June, Grandpappy Spears and Doc Cook to be the judges...” (Lum, 10:25)

  • Prize: A new Ford radio, fitting any car.
• Lum gives a live party line announcement:

  “We’re trying to find a good name for him, so we’re going to give a new Ford radio to the person who sends in the name the judges select as best...” (Lum, 11:24)

• Dick is roped in as a contest judge, despite his reluctance.

5. The Great Elephant Hunt Outfitting

• [11:57] Abner parades the elephant with a used car body as a makeshift howdah (riding seat).
• Hilarious detailing of Abner's outfit:

  “Is that a dish pan upside down there that you’re wearing for a hat?” (Lum, 12:20)

• Abner’s plan:
  • Cedric will help drive the lion out of the brush, Abner and Lum will ride in style.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On elephants as hunting companions:

  “They can’t even bark. How would you know when they struck the trail?”
  — Lum, 03:48

• On small-town fear:

  “He ain’t got a tooth in his head! ... It’s just the idea of a lion bein' turned loose in the community that’s scarin’ ‘em.”
  — Lum, 07:56

• On contest prize practicality:

  “But suppose somebody wins it and doesn’t have a Ford?”
  — Dick, 10:14 “These Ford radios will fit any car in ‘em.”
  — Lum, 10:17

• On homemade hunting garb:

  “You got enough junk there to start a secondhand store. Is that a dish pan upside down there that you’re wearing for a hat?”
  — Lum, 12:20

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:09] – Lum discovers Abner’s lion hunt preparations (with elephant).
• [05:28] – Discussion on the elephant's health and names.
• [06:31] – Dick Huddleston arrives, updates on lion-induced community panic.
• [07:56] – Recounting the misadventures of the previous lion hunt.
• [10:25] – Rules and judging for the elephant-naming contest.
• [11:24] – Lum’s contest announcement on the party line.
• [11:57] – Abner’s elephant outfitting and final preparations.

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Overall Tone & Takeaway

The episode is packed with genial, small-town humor, poking fun at misunderstanding, over-preparation, and the way simple folks muddle through big adventures. The language is homespun, the comic timing classic, and it’s a gentle send-up of the era’s enthusiasm for technology (the Ford radio contest) and rural resourcefulness.

Takeaway:
Even the most absurd undertaking—like a lion hunt with a secondhand elephant and a piecemeal howdah—can be approached with zest, provided you have good friends, a wild imagination, and a bit of practical know-how (or the lack thereof). The town’s contest adds a sense of community and gentle rivalry, suited to the heartwarming spirit of classic Lum & Abner.

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Transcript

[A]

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[C]

Howdy everybody. Here we are all ready to take you down to Pine Ridge for this evening's visit with Blum and Abner, whose everyday experiences are sent for you each evening except Saturday and Sunday by your local Ford dealer. You have asked, is the new Ford V8 Economical to drive? Tonight your Ford dealer answers that question. Answers you with the strongest official proof possible to obtain a certificate of performance given the Ford V8 by the contest Board of the American Automobile Association. This certificate says the undersigned certify in the name of the Contest board American Automobile association that at Washington D.C. and over the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, a Ford V8 1933 two door sedan, motor number 1-833-2364 of strictly stock class, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company and driven by contest board personnel, was timed at 182 hours and 50 minutes over the distance of 5022⅛ miles, an average of 27.468 mph from a standing start on June 20th to the 28th, 1933, establishing an average of 22.532 m per gallon of gasoline. Total oil use 1.578 gallons, an average of 3182₩ miles per gallon. Total gasoline used 222.89 gallons, an average of 22.532m per gallon. Water added none. Signed Chester S. Ricker, official representative, E.V. rickenbacher, chairman of the board, P.W. lewis, technical representative and V. E. Allen, the secretary. In fairness to yourself, see the new Ford before you buy. Well, when we left our old friends down at Pine Ridge last Thursday, the elephant had pulled the door off the jailhouse and released the old lion on the terrified community. Blum and Abner have been trying their best to capture the lion ever since, but so far have not succeeded. As we look in on Pine Ridge today, we find Abner back at the garage, preparing for another trip into the mountains in search of the nuisance that is causing such a disturbance. Lum has just arrived on the scene.

[B]

Listen, Abner, what In the name of common sense are you up to now?

[D]

I'm getting things all ready to go on that line hunt tonight.

[B]

Huh? Well, you're not aiming on taking this elephant, are you?

[D]

Why, sure.

[B]

Who ever hear to hunt in lines with the elephant?

[D]

Well, now, that's what that book says.

[B]

What book?

[D]

Why, that right there. Dick Huddleston give it to me to read. Tells all about lion huntin.

[B]

I see it. What we better do is get some dogs to hunt that lion with. No, no.

[D]

According to that book, Caroline, they don't use dogs.

[B]

Big game hunting in Africa. Yeah, I don't care what they say in here. I know in reason. They don't use elephants to hunt lions with. They can't even bark. How would you know when they struck the trail?

[D]

Well, how do you know if they don't bark on trail?

[B]

Well, did you ever see an elephant a barking?

[D]

Why, no, I never. But I never seen one on trail neither.

[B]

Well, you can't make no hunting dog out of an elephant, I can tell you that right now. Now, wouldn't that elephant there look fine running a rabbit across the field or setting under a tree barking at a little squirrel?

[D]

Well, now, I don't think he hunt like dog does long. Now, look there now, where I got the page turned down. Shows a picture of him hunting lions in Apache right in that bull.

[B]

Where?

[D]

Why, right there. Right in there.

[B]

Well, they're just riding elephants there, huh? The elephants ain't a huntin the lines. You see, they have beaters that go on ahead and run the lines by. And these fellers here just captured.

[D]

Yeah, well, now, I figured on me and you a riding baby here like they're doing in that picture.

[B]

That long? You can ride up there if you want to, but I ain't gonna try to ride no elephants back. You see, these hunters in this picture has got a seat up there. See there?

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Well, now, you just wait. Now, me and Cedric's got a scheme worked out where there'll be room for all of us up there on his. Oh, I sent him over the house for some stuff while ago. I'm trying to get Baby all rigged up so we can strike out right after supper tonight.

[B]

Abner, I wish you'd quit calling that elephant Baby.

[D]

Well, I got to call him something. That's the only name we got, Fern.

[B]

Well, just call him Elephant till after the contest is over. Then we'll have a regular name fer him.

[D]

Yeah, I thought some of them names that's already been sent in would be all right, huh?

[B]

Yeah, there's some good names suggested. All right, but we want to do no deciding until we close the contest. Then we'll let the committee pick one out.

[D]

Well, have you made the announcement about the contest over the party line yet?

[B]

No, I'll attend to that. Again I go back to the office.

[D]

As you know, I just looking at baby, I mean elephant while I golem. I believe he's deformed.

[B]

Deformed?

[D]

Yes, sir. Now just look at him there. He looks like he ain't big enough for his health, don't he?

[B]

Ain't big enough for his health? What you talking about?

[D]

Well, his skin don't fit him very good. It's away yonder too big for him.

[B]

Oh, well, he just ain't growed to it yet. He ain't more than half growed, you know.

[D]

No.

[B]

What do they do?

[D]

Just give em a skin that's big enough for a growed elephant and let em grow to it?

[B]

I don't know, Abner. This is the first experience I've ever had with an elephant. They just ain't built for style. They run more for comfort.

[D]

Yeah, well there ain't much shape to them, I'll say that. Now just look at them legs. They just might die. Straight up and down. Looks like his legs just run down the ground. Stopped all of a sudden like he's.

[B]

Bogged up in the mud or something, don't they? Hey, they funny billed critters out here. Wait a minute, your honor. Comes Dick Hudderston driving up in front of. Get back in the office, Dan. Went out to deliver a new car a while ago.

[D]

You just go ahead and talk to Dick Lumb. I'll finish up. Gettin ready for this line, huh?

[B]

Well, we'll try your way one more time, Abner. But if we don't catch this line tonight, we'll get some dogs and trail him down.

[D]

I know we'll catch him tonight all right. Just wait til you see what old me and Cedric's got rigged up this bulk here. Learned me all about line hunt.

[B]

Well, you needn't account on me riding that elephant, I'll tell you that right now. Well, howdy Dick. How are you today?

[D]

Howdy, Mom.

[B]

Wife said you telephoned Joan to see me about something. Yeah. I'm glad you come over, Dick. Come on in the office, I'll explain it to you. What's Abner doing back there? Oh, he's rigging up the elephant. Getting ready to go hunt that lion again tonight. Haven't located him yet. No, he can find plenty of places where he's been, but we can't seem to find where he's at. Go ahead in. Well, thanks, Bob. I've been hearing a lot of complaints about that line, too. Yeah, and so have we. Granny's rich. Trying our best to locate him. Well, he's got the whole community scared to death. They're just afraid to go out after dark. Afraid he'll jump out of the bushes after him or something. Yeah, well, he wouldn't bother nobody. Couldn't hurt him if he wanted to. He ain't got a tooth in his head. Sit down. Sit down. Thanks, Honor. Well, I know courts. He ain't got no teeth. But it's just the idea of a lion being turned loose in the community is what's scaring him. When he starts that roaring, why, you can hear him for miles. Believe me now, the folks around here ain't venturing out after night. Oh, folks had been calling up here making complaints about it. And I told him we was doing all what could to catch him. Ain't a thing for him to be scared of. Ezra Sea Trunk was telling me that him and his whole family slept in the storm cellar last night. Well, I do know feared of old toothless lion. I slept right in my house. Don't catch me staying all night. No storm shelter. Just locked all the doors and winders and went right on off to sleep. It's a little warm. Little close to all the winders down, but that's a heat better than the storm cellar. Yeah, you're scared just like all the rest of us. No, no, you might as well admit it. No, sir, I don'. Sure, we caught him Saturday night over there on Old Piney Mountain. Yeah, yeah, Abner had one of them coal mining lights that they fashion on their caps when they're down in the mines. Oh, yeah, I was on carbide lights. He had one of them fastened on his hat or trying to shine the lion's eyes. Like Uncle Henry Lunsford used to hunt deer of a night. Yeah, well, we walked up on this critter the other night and there's two big eyes are staring. Was it the lion? No, but we thought it was.

[C]

I want water.

[B]

Well, I don't like to say, Dick. We couldn't tell, of course. All we could see was the eyes till we got right up. Well, tell what was it, Lawson? You weren't joyous about it, will you? No, of course not. What was it? Well, sir, it was that wild steer, Luther Phillips. When Abner shined that light in his Eyes he taken in after us and put us up a tree and our grannies. We had to stay there till daylight. Sunday morning this come on. Well, that ain't no way to hunt lions. Anyway. I found that. Shine em with the light that way. I gave Abner a book on how to hunt big game in Africa. Yeah, I know some pointers out of that. That'll help you catch it. Yeah, I think you just done that to have some fun out of that. Well, I know it's a good book all right, Granny. He's got it in his head now he's a big game hunter. Getting that poor elephant all rigged up for a big lion hunt tonight. I do know. Say, what was it you wanted to see me about?

[D]

Lum?

[B]

I've got to get on back to work. Oh, why? Me and Abner is putting on a sort of a contest to get a name for the elephant. And where'd you get the idea to put on a contest? Well, you know, when I telephoned sister Simpson the other day down there at your store to see if she could think up a good name. Oh, yeah, yeah, I remember now. Yeah, well, there must have been a lot of folks listening in on the party line for we've got a whole batch of letters here. Names, different ones they sent in. Yeah, yeah, that's what give us the idea to turn it into a regular contest and give a prize for the best name sent in. What kind of a prize you ain't gonna give em? Why me and Abner decide to give the person that sends in the best name for the elephant a new Ford radio for their car. Well, say, that's a nice prize. Yeah, but suppose that somebody wins it. Lum doesn't have a Ford. Well, these Ford radios will fit any car in them. Oh, they will?

[C]

Sure.

[B]

Well, that's all right. Then. Find out where did I come in on. Well, we wanted June, Grandpappy Spears and Doc Cook to be the judges to pick out the best name for the elephant. Oh, no, now, Lum, I'd rather not, you know. Now, there ain't no way out of this yet. I ain't asking you, I'm just telling you. You're one of the committees. Gene Abner or Dan Davis can't do it on account of being connected with the garage here, you know.

[C]

No, no.

[B]

Well, unless you've done decided it. Well, I guess I'll ask the serve. Well, I've done decided all right. Now, I'll call up the folks on the party line and tell them about the contest. And I'M just afraid you're getting me in for a lot of work from that's what you're doing. Now, don't tell the folks on the Party line that I'm one of the judges. No, I ain't. Wait a minute. Everybody's listening in now. Howdy, everybody. This is the Pine Ridge Motor Company broadcasting over the Party Line Network. Some hitters. President and left vice president doing a talking. I got an extra special announcement to make today. You folks all know the elephant at Abner traded for a few days ago. Well, we're trying to find a good name for him. So we're going to give a new Ford radio to the person who sends in the name the judges select as the best. Just mail them to Lum and Abner and we'll get them. Now, this contest will run till Thursday of this week, so better get busy and send us in a name. I reckon that's all. What in the world's that out in front there? Looks like Abner coming up out there. Wait just a minute. Wait a minute. Goodbye, everybody. Well, for the great I am. What's that on that elephant there? I don't know. That's something Abner's doing.

[D]

Come on out there, man.

[B]

Abner, what in the name. What's that business you got up on that elephant's bag?

[D]

I know that. This is what they call a hood on that boat.

[B]

It looks like a body off old used car. I told you.

[D]

This will make a 5 passenger out of it. Where most of them just got a box. Up there we've got a regular shoe dance.

[B]

If that elephant don't look fine. That body off that used car up on him there. Where in the world did you get that outfit you got on there? Undoubtedly you don't aim to wear a game hunter outfit. Why, you've got enough junk there to start a secondhand store. Is that a dish pan upside down there that you're wearing for a hat? Ether. Look at them short pants and them boots. Now, if you don't look aside.

[D]

Look at the guns we've got here. I'll. Me and you going right up here in the front seat. And Cedric's going to beat the line out of the brush. I know. We'll show him how big game hunting ought to be There.

[B]

Granny's dick. I know. It was a mistake to ever give that book on how to hunt big game. Dabner. And he ain't got a li.

[C]

Well, anyway, don't forget, if you have a name to suggest for the elephant, send it to Laman Abner in care of your station. You may be the winner of that Ford radio Know the facts before you buy a car and you'll buy a Ford V8 for instance. The all steel electrically welded body versus the body of wood and steel. Fact number 1 steel doesn't need wood for strength or protection.

[B]

2.

[C]

The steel and wood body is not much stronger structurally than its wooden frame.

[B]

3.

[C]

Under extreme stress or shock, the steel body remains intact, dented perhaps, but not crushed.

[B]

4.

[C]

It is more expensive to make an all steel body than to make a wooden frame and then nail steel panels on it until experience proved it unwise. Ford mixed wood and steel in bodies and wheels. It was the best way then, but the state of the art has advanced. No one argues now that the electrically welded one piece wheel such as the Ford wheel needs to be strengthened by adding wood to it. Know the facts before you buy a car. All the facts in fairness yourself. See the new Ford before you buy. In closing, we want to remind you to listen for the special announcement to be given during the Old Time Sociable Friday night. Lum and Abner will tell you about a very interesting contest in which they will give away a new Ford V8 every Friday night and everyone is invited to take part. Dean Hamilton speaking for your local Ford dealer who invites you to follow the experiences of Lumen Avenue tomorrow evening at this same time.

[B]

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