Lum and Abner 1935-01-04 Lum and Abner Sell Oil Well To Mr. Carter

Summary

Summary of "Lum and Abner Sell Oil Well To Mr. Carter"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Host/Author: Harolds Old Time Radio
• Episode: Lum and Abner 1935-01-04 – Lum and Abner Sell Oil Well To Mr. Carter
• Release Date: April 21, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, listeners are transported back to the bustling town of Pine Ridge where the beloved characters Lum Eddard and Abner Peabody navigate the complexities of selling their newly drilled oil well. Set against the backdrop of the Golden Age of Radio, the episode captures the charm and humor of small-town life intertwined with burgeoning oil business dealings.

The Oil Deal Negotiation

Timestamp [02:31]: The episode primarily revolves around the negotiation between Lum and Abner and Mr. Carter, a representative from the Southwest Oil Company. Lum explains the terms of their potential deal:

Lum Eddard [02:41]: "No royalty in the oil business, Abner means that we'll get so much on every barrel of oil they get off of that land over there. We get $3,000 cash money and 10 cents on every barrel that's sold."

Mr. Carter is initially skeptical but intrigued by the promise of steady income:

Mr. Carter [03:55]: "Doggy, that does sound pretty good, don't it?"

Lum elaborates on the scalability of the deal, projecting significant earnings based on oil production:

Lum Eddard [04:05]: "That'll be twelve hundred dollars a day we'll get out of it. $400 a piece for me. And you and Grandpapa done figured that."

The conversation reveals Lum and Abner's optimism and lack of involvement post-deal, emphasizing passive income:

Lum Eddard [04:15]: "We don't even have to be here. We can go off and vacate ourselves... That's what I call making your brain work for you."

Detailed Terms and Finalizing the Agreement

As negotiations progress, Lum presents the detailed financial breakdown:

Lum Eddard [05:35]: "If they drill a hundred wells over there, I've got it up to a thousand. But if they drill a hundred wells over there and get 2,000 barrels out of every one of them, that's 200,000 barrels and we get 10 cents a."

Mr. Carter acknowledges the promising prospects, highlighting the potential for substantial profits:

Mr. Carter [05:58]: "Barrel for the land."

Lum confidently outlines the minimal responsibilities they retain, focusing on the long-term benefits:

Lum Eddard [07:09]: "I ain't getting inquisitive. Me and Abner sort of thinking about coming over and eating with you tonight."

The climax of the negotiation occurs when Dick Huddleston enters, seeking confirmation of the deal. The agreement is formalized with signatures and the exchange of deeds and contracts:

Lum Eddard [11:06]: "Now, here's the royalty contract where we agree to pay you gentlemen 10 cents on every barrel of oil produced on that particular five acres. And here's the draft for $3,000."

Mr. Carter expresses satisfaction with the swift agreement:

Mr. Carter [11:19]: "That's what I want to see."

Family Interactions and Personal Touches

Interwoven with the business discussions are heartwarming family interactions that ground the characters in their community. Mrs. Barker introduces a personal element, sharing how Horlick's malted milk tablets aided her granddaughter's health:

Mrs. Barker [12:49]: "Her food didn't seem to agree with her at all... But when I called in our family doctor and he recommended Horlick's malted milk."

Lum reminisces about the importance of Horlick's in their own family's history:

Lum Eddard [13:05]: "We were happy beyond words when we found that little boy began to perch up at once."

These exchanges highlight the characters' deep-rooted connections and reliance on trusted products like Horlick's, reinforcing the era's community-centric values.

Conclusion

As the episode draws to a close, Lum and Abner secure their oil well deal, setting the stage for future prosperity. Their partnership with Mr. Carter and the Southwest Oil Company promises financial stability, allowing them to focus on personal joys and community bonds. The seamless blend of business acumen and heartfelt interactions encapsulates the essence of Lum and Abner, offering listeners a nostalgic glimpse into mid-1930s small-town America.

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Notable Quotes:

• Lum Eddard [02:41]: "No royalty in the oil business... We get $3,000 cash money and 10 cents on every barrel that's sold."
• Mr. Carter [05:58]: "Barrel for the land."
• Lum Eddard [07:09]: "I ain't getting inquisitive. Me and Abner sort of thinking about coming over and eating with you tonight."
• Mrs. Barker [12:49]: "Her food didn't seem to agree with her at all... But when I called in our family doctor and he recommended Horlick's malted milk."
• Lum Eddard [13:05]: "We were happy beyond words when we found that little boy began to perch up at once."

These quotes, strategically placed throughout the episode, encapsulate the characters' motivations, the promising nature of the oil deal, and the enduring importance of family and community ties.

Transcript

[Nicole Byer]

We interrupt this program to bring you an important Wayfair message. Wayfair's got style tips for every home. This is Nicole Byer helping you make those rooms flyer. Today's style tip when it comes to making a statement, treat bold patterns like neutrals. Go wild like an untamed animal. Print area rug under a rustic farmhouse table. From wayfair.com Ooh, fierce. This has been your Wayfair style tip to keep those interiors superior.

[Lum Eddard]

Wayfair Every style. Every.

[Abner Peabody]

Howdy everybody. Here we are all ready to take you down to Pine Ridge for another visit with Lum and Abner. Brought to you by the makers of Horlick, the original malted milk. Folks, when you go downtown shopping or when motoring or hunting, take a flask of Horlick's malted milk tablets along with you. There's nothing like them for helping ward off fatigue or hunger. When you begin to feel tired or feel hungry, just dissolve a few of these delicious tablets in your mouth. They'll nourish you while you work, keep you going at top speed when you aren't able to eat on time. Children love Horlick malted milk tablets. They can easily carry a supply to school with them. You can get Horlick malted milk tablets, you know, in either natural or chocolate flavor, either in the small, conveniently carried 10 cent size flask or in larger sizes. And now let's get ready for Lum and Abner. Well, yesterday a Mr. Carter representing the Southwest Oil Company arrived in Pine Ridge to negotiate for the oil well that Lum and Abner recently drilled. He seemed very much interested in buying their holdings. And as we left them last night, Mr. Carter and Lum were in conference over the matter. As we look in on our old friends today, we find Lum and Abner down at their newly completed office. Evidently an agreement has been reached, but the deal hasn't been closed.

[Mr. Carter]

Listen, now what is it that he's going to give us besides that $3,000 lum royalty. You mean he's going to make a king out of you?

[Lum Eddard]

No royalty in the oil business, Abner means that we'll get so much on every barrel of oil they get off of that land over there. We get $3,000 cash money and 10 cents on every barrel that's sold.

[Mr. Carter]

Yeah, well out of heat, Druther Lawn. We just sold a whole shebang for cash to start with and get out all baby.

[Lum Eddard]

Well, we'll be out of it. We won't have a thing to do with it. Won't have no say so or nothing. All we got to do is sit back and get a check from them every month or whatever coming to it without even turning a hand.

[Mr. Carter]

Well, how much we going to get every month, though?

[Lum Eddard]

Well, that depends on how much oil they get. They're going to clean the well we dug out good and put casings.

[Abner Peabody]

Casing?

[Mr. Carter]

You mean automobile casing?

[Lum Eddard]

Car. No, no, I don't know what it is, but that's what he said. I know it ain't automobile cases, though.

[Mr. Carter]

Yeah.

[Lum Eddard]

Says he believes it'll run two or three thousand barrels a day then.

[Mr. Carter]

Well, how much will that come to for us?

[Lum Eddard]

Well, if it runs 2,000 barrels a day, and he says it'll do that easy, that'll be $200 a day we'll make out of it.

[Mr. Carter]

$200 a day?

[Lum Eddard]

That's what he says. And on top of that, they're going to drill some more wells over there. They're just gonna drill all over that five acres. We'll get 10 cents on every barrel that's pumped out of there, regardless.

[Mr. Carter]

Doggy, that does sound pretty good, don't it?

[Lum Eddard]

It sounded awful good to me if they drilled five more wells over there, say, and they're as big as that and we got over there now.

[Mr. Carter]

Yeah.

[Lum Eddard]

That'll be twelve hundred dollars a day we'll get out of it. $400 a piece for me. And you and Grandpapa done figured that.

[Mr. Carter]

Out for the land sake.

[Lum Eddard]

And we don't even have to be here. We can go off and vacate ourselves, go anywhere. Just let them know where to send a check to, and here it'll come every month. That's what I call making your brain work for you.

[Mr. Carter]

Well, now, that's sounding better. All right. When you said that all the cash we got out was $3,000. Well, I thought you'd let him give you a skinny.

[Lum Eddard]

Skinny?

[Mr. Carter]

Me?

[Lum Eddard]

Don't you ever worry about nobody giving me a skinny?

[Mr. Carter]

I bet old Grandpapa be tickled. He didn't much want to sign that agreement yesterday giving you full authority to sell the company.

[Lum Eddard]

No, I could tell that.

[Mr. Carter]

No, no, he didn't.

[Lum Eddard]

But that fella Carter said that's the only way he'd do business. Yeah, he told me he's just working for the Southwest Oil Company. He don't own none of it.

[Mr. Carter]

He don't, huh?

[Lum Eddard]

No, he's just representing the president. That's what I owe. They get. You know somebody that I represent. That's right. I ain't president or nothing. Now, I'm A capital well.

[Mr. Carter]

I don't know what I am, but I'm through work and I know that I've hit my last tap.

[Lum Eddard]

Oh, ye. Yeah. I don't aim to ever turn another hand, long as it live. No. You see that piece of paper there on the floor?

[Mr. Carter]

Yeah.

[Lum Eddard]

I wouldn't even put myself to the bother of bending over and picking that thing up for $10. That's just how dependent I am.

[Mr. Carter]

I wouldn't pick it up for a hundred dollars.

[Lum Eddard]

Yes, that's right. No, I wouldn't.

[Mr. Carter]

What is it?

[Lum Eddard]

Oh, just a scrap of paper somehow. No, no, that's that paper. I figure out how much money we're gonna make on here. See here, you want to show you. If they drill a hundred wells over there, I've got it up to a thousand. But if they drill a hundred wells over there and get 2,000 barrels out of every one of them, that's 200,000 barrels and we get 10 cents a.

[Mr. Carter]

Barrel for the land.

[Lum Eddard]

And that's how. I never finished that. Oh, that's too much bother. Anyhow. Have our cigar, Ambler. We can smoke these things all we want to.

[Mr. Carter]

Hello. We can take life easy now, huh? Just sit around and eat and sleepy. That reminds me too. I'm gonna hire somebody to do the cooking over at the place while Elizabeth is gone. I'm just about half starved myself to death here lately. Trying to cook my own grub and eat it.

[Lum Eddard]

I ain't gonna hire no crook. I'm gonna start eating down at the hotel.

[Mr. Carter]

At the hotel?

[Lum Eddard]

Yeah.

[Mr. Carter]

Doggos. I'm just a good mice to do that with you long now. We might start eating over at Sister Simpson's. I believe she sets a better.

[Lum Eddard]

Boy, a good idea. I never thought about that. Evelina eats there too.

[Mr. Carter]

Well, now that will be nice for you. You can just sit there and eat and spark. Evelina.

[Lum Eddard]

Yeah. Why didn't I think about that before?

[Mr. Carter]

Yeah.

[Lum Eddard]

I believe I'll just call Sister Simpson up and tell her we'll be over there for supper.

[Mr. Carter]

Yeah, that's the time. Just telephone her up. Tell her to have some fried chicken, hot biscuits, black eyed peas, gravy and mashed potatoes. Yogurt. I'm hungry.

[Lum Eddard]

Hello, Sister Simpson? This is Lum Eddard. Yes, Mom. What are you going to have for supper tonight?

[Mr. Carter]

As to what kind of pie she's going to have, I do.

[Lum Eddard]

Well, it is some of my business. I ain't getting inquisitive. Me and Abner sort of thinking about coming over and eating with you tonight.

[Mr. Carter]

Yeah, think about it. I'm coming. I'll be there.

[Lum Eddard]

Yes, Mom. So what do we aim to pay first? Spare ribs and backbone and fish, huh? Hey, yeah, well, yeah, it's fine. Me and Abner is coming over there to eat tonight then. Yes, Ma.

[Mr. Carter]

Cuts of it.

[Lum Eddard]

And Sister Simpson, I just wonder if you couldn't sort of put me and Abner and Evelina over to the table by ourselves?

[Mr. Carter]

Evelina?

[Lum Eddard]

Yes, Ma. One of them big tables. If you still got some of them.

[Mr. Carter]

Stack it high, put sideboards on it, all right?

[Lum Eddard]

Yes, Ma, I know. Six o'clock. Yes, ma'am. All right. Goodbye.

[Mr. Carter]

And you never asked her what she charges?

[Lum Eddard]

Mom, I don't care what she charges. I'll get my money's worth, hungry as I am now. We don't have to worry about expenses now. No, we.

[Mr. Carter]

Oh, no. Lord, I don't care if she charges 50 cents. I feel like celebrating.

[Lum Eddard]

Yeah, I might take Evelina into the county seat to a picture show tonight too.

[Mr. Carter]

Yeah, I'll go with you.

[Lum Eddard]

Wait til she hears about this deal.

[Mr. Carter]

Somebody at the moment, more likely Mr. Carter.

[Lum Eddard]

Back with them papers. Come in, come in.

[Mr. Carter]

Well, howdy, Dick.

[Lum Eddard]

Come in, Dick. I just run over and see if you'd made a deal with that fell.

[Mr. Carter]

On the oil well yet.

[Lum Eddard]

Well, we made a deal, Dick, but we ain't closed it yet.

[Mr. Carter]

Oh, I made a deal with him to where none of us will ever have to do another day's work.

[Lum Eddard]

Yeah, sure did. I got a $3,000 in cash and a royalty of 10 cents a barrel on all the oil they get out of the ground. Nobody.

[Mr. Carter]

And they're going to drill a hundred more wells.

[Lum Eddard]

Well, we don't know just how many they're going to drill at. How does that sound, Dave? Well, all right, Lum. I don't know what you made a good deal. Of course, it'll depend on how much oil you get out of that well. Well, he says he believes when they get the well cleaned out good, it'll run at least 2,000 barrels a day. Well, I wouldn't be surprised. There must be a lot of it there or you wouldn't have struck it that close to the top of the ground. That's what I figured.

[Mr. Carter]

Yes, sir.

[Lum Eddard]

Don't know what you made a good deal, huh? What's holding it up? You said you hadn't closed it yet. Oh, I've got the deed all made out to them laying right here. But I want them to sign a paper relieving us of any responsibilities in the company. Yeah, Sort of like that when Squire Skimp made us sign when we bought that land off of him a while back. Yeah. Fact is, I copied it right off of that. And Squire got us to sign. You seen it. We agree to assume all the debts and obligations heretofore and hereinafter made by the Pine Ridge Oil Company and stuff like that. You mean that they're going to pay for all those barrels and the drilling.

[Mr. Carter]

Of the well and all that?

[Lum Eddard]

No, no, we'll have to pay for that. But if anything comes up later that we don't know about, they can't hold us responsibility. Yeah, well, that's a good idea. That's good business. When's he gonna know about it? Well, he said he'd have to get authority before he could make a deal like that. I reckon he had to telephone the Southwest Oil Company about it. Yeah. Well, you fellas are mighty lucky. And I'm glad for you too. Well, thank you, Dick. I just wish you'd have been in with us on it. Love to see you get rich too. Well, I'm sorry now, I didn't go in with you when you fellas gave me a chance, Lum. But I can't blame anybody but myself. But now, if this boon keeps on. Well, I'm making pretty good money down there at my store. Now, that's good.

[Mr. Carter]

Yeah, we'll do our trading down there from here out. Dick won't argue about the price neither.

[Lum Eddard]

Wait. Wait a minute. Somebody at the door. Come in. Well, back already?

[Mr. Carter]

Come here. Mr. Carter.

[Lum Eddard]

Yes. I think we're all ready to close the deal now, gentlemen.

[Mr. Carter]

Mr. Carter, shake hands with Dick Huddleston.

[Lum Eddard]

How do you do, Mr. Huddleston? Glad to know you. I'm glad to know you, mister. Well, you gentlemen won't talk business, I'll get on out of here. No, that's all right, Dick. Deal's all made. Well, I've got to get back store anyway. L. I'll see you after a while. All right, Dick. Yeah.

[Mr. Carter]

Here, sit down, Mr. Carter. Take my care.

[Lum Eddard]

Thank you. You say that was all right with them to sign agreement?

[Mr. Carter]

Yeah.

[Lum Eddard]

Yes. No trouble at all. And if you have the deed ready, I'm ready to turn the draft over to you now.

[Mr. Carter]

Well, give it time.

[Lum Eddard]

Yeah. Here's a deed all made out. That's yours.

[Mr. Carter]

Yeah.

[Lum Eddard]

Now, here's the royalty contract where we agree to pay you gentlemen 10 cents on every barrel of oil produced on that particular five acres. And here's the draft for $3,000.

[Mr. Carter]

That's what I want to see.

[Lum Eddard]

Now, that agreement we leaving us to any responsibility. Yes, here it is. All signed by the president of our company. Signed, my grannies. How'd you get it signed so quick? Yeah, well, the president of our company lives right here in Pine Ridge.

[Mr. Carter]

Well, I thought the Southwest Oil Company was in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

[Lum Eddard]

No, I'm from Tulsa, but the company's here in Pine Ridge. Mr. M.K. skimp is our president. Maybe you gentlemen know him.

[Mr. Carter]

M K Skimp.

[Lum Eddard]

Well, I'll be dead blamed. That's Squire Skimp.

[Abner Peabody]

Well, what do you know about that? If Squire Skimp can't get a thing one way, he will another. And now, folks, let's pay a short visit to the Barker home. As we look in on the scene, we find Mrs. Barker at the telephone talking to her husband.

[Mrs. Barker]

Jim. I'm sorry to disturb you, dear, but I've got some great news for you. Your dad and mother in town? Yes, they are. Came in unexpectedly this morning. Your dad's on his way up to the house now. He'll be here any minute. Isn't it grand? They may go back tonight, but they'll be here for dinner. There's the front doorbell. That's probably dad now. Hurry home tonight, won't you, dear? Goodbye. Hello, dad. Oh, I'm so glad to see you.

[Lum Eddard]

Not half as glad that I am to see you. How are you?

[Mrs. Barker]

Just fine.

[Mr. Carter]

Here, let me take your things.

[Lum Eddard]

Oh, just lay them on the chair.

[Abner Peabody]

Be nice to drive you.

[Mrs. Barker]

You certainly did. What are you two doing up in this part of the country?

[Lum Eddard]

Oh, well, I had to come up on business and thought I'd drop in and pay you and Jim the visit. Am I welcome?

[Mrs. Barker]

You bet you are. This is a real treat.

[Lum Eddard]

How's that fine baby granddaughter of mine?

[Mrs. Barker]

Oh, just splendid. I was quite worried for a time, you know. Her food didn't seem to agree with her at all. But when I called in our family doctor and he recommended Horlick's malted milk. And from the very first feeding, the baby started to gain and our problem was solved.

[Lum Eddard]

You did just the right thing, my dear. Do you know, we've always felt that it's Horlicks that saved your husband's life when he was a baby. He'd been losing weight steadily and finally was so thin we feared we were going to lose him. Then our doctor recommended that we try a weak solution of Horlick's malt and milk. Say, we were happy beyond words when we found that little boy began to perch up at once. It wasn't long then until we had a normal, healthy baby again. No wonder that I feel you're giving your little girl a good start in following her daddy's example. And folks, there are thousands of families.

[Abner Peabody]

Who have had similar experiences with Horlick's malted milk. Horlicks is a wonderfully nourishing infant food and the easy digestibility of Horlicks makes it a food that delicate and tiny stomachs can easily handle. For youngsters, too, Horlicks is a great food drink. It will help your children to develop sturdy, healthy bodies, sound bones and good teeth. This is Carlton Brickert speaking for Lum and Abner and Horlick, who now bid you all good night and good health. We'll be with you all again Monday night at this same time.

[Nicole Byer]

We interrupt this program to bring you an important Wayfair message. Wayfair's got style tips for every home. This is Nicole Byer helping you make those rooms flyer. Today's style tip when it comes to making a statement, treat bold patterns like neutrals go wild like an untamed animal print area rug under a rustic farmhouse table from Wayfair. Oh fierce. This has been your Wayfair style tip to keep those interiors superior.

[Lum Eddard]

Wayfair Every style, every home.