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‘Lum and Abner’ is a registered trademark, used by permission of Chester Lauck, Jr. Copyright 2011 FirstArkansasNews.net and Donnie Pitchford. All rights reserved.
For my part, Uncle Donnie, I think you’ve struck a great balance with the use of the dialect.
Any reason why this week’s installment hasn’t been published to the website yet? Looking forward to the start of the new series!
Thank you, Brian! As you can see if you’re reading this, “Murder in Pine Ridge?” has started! Since FirstArkansasNews.net is HQed in Benton, Arkansas, they’ve had a rough time the past few days due to a massive power grid failure. This is all due to the oppressive heat wave that is blanketing this region of the country. Naturally, FAN was unable to operate as efficiently as might be expected this week.
Incidentally, “The Mena Star” sent me a copy of the first issue (July 18) featuring our “Lum and Abner” strip the other day. It’s great to see it in the same newspaper that reported the first news about their native sons, “Tuffy” and Chet, a little over 80 years ago!
Yeah, this heat has caused some issues, no doubt. New series looks to be good already.
Hi-ho, Muskrat!
Thank you. I think this will be a fun one to write and draw. And please remember to tell everyone about the audio feature. Many of our blind friends are fans of “Old Time Radio” and “Lum and Abner.” We need to keep spreading the word. Contact your local newspaper editors as well. Thanks!
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Cheers Donnie
I carry the original Lum and Abner Radio show on my Podcast as well as a variety of other Old Time Radio Programs in my Podcast. Please feel free to download the Podcast (its free)for your commute or easy listening, and be sure to tell your friends. It is nice to put faces with the voices, thank you FAN.
Thank you, Ed! And thanks for spreading the word about the “Lum and Abner” comic strip and audio feature!
Wow I’ve been away for a couple of weeks and I come back to find Mousey Grey!
It’s very interesting to see how you portrayed Mousey. I had kind of pictured him that way too, perhaps a bit shorter.
I really like the almanac frames a lot! You should consider a whole strip of those sometime. They are very well done!
I foresee a whole strip of those, with the Unk’s signature on it, framed and hanging on my wall!
Many thanks, Jimbo. Glad you are enjoying “Murder… in Pine Ridge?” as well as “‘Cordin’ to th’ Almanac.” “Lum and Abner” has such a rich history in regard to broadcasting, rural humor and general Americana in addition to its contribution to Arkansas history and heritage. The “Almanac” panel is designed to let folks know of some of their notable contributions. For instance, Chet Lauck designed the “running Razorback” emblem (an earlier version of the one we see now) while a student at the University of Arkansas. Also, “Lum and Abner” was the first comedy program to be broadcast with the two stars in different nations using the CBS feed from London (Lum) while Abner was in Chicago. Stay tuned for more!
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If you need more ‘Cordin to the Almanac’ ideas, please consult me as I have lots of tidbits from newspapers I would be be happy to find for you.
Another great strip this week, btw.
Beautiful! I’ll be a sponsor!
Thank you, Ben Ohmart! Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Ohmart publishes some of the finest books on the subjects of old time radio, television, motion pictures, etc. available on the market today!
Love the comic strip. Very entertaining and funny. Keep em coming!!!
Congratulations, Kenneth Smith, for posting the 100th comment here! We’re on top of the “most commented” list below – now we need to crack the “most viewed” list! And Jimbo, I’m late in responding. I will accept any “Almanac” suggestions you have, although I already have a seemingly endless supply. There’s no guarantee that panel will continue forever; it’s up to the readers. I started it to let folks know some of the rich history of “Lum and Abner” as a radio show, film series and Arkansas contribution to national broadcasting and rural humor. The “Lum and Abner” show inspired so many rural comedies that were to follow, and it should never be forgotten. Hi-ho Muskrat and Wonderful World!
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A little late in viewing the comic… anyhoo, I enjoy seeing how you “see” the characters.
I picture Dick Huddleston as being a bit more stout that the character you have… but yes, I always see him smiling and being pleasant.
Wondering if you will show any women or work your way around them?
Nice stuff again this time. Love your work!
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Thanks, Jimbo. I based Dick Huddleston’s look on a couple of old photos I had of him. His daughter described him to us as a tall, fairly trim gentleman. He had a strong nose and in the photo I have he is wearing glasses. You hit upon one of the major problems in illustrating any “theater of the mind” character – everyone “sees” him or her differently! I picture Dick, when I hear the shows, looking like a person I once worked with whose name happpened to be Dick, and who spoke very much like Norris Goff (his natural voice is used for Dick Huddleston).
As for women in the strip, perhaps you missed Widow Abernathy and Aunt Charity Spears! Check the “Laziness Thy Name is Abner” story which is still available (check the links above!)
FAN is offering a great “Gunsmoke” show this weekend. Did you know actors worked on both “Gunsmoke” and “Lum and Abner?” In fact, the principals, William Conrad, Parley Baer and Howard McNear all played parts on “Lum and Abner” at one time or another! And Mr. Baer and Mr. McNear later worked on “The Andy Griffith Show,” a program inspired in part by – you guessed it – “Lum and Abner!”
I’ve been asked about my above comments, “‘The Andy Griffith Show,’ a program inspired in part by – you guessed it – ‘Lum and Abner!’” As Lum and Abner might say, “Don’t git yer back up!” In no way was I insinuating the classic Griffith show “stole” aspects of its concept. “Lum and Abner” truly did set the stage for later rural situation comedy. Rather than try to explain it here, I’d like to invite you to read an article by a longtime Lum and Abner and Andy Griffith fan, Mr. Kurt Jensen, which has recently been “reprinted” online. Visit the National Lum and Abner Society web site to read it. Just click the big, beautiful, blue “Visit Sponsors” button at the top, or my name “Donnie Pitchford” and you will find a link the the NLAS home page. Thanks!
Also, recent “Gasoline Alley” comic strips have featured a little guy running a general store who looks and sounds a LOT like our friend Abner! Search for “GoComics.com” and I’ll bet you can find some of these. There is also a longtime character who reminds me a lot of Cedric. The cartoonist is Jim Scancarelli, and he does an excellent job.
I will be the guest on “Panola Pride” Monday, September 26, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. CST. One of our topics is the “Lum and Abner” comic strip. The program is available online in an archived format at http://www.theheartbeatofeasttexas.com/
by looking for the “Panola Pride” link (not sure how soon it will be uploaded). In Carthage, Texas, you can view the show on Cable Channel 22. In our area of East Texas, you can hear it on 104.3 FM radio. It’s a 25-minute show.
I made a huge error in my comment above. The program will be on Cable Channel 21 in Carthage, Texas.
For 18 years, I operated the other channel as part of my duties at CHS-TV, so it was a long-reinforced force of habit!
We were unable to secure a video recording of the radio-TV show this morning, but I do have the audio posted at http://vimeo.com/29629952
We talk about “Lum and Abner” and other stuff!
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It is great to see the boys back in “circulation” after these many years!!! As an Old -Time Radio fan, I hope this inspires many more folks, young and old alike, to take up the hobby of radio show collecting-through either the purchase of tapes,CD’s, records at their favorite used book store or library, or through listening to the many OTR shows available online at many websites!! Keep up the good work and “Happy Listening” from “The Reel Old-Time Great Radio Shows Club” of Springfield Illinois!! E.J.Kienzler II founder
Many thanks to E. J. Kienzler II! We do hope more folks will learn about Lum and Abner through this project. Radio drama and comedy offers a rich world of entertainment for all ages. Also, our audio version of each strip is a unique project designed to sound like a miniature OTR program, but it was introduced with our many blind friends in mind. We hope our readers will pass the word along about this project!
Loving these trips!
FYI – The Audio link for Strip #20 is pointing to the MP3 for strip #19. Needs to be corrected. Meanwhile, folks can replace the “019″ in the address bar when clicking on the link with “020″ to get the audio for today’s strip.
Thank you Brian for pointing out the audio issue. I’m sure Bro. Ethan will correct it as soon as he can. He seems to be one busy guy right now. I’m sure I speak for him in saying we’re both glad you liked Sunday’s strip. Thanks!
Awful good stuff. I’ve missed the last 3 weeks. But it’s nice to be able to catch-up. Such wonderful comics!
Thank you Jimbo – and everyone!
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Still wonderful comics! I enjoy them very much!
And a happy Thanksgiving to you Donnie and all First Arkansas News readers!
Thank you Jimbo! And we thank the readers of First Arkansas News, along with the many sponsors who invested in this project. We’re very thankful for our newspapers, “The Mena Star,” “The Saline Courier,” and “The Standard” as well as “Old Radio Times” and “GoComics.com” all of which allow readers another avenue of reading the strips. I also thank God for my blessings!
Mr. Pitchford
I have always thought your talent was incredible, even back at Elmore Park. To write your own comics at such an early age. Always enjoyed your art back then, expecially like the giants that had the rumbles in the city. You put a lot of detail into those panels. I was jealous that you were always pulled from class and got to go do some teachers boards while I had to sit and listen to some boring lesson. You could do a Peanuts panel for that one, I am sure. Have a great holiday and stay safe.
Take care and see you in the funny papers!
Royce West
Royce West! When I saw that name, I about jumped out of this chair… Amazing! I haven’t seen you in (dare I say it?) 41 years, back when we were in school at Elmore Park, just outside of Memphis, Tennessee. How did you find us here? Please check us on Facebook also. I have a personal page there plus the Lum and Abner Comic Strip Group (button above). I remember so much about living in Memphis in the 1960s, looking forward to seeing what Sivad was going to run on “Fantastic Features,” Trent and Tiny, Mr. Be, Happy Hal, Mr. Magic, and so much more. Good ol’ Elmore Park! Recently, the original building was torn down, which is very sad, since I’d visited it in 2008 and it still looked great.
Thank you, Royce! This made my day!
I will be glad to send you additional links where my current work is featured. It took me a while to get back to “being a cartoonist” – I was involved in the education (and also broadcasting) profession from 1983-2010 – but here I am.
Thanks again sir!
Donnie,
I am a civil engineer with the Corps of Engineer (25 years +) in Little Rock AR. I never new of “Lum and Abner” but some of the “older” engineers that I work with have talked about the series. Never gave it much thought at the time. To make a long story short, thanks to the small world that has been created by the internet, a familiar name appeared during a search. Not too many folks name Pitchford (probably) and how many named “Donnie” (Donald D. if I remember correctly) and how many of those would be capable of the artwork that you could produce. A few clicks later and we are connected. I creeped on your stuff (that is what my kids call it) and see that you taught media production. Interesting, since my youngest was involved in media production in the North Little Rock school system and now majors in mass communication at the University of Central Arkansas. I have an appreciation for your work in that area and as a teacher in the public school system (my wife is a teacher). So, I will check out your FB. Since you mentioned the old Elmore Park, there is an “Elmore Park” group on FB if you don’t know that already. If you have any old group classroom pics that is the place to put them. I actually found 2 group pics and plan to scan and upload them to the group (soon?).
Royce
Again, amazing, Royce West! I will send you a message on FB…
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Remember, give Chester the Turkey a break this year, and he’ll greet you every evening and join you for a little walk.
The “Lum and Abner” comic strip is again part of “The Old Radio Times,” a colorful digital magazine available for FREE by visiting this URL to the Old Time Radio Researchers Group and signing up:
http://otrr.org/pg07_times.htm
I believe you can click my name above this time and it will serve as a link to them.
They have this to say about the November-December issue:
“Here’s your new issue of ‘The Old Radio Times. Just chock full of
great Holiday articles for your enjoyment.
“Dee Neyhart, Doug Hopkinson, Jimbo Mason, Martin Grams, they’re all
here, plus several newcomers to our pages.
“The lead article is by Mickey Smith and commerates the attack on Pearl
Harbor and its effects on radio. We know you’ll enjoy it.
“Nuf’ said. Happy Holidays from your staff at ‘The Old Radio Times’!”
[...] of SupermanBlue BeetleBuck RogersFlash GordonOne Man’s FamilySpeed GibsonChristmas programsLum and AbnerSponsorsLaziness, Thy Name is AbnerSuper Weasel Lawyer [...]
Nice Zasu Pitts representation !
Ya know, she was on Fibber McGee and Molly for a while in the late 1930′s?
Thanks Jimbo! I notice you’re one of the writers for “The Old Radio Times” too. I know Miss Pitts was very busy! As you probably know, she was also a regular on the half-hour “Lum and Abner” show. I saw her recently on TCM in an episode of “Screen Directors Playhouse” in which she co-starred with Buster Keaton and Joe E. Brown. And did you know Mae Questel always said she patterned the voice of Olive Oyl on Zasu Pitts? “Ohhh, dear…”
[...] of SupermanBlue BeetleBuck RogersFlash GordonOne Man’s FamilySpeed GibsonChristmas programsLum and AbnerSponsorsLaziness, Thy Name is AbnerSuper Weasel Lawyer [...]
[...] of SupermanBlue BeetleBuck RogersFlash GordonOne Man’s FamilySpeed GibsonChristmas programsLum and AbnerSponsorsLaziness, Thy Name is AbnerSuper Weasel Lawyer [...]
[...] of SupermanBlue BeetleBuck RogersFlash GordonOne Man’s FamilySpeed GibsonChristmas programsLum and AbnerSponsorsLaziness, Thy Name is AbnerSuper Weasel Lawyer [...]
Fun one today! I think I subconsciously knew Olive Oyl was based on Zasu; after all they act a lot alike.
BTW the audio portion of your comics is great too. I suggest anyone readin’ the comics check out the audio at the same time! THUMBS UP!
My wife Laura joins me in wishing everyone a blessed, Merry Christmas. Let us follow Lum and Abner’s example and pause to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, and the Birthday it observes, as Doc Miller says, of that “fine Baby Boy.”
Donnie Pitchford
Carthage, Texas
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My Father-inlaw Roy Warren was in the Army Airforce, and served with the person who drew the cartoons. They were in the same barricks, and while killing time the artist drew a cartoon on a brown paper sack, and signed it to Roy Warren from ?? I don’t remember the name. Roy died serveral years ago, and this paper sack was in my possesion for serveral years. I passed it on to my Son Danny. His wife and children didn’t take care of it. They have since seperated, and Danny has no idea what happened to it.
Roy Warren during the early 1940′s was an instructer of bomb sights in the aircraft. Top secret at that time. I do know he was stationed at McCook,Ne. while he was teaching Bomb Sights.
Hello Darrel,
Very interesting! What cartoons are you speaking of? Perhaps I can do some research and find out who this cartoonist is. I’m very interested in the history of comics! Thanks! Happy new year!
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Happy New Year! The “Lum and Abner” comic strip audio for January 1, 2012, features the wonderful Hollywood actress and screenwriter Kay Linaker! The audio was recorded at the 2003 National Lum and Abner Society Convention. Miss Linaker, also known as Kate Phillips, was in several “Charlie Chan” movies in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and had a wonderful part in Lum and Abner’s third film, “Two Weeks to Live.” (See “‘Cordin’ to th’ Almanac” in comic strip #27). “Murder! in Pine Ridge?” was written especially for her.
Fell behind a couple weeks – the Christmas strip is fantastic! Very nicely done…THUMBS UP!
Thanks Jimbo and everyone. Several people contacted me about the Christmas strip, saying they expected to hear the actual “Lum and Abner’s Traditional Christmas Story” on the “Click here to listen” link. They were disappointed. I explained we simply do not have permission to use entire recorded programs – only to dramatize the actual comic strips. And in answer to another question e-mailed to me, yes, I realize sometimes the audio differs from the strip. Why? It’s because the audio versions were started to answer requests from our many blind friends who love old time radio and “Lum and Abner” radio shows in particular. I add extra narration and little bits here and there to the audio. Also, sometimes I change dialog between the scripting and art process, and often the audio has been recorded weeks in advance, so… Sorry for any confusion!
HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! Thank you for reading and listening to our “Lum and Abner” comic strip!
Donnie – getting a kick out of how you show someone passing out – ie. – their feet in the air and showing nothing but shoes.
Nice work again. Wish I had a tenth of your artistic talent!
[...] of SupermanBlue BeetleBuck RogersFlash GordonOne Man’s FamilySpeed GibsonChristmas programsLum and AbnerSponsorsLaziness, Thy Name is AbnerSuper Weasel Lawyer [...]
http://johnswalters.com/id7.html
Try the above URL (or click my name) and there is information about our special guest voice, Kay Linaker a.k.a. Kate Phillips, including a 21st Century photo of her with a poster for “The Blob!”
Donnie,
I have been very much enjoying ALL the comic strips AND the audio versions as well.
Thank you so much for taking us all back down memory lane and creating new memories of Pine Ridge. I just wish I could do The Andy Griffith Show in cartoon form.
Thank you Allan Newsome and everyone who takes the time to read and listen to “Lum and Abner!” You all should check out Allan’s podcasts. He’s done some comparing and contrasting “Lum and Abner” to “The Andy Griffith Show.”
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