Lum and Abner - Early Arkansas Celebrities

I can remember, when I moved to Arkansas in 1979, listening to Lum and Abner on the radio. Before moving here, I had never heard of them. If I remember right, they were on every day. It was a lot of fun to listen to them. The show originally aired from 1931 to 1954 and was very popular. 

While doing my project for Arkansas History in college, I picked them and Pine Ridge as a subject. Why? Well, I'm pretty sure it's the only town in the United States that was renamed because of a radio show.

Originally, Waters, the town was renamed Pine Ridge in 1936 after the show became so popular. Waters was near where Chester (Lum) and Norris (Abner) grew up and the town they based the show on. 

I was really surprised at how many postcards are available featuring these two interesting characters. Not only do they feature Lum and Abner, real names Chester Lauck and Norris Goff, but many also portray the town with Dick Huddleston's store (the inspiration for the show), the barbershop, as well as many other characters from the show. 

Not only radio stars, Lum and Abner also were featured in 7 movies from 1940 to 1956. 

Characters from the show also created a travelling show performing skits based on the radio show. An article from the May 10, 1939, edition of the Mountain Echo, published in Yellville, Arkansas, tells of the show coming to nearby Everton. The show was to have comedy, real hill billy music, magic, and cowboy songs. Sounds like it was an interesting show. Advertised as Dick Huddleston and his band, the show had already been on the road for several years. 

A yearly Lum and Abner festival is held in Pine Ridge, near Mena, the first weekend in June. 

A web page is also dedicated to the show with a good rundown on the history and posted hours for the museum and Jot 'em Down Store.

http://www.lum-n-abner.com