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Vol. I. No. I.

PINE RIDGE, NOVEMBER, 1933

PRICELESS


HOW'S THIS FOR POPULARITY?

Lum and Abner have a steady flow of fan mail but over and above that here is what happened recently: 22,567 names were sent in for Lum's petition for a new trial. 8,129 suggested names for Abner's baby elephant, Buttercup. 255,469 people visited Lum and Abner appearances during the week of the Cleveland Industrial Exposition. 8,200 guests attended Lum's "wedding" at Washington, D. C. 10,000 saw the "Sociable" broadcast at Indianapolis and thousands more had to be turned away.

PINE RIDGE NEWS IN PICTURES

Pine Ridge is a mythical town of course, but the pictures shown on the back page of this issue were made on "location." The scenes are laid in a small town in Ohio where business goes on from day to day just as Lum and Abner portray it for the radio audience in "Pine Ridge." The stores, the jail, the Justice of the Peace office and the "No Fishing" creek are all natural and were found just ready for the Lum and Abner characters to step in and bring Pine Ridge into actual existence. We'll let you into a secret. If you are ever visiting in the Cuyahoga river valley in Ohio, look for a small village named Peninsula, and you'll recognize the "location" at once. It is a quaint old place in a beautiful setting among rocks and hills, and if you get friendly with the people there, they may show you the creek that Lum jumped into when he discovered he had been "sleeping" on a snake during the taking of the fishing picture.

MEET STUBBY GORDON Boss of the Rhythm Masters

He's a quiet retiring sort of chap who never raises his voice. But he raises a wicked baton that swings his 25 Rhythm Masters into lively action for the Pine Ridge Sociable. "Stubby" has quite a record as a specialist in orchestration, and even before he became one of the favorites on the N.B.C. he was in big demand for his arrangement of dance specialties. While he shines best as a leader, Mr. Gordon is a versatile musician personally and there isn't a spot in the orchestra where he can't pick up an instrunmnt and pinch-hit.

Wedding Gifts for Lum and Evalena

The Bridal Party Just Before the Ceremony that "Skidded"

The matrimonial tangle of Lum and Evalena at Washington, D. C., produced an altogether unexpected reaction from the dear public--they sent enough wedding gifts--of a kind--to stock a home and start up a couple of variety stores. Tinware, kitchen utensils, rolling pins and a lot of "unmentionables" brought good wishes, but the principle gifts included a four story wedding cake--and was it ever good though?--and three miniature baby buggies. Incidentally, one of these was a handsome "latest model" and it is now the proud possession of little Miss Lauck--Lum's baby daughter. Offers of second hand furnishings and "antiques" were made if Lum or Evalena would furnish their "at home" address, and more than a dozen lawyers offered to donate their services free when the happy couple came to the point of getting a divorce. It was lots of fun anyway and just goes to show what a grip these boys have on the audience of the air.

"CHET" LAUCK AND "TUFFY" GOFF

WHO LUM AND ABNER REALLY ARE

Believe it or not, these two good looking All American boys you see on the back page are Lum and Abner. They probably rank among NBC's youngest stars and their climb up the ladder of radio fame has all been done in the last two years. Here's the long and the short of it--for Lum stands 6 ft. 1 1/2 in. high, while Abner is 5 ft. 6 in. low. When Lum first blinked at the Arkansas sun in 1903 his folks christened him Chester H. Lauck, and when he went to school the fellows shortened this to "Chet," and that has followed him all through Arkansas University into the NBC studios. Abner, who didn't materialize till four years later (another donation from Arkansas) started out in life as Norris Goff, but in early boyhood the proper handle got knocked off and ever since it's been "Tufty" Goff. Don't misjudge the young man. This title was hung on him because of what he did on the football field, the baseball diamond, and at the track meets! For all their natural southern drawl over the mike, both Chet and Tufty are snappy young fellows, both are University graduates belonging to Sigma Chi Fraternity, and disappointing as this may be to some of the ladies, both are married to Arkansas lasses. But to get back to the "Mike," Lum Edwards and Abner Peabody, are real living characters from the Arkansas Hills, and the reason these boys put it over so naturally is that they are portraying life as they have seen it from their childhood. Of course, they have a talent for theatricals and their first Lum and Abner skit was put on for sweet charity's sake at a Lion's Club Luncheon in Mena. So good was it that Station KTHS at Hot Springs demanded a broadcast--when "Tufty" proved he wasn't so tough after all by going "scared stiff" at the "Mike." So it's a far cry from an amateur skit to the NBC Chain with full responsibility as the sustaining artists on the Ford Broadcast every night of the week except Saturday and Sunday. Lum and Abner have built up a big radio following and if you don't believe it you ought to see their "fan" mail.

LUM & ABNER KIDDED BY HOSPITAL VETS

Indianapolis Boys Have a Good Time--and So Do Radio Stars

Disabled soldiers at the U. S. Veterans Hospital, Indianapolis, had a good time kidding with Lum and Abner when the Ford Radio Stars were in that city for their "Sociable" broadcast from the Cadle Tabernacle. They made a tour of the wards where they exchanged greetings and hand shakes with the shut-ins who could not come down to the Recreation Hall, and while many of the boys in bed could scarcely move they were loaded with wisecracks. The halls resounded with laughter as Abner "took it" about his whiskers, specs, and elephant hunting. Lum's "razzberries" centered mainly around his methods of financing $500 farm purchases and "fixing up a date" with Evalena. The tour of the wards was a hilarious round and the radio stars came in late to the Recreation Room to a boisterous reception. The mike was set up there so that the vets in bed could get the fun through their head phones. Lum and Abner put on an impromptu skit in Pine Ridge style, and the vets got a kick out of frequent personal shafts aimed at members of the audience. A bunch of the vets demanded that Abner be allowed to "sing his song," and the boys put on a comedy duet with hill-billy harmonizing and all the trimmings.

WILL YOU COME AND SEE A "SOCIABLE?"

Public Broadcasts Being Made From Different Points Each Week

The extraordinary receptions accorded Lum and Abner on all their public and semi-public appearances has raised the question, "Why not move the Friday Night broadcasts around?" So, Friday, November 10th, saw the opening of the tour at Indianapolis when ten thousand crowded the Cadle Tabernacle and thousands more had to be turned away. The following week Lum and Abner did all their broadcasting from New York where they were featured by N. B. C. as one of the leading shows put on during the gala opening of the new Radio City. When on tour these "Sociables" are staged in the largest theatres available, and Lum and Abner, appearing in person along with their guest stars, send their broadcast out over the N, B. C. network in full view of the audience. The stage actually becomes the studio, and the public becomes the "schoolhouse" audience.

FORD RADIO CONTEST PROVED VERY POPULAR

Another Prize Plan Under Way

The Ford radio contest with a Ford V-8 Sedan as the weekly prize proved itself to be one of the most popular features with the public. The call for a fifty word statement on "Why I Would Buy a Ford V-8 Car" produced many excellent entries that taxed the patience and skill of the judges. The simplicity of the contest brought entries from every class of people, and the list of winners supports the statement made throughout the contest that a bricklayer or a clerk had as good a chance to win as a college professor or a trained writer. Another plan, featuring attractive prize awards will be announced at an early date.

(Page 2)

OUR PLATFORM - "TO SEE JUSTICE DID FOR ALL, AND FAVORS TO NOBODY" -- An Old Ed'ards Sayin'

HOWDY! FOLKS

The first issue of the Pine Ridge News comes to you with a noble ideal, as you will see from our platform at the top of this column. The News is free and independent, it is managed and edited by the best brains in the county (see the list above) and its mighty influence will not be swayed by advertisers, self-seeking politicians, or other office holders who want to grab off high sounding titles. The News will be for the people in every sense of the word; its columns are always open to the public who agree with us, and they are invited to send in their communications saying how much they like what we are doing to shape the opinion of the public and run the community of Pine Ridge as we think it ought to be run. Local doings, and personal items about our friends will be featured, of course, but the Pine Ridge News will throw its influence far beyond the boundaries of Pine Ridge. We shall give the County Seat expert advice on running the whole county, and we shall try to keep President Roosevelt posted on national items like: Off the Gold Standard; How to Stop Hog Raising Too Much; Balancing the Foreign Debts; Revolutions in Alaska; Raising the Cost of Agricultural Production; What to Speak About on the Radio; The Embargo on Prohibition and all other matters that bite into the vitals of Pine Ridge tax-payers. We propose to keep clear of Allied Entanglements but if foreign nations want our advice on important affairs and other problems we shall do so gladly without prejudice to Pine Ridge or these United States. In other words, the Pine Ridge News will be right or wrong but it will be the Pine Ridge News just the same.

PEABODY'S PINE RIDGE PICK-UPS

Sister Simkins entertained Circle One of the Lazy Aid at a Pink Tea last Sunday afternoon. The table was decorated in dark brown after Aunt Charity Spears tipped over the teapot reaching for a cookie. Mr. Lum Edwards went to Indianapolis, and then to New York, but we don't know where he is going from there. Mr. Abner Peabody has left town, but we expect him back again. We are asked to deny that Squire Skimp instead of buying his young'uns ice cream, told them ghost stories to make their blood run cold. Dan Davis and Miss Evalena Schultz drove over to the County Seat Saturday and reported a good time. Miss Evalena Schultz entertained Mr. Dan Davis at a tete-a-tete tea Sunday afternoon in the absence of her parents. Business is improving at the Jot-em-down Store. Props. Edwards and Peabody are out of town and Cedric Weehunt is the manager. Dick Huddleston reports that a traveling salesman came into his store and didn't know any funny stories. Chief Puddleweem reports there have been no births, deaths, weddings or other serious accidents in Pine Ridge for over a month. Mr. Lum Edwards reports there is a big strike on among New York newspaper reporters, and that's why nothing has appeared in the New York press about his visit to that town. Mrs. H. P. Spinks calls in that a new form of crime wave has started south of town. Somebody stole the license tag off her dog. It was Number 23, dated 1931. The police is investigating. The party line was all excitement the other day. Mrs. Elizabeth Peabody got a long distance call from somebody called Peabody who said he came from Scotland Yards. He was asking for Abner but didn't say what for. Mr. Edwards writes that he has decided not to buy Central Park, because the folks in New York need it for a playground, and anyway he thinks he can get good bottom land around Pine Ridge at a better price. The Schoolhouse has been closed Friday nights of late because the Sociable is wanted in some of the bigger towns for a while. When the Chicago Express stopped for water Tuesday night, Miss Irene Beasley inquired for Lum and Abner. On being told they were out of town she said she only wanted to send her love to Buttercup, the baby elephant. A slightly serious accident was held at Main and Ridge this week. Ira Hammernail and a load of vegetables tangled with Hesa Bloch, the butcher's Ford truck, and for a while the street looked like a beef stew.

CRIPPLE BOY'S LETTER BRINGS LUM AND ABNER VISIT

Indiapolis Lad Gets His Wish-- And a Big Surprise

On the Friday morning, during their Indianapolis visit, Lum and Abner received the following letter:

"Dear Lum and Abner: "I am so happy you are coming to Indianapolis you are my favorite radio entertainers. I am a little cripple boy and can't come to see you so wont you come and see me while you are here?

Master Tom Dye 1618 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis."

Even with a heavy day ahead of them, including a visit to Butler University, a noon parade downtown, rehearsal and the big "Sociable" broadcast in the evening, Lum and Abner decided that Tom Dye should get his wish. So the Radio Boys cut the breakfast internal short and dashed out to Tom's house on Meridian Street. The little paralytic, who is 14 years old and cannot leave his chair, gazed wide-eyed at Lum and Abner, and after mastering his excitement, told them in a Kentucky drawl "You all don't look like I thought." He recognized Gene Hamilton's voice as that of the Ford announcer, but he had to he introduced to "Stubby" Gordon of the orchestra. The Pine Ridge boys told Tom a few things about the different characters, and who played them, and before they left they filled the little cripple's cup of happiness to overflowing when they presented him with an autographed photo. Meantime the String Band was in an adjoining room, and the little fellow said it was "just like being in Pine Ridge." The Ford Radio Stars receive numerous requests from shut-ins for personal visits and, where the limitations of time make these impossible, they never fail to make their acknowledgements over radio and by mail.

22,567 Sign Lum's New Trial Petition

SO THE PLAYBOY IS FREE AGAIN

When Lum got the bad news that he was to go "up the river," for two years, public indignation broke loose and there was a universal demand for a new trial. Pine Ridge, of course, started the "petition" protest, but to the amazement of everybody the radio audience took it up, and real documents, carrying thousands of signatures started pouring in to Lum and Abner. Lawyers, too, took up the case and among the hundreds of legal defense offers (accompanied by outlines of procedure) from members of the bar, there is one from Mr. Hal. L. Norwood, States Attorney General of Arkansas. Here it is-- "Very happy to defend Lum in forthcoming trial. Believe I can secure an acquittal. Hal L. Norwood, Attorney General, State of Arkansas"

And these petitions! It just isn't possible to list them all. They come on post cards, they come in letters, they come on legal forms and they come from old and young; from small towns and great cities; from families, from groups, from institutions--from every kind and class of people.

Just to give one or two examples: The South High School of Akron, Ohio, sends its own "Whereas" document with 233 signatures and says "More if necessary"; an Institution for the Blind offers to furnish a jury panel that "will do the right thing by Lum"; a letter with 18 signatories from Charlotte, N. C., expresses willingness to put up a $5,000 bond and a prison warden invites Lum to come to his jail as a "trusty."

In face of such an overwhelming display of public opinion there can only be one result--vindication of the kindly old fellow whose goodness of heart got the better of his judgment.

"MOM" RUNS A LUM AND ABNER SOCIABLE OF HER OWN

Collegians Are Her Guests

We have many reports of Lum and Abner parties every Friday night but Mrs. Charles E. Barton ("Mom" to all the college boys and girls) has a regular Sociable every Friday night. Her home at 403 Spruce Street, Morgantown, W. Va., is open house to the boys and co-eds from Morgantown College and the evening's entertainment is built around the Lum and Abner broadcast. Mom puts up a light lunch for the young people, and when they feel like it, the rugs may be rolled up (they generally are) for dancing to the String Band and Stubby Gordon's Rhythm Masters. As this lady tells the story, she likes young people and likes to see them enjoy "wholesome entertainment that is really funny." She sends no invitations; just lets it be known that everybody is welcome. And is "Mom" popular?

(Page 3)

PINE RIDGE NEWS

Showing the center section of the Cadle Tabernacle, Indianapolis and its ten thousand audience as seen from the Chroir loft. The limitations of the camera made it impossible to include a large proportion of the side sections. Several thousand people failed to gain admission. Similar scenes occurred at Cleveland, Ohio and Washington, D.C. where 7,000 capacity auditoriums proved to be altogether inadequate THOUSANDS STORM TO SEE LUM AND ABNER BROADCAST

"Gene Hamilton, Speaking"

Here he is; the owner of that mellow persuasive voice that comes over the radio each night, introducing the Ford program and putting across the incisive reasons why everybody should be fair to themselves and--"See the new Ford . . . before you buy." He is the only announcer giving his time exclusively to one account and he was chosen for Lum and Abner because of the impression he made while announcing for the Armour Hour, Edison Symphony, Clara, Lu n' Em, Paul Whiteman and others on the big time in radio. Gene is a sandy haired youth of 25 summers, has traveled, and mixes a guitar with singing and boxing. That is, he did until an opponent broke Gene's nose (you'd never guess it) when he decided that he'd be better and more profitably employed in an intensive study of the radio business. At least that's why he says.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT PINE RIDGE

If you enjoy the Ford radio program, introduce your friends to the fun and "doings" of Pine Ridge. They'll like the quaint humor of these lovable characters who are now launched on an extensive tour of the large cities of the United States. Their adventures will amuse and surprise you, and when they come to your neighborhood you will have an opportunity to make up a party to attend their "Sociable" broadcast.

RADIO VISITORS TO PINE RIDGE

JAMES MELTON, the greatest tenor of stage, screen or microphone. He is a national favorite noted for his successes in the Follies, and with The Revellers.

ANNETTE HENSHAW, the dainty little "Bundle of Sweetness" in a crinoline. She was the sensation of The Showboat, and has just returned to radio after a severe illness.

IRENE BEASLEY, the Songbird of the South. She isn't a Blues or a Torch Singer; just full of music and has a peculiar style of her own that everybody likes.

FLORENCE LANGFORD, the 19 year old contralto that Rudy Vallee discovered singing to her classmates in a Florida Boarding School.

FRANCES WHITE, from the Ziegfeld and Greenwich Village Follies. She sings "friendly songs."

ARLENE JACKSON, another of these diminutive dynamos that chase the blues away. She can put tears or laughter into her songs.

RALPH KIRBERRY, the Dream Singer. This young fellow from New Jersey has a magnetic lyric baritone voice that brought him from obscurity to radio fame within a year.

SHIRLEY HOWARD "took the air" from a Radio Editor's desk in a Philadelphia newspaper office, and she did it on the advice of Rudy Vallee.

GEORGE LYON is the man who does extraordinary things with a harp, and you can judge his worth by the fact that every finger on his hands carries $10,000 of insurance.

Ford Stars Greeted by Record Crowd at Indianapolis

"Sociable" Gets Audience of 10,000 with Thousands

More Turned Away

This photograph off "the interior of the Cadle Tabernacle at Indianapolis indicates the overwhelming response of the public to the broadcast of Lum and Abner's Friday Night "Sociable" on November 10th. The Tabernacle, with accommodation for 10,000 was filled to capacity an hour before the show, and officials of the Indianapolis Police and Fire Departments estimated that from eight to ten thousand more people were clamoring at all entrances for admission. For several blocks in every direction the streets were packed with automobiles, and the crowds surged against the closed doors even after loud speakers announced that the house was already loaded beyond capacity.

This big event marked the opening of Lum and Abner's tour of the principal cities and the extraordinary reception accorded the Ford radio favorites indicates that the main problem will be one of finding sufficient accommodation to meet the public response. Prior to the public broadcast of the "Sociable" over the N. B. C. Network from the stage, the huge audience was entertained with an all-star show featuring famous stars of the air and of Broadway in personal appearances. These included Irene Beasley, the famous Songbird of the South, the Walker Sisters, a singing trio with novelty hits direct from Broadway; the Maple City Four from Chicago, Frances Sellers, the whistling thrush; Stubby Gordon's Dance Orchestra, and a variety of local talent, including the Cadle Tubernacle Choir of 1,300 voices.

Ten Thousand Take Part in "Sociable" Broadcast

The huge audience evinced intense interest when the orchestral strains of "Elanor" announced that the broadcast was on its way to millions of listeners on the N. B. C. Network; Gene Hamilton, the exclusive Ford announcer, was seen at the microphone, and then Lum and Abner came on to the "stage studio" amid tumultuous applause. The "Sociable" was presented just at it comes over the air from the Pine Ridge Schoolhouse, with Lum and Abner introducing the guest stars and furnishing interludes of that "homey" humor which has made them famous.

In short, the ten thousand throng had the unique experience of taking part in one of the most popular broadcasts on the air today.

Calls for Lum and Abner

Following the "Elanor" sign off by the orchestra, the audience called for Lum and Abner and it was announced that in a few minutes they would be introduced to "Chet" Lauck and "Tuffy" Goff as they really are. The appearance of the two young stars in Tuxedos created a gasp of surprise and an outburst of applause. The great gathering refused to let the boys merely take a bow--they had to put on a typical Lum and Abner interlude and even then they were recalled time and time again before the crowd dispersed. From Indianapolis the Ford Radio stars went to New York to take part in the gala opening of the new Radio City, the Friday Night "Sociable" being selected as one of the opening features by the National Broadcasting Company. Each week the "Sociable" will be broadcast in public from the theatre stages in different cities, dates and locations to be announced from week to week.

AUSTRALIA HEARS IT TOO

How is this for long distance? The NBC people have received a report from an Australian short wave operator that he picked up Lum and Abner's "Ford Auto Program."

(Page 4) (Blurbs with photos)

LUM AND ABNER IN PERSON AND IN ACTION

ABNER DRAWS A BLANK
He was day dreaming instead of taking down a lengthy grocery order, via Lum, from Sister Simpkins. What to do? Well, Lum fixed it by calling the lady and explaining that he was writing in the dark and didn't know there was no point on his pencil.

PINE RIDGE'S BUSIEST CORNER
Here you have the radio headquarters of Lum and Abner, the hub of Pine Ridge, and the center of all its "doings."

YES! They're the Same Fellows

LUM TO THE LEFT--ABNER TO THE RIGHT

The NBC Stars You Hear on the Ford Program
Here they are, a pair of snappy young fellows in everyday life who transform themselves into a couple of lovable old Hill Billies. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde had nothing on these boys.

MONARCHS OF ALL THEY SURVEY
As minions of the law they have a monopoly. Lum claims to have memorized all the "statuettes" in the tome under his arm. Abner says nothing--just brings 'em in and leaves the rest to Lum.

SOAP! SUGAR! SOCKS AND TOMATOES
They're all the same to Abner, but Lum wants the Jot-Em-Down Store to maintain its reputation for neat deliveries.

ABNER MAKES A PINCH
The little fellow knows there is no fish in the creek because he tried it out the day before. Nevertheless, it's too good a chance to pass up with Lum as the culprit.

BEHIND THE SCENES
Tense excitement that business can't interrupt. When a customer comes into the store Abner says "keep real quiet Lum, an' he'll think there ain't nobody here."