Let's See What's Happening Down At Pine Ridge
On the 26th of April 1936, 5 years after the first episode of Lum and Abner was broadcast in 1931 the chief executive of Arkansas declares that 26th April should be statewide Lum and Abner day. It was also the same year that the little town of Waters, the place that the fictitious Pine Ridge was based on, officially changed it’s name to Pine Ridge in honor of Chester Lauck and Norris Goff alias Lum and Abner.
So that you can feel part of the celebrations that took place on that day in Little Rock, Arkansas I have added to RUSC today the broadcast of the occasion with speeches from both Chet and Tuffy.
We are also lucky enough to have as a friend of RUSC Ralph W. Emerson III whose father and mother were Ralph and Elsie Mae Emerson who were both organist on the show from 1946 – 53.
Ralph W. Emerson III told us my father passed away in April 1948 when I was 17 years old and Tuffy Goff (Abner) was the one that broke the news to me. My mother later took over as organist on the show. Ralph and Elsie wrote the theme Down on the Old Party Line for the later half hour shows, which I will be adding to RUSC throughout the week.
Ralph also gave us these wonderful personal anecdotes from those times of yesteryear:
Both Chet and Tuffy were forever bedevilling Gene Baker, the announcer and at times while Gene was pitching Alka Seltzer, the boys would take his clothes off leaving him finishing the commercial stark Naked.
Many a time Chet and Tuffy would light fire to Gene Baker’s script during commercial readings. They had it timed so that when he got to the last word the script was gone.
They left my dad alone most of the time. Their main target was Gene Baker and he suffered silently while they plotted new ways to bedevil him.
They would also move his microphone around the studio during his pitches and he would have to walk while reading being careful not to trip.
Very few people could make either Chet or Tuffy laugh, they were dedicated professionals and very serious about their work. It was their call always and that is the way it was.
Aren't they wonderful! Our Thanks to Mr Emerson and to see a picture of the Jot 'Em Down Store and learn some more about the inspiration behind the series you can click on the link.
Happy listening my friends,
