Cotton Warehouse for Theatre: Slanted Floors and Picture Show Plans

Originally Aired: May 30, 1935

In Lum & Abner #119, “Cotton Warehouse for Theatre,” the entrepreneurial duo dives headfirst into the world of cinema by converting an old cotton warehouse into Pine Ridge’s first picture show. While Lum focuses on formality—renting folding chairs and searching for a proper projector—Abner takes a more “inventive” approach, raising one end of the building to save on remodeling costs. Their hilarious misunderstanding of theater logistics, including the great debate over front versus back and a misadventure involving player pianos and candy-bucket benches, highlights the pair’s classic backwoods ingenuity. It's a charming glimpse into their small-town dreams of showbiz success.

Cast:
Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards), Norris Goff (Abner Peabody), voices of supporting characters including Grandpappy Spears and Dick Huddleston

Tags:
LumAndAbner, oldtimeradio, 1930scomedy, JotEmDownStore, PineRidge, radiohumor, vintagebroadcast, cottonwarehouse, picturehouse, playerpiano, projectorhunt, smalltownventures, theatrecomedy, Horlicks, classicradio, vaudeville, slapstickrenovation, ruralinnovation