Uncategorized

Lum an’ Abner…an’ Snuffy!

By Jeremy Meltingtallow

National Lum And Abner Society cfounders Tim Hollis, Sam Brown and Donnie Pitchford stand with Barney Google and Snuffy Smith cartoonist outside the witch theater. The National Lum And Abner Society founders (from left) Tim Hollis, Sam Brown and Donnie Pitchford stand with Barney Google and Snuffy Smith cartoonist, John Rose, outside the Ouachita Little Theater in Mena, AR.

John Rose was honored with the Lum And Abner Memorial Award in Mena, Arkansas on Saturday, June 6th by the National Lum and Abner Society for his contributions to rural humor in creating the King Features Barney Google and Snuffy Smith comic strip each day.  Lum and Abner was an American network radio comedy program created by Chester Lauck and Norris Goff that was aired from 1931 to 1954. Modeled on life in the small town of Waters, Arkansas, near where Lauck and Goff grew up, the show proved immensely popular. In 1936, Waters changed its name to Pine Ridge after the show’s fictional town.  Lauck and Goff also starred as Lum and Abner in seven movies together.

Here are a few more photos from the weekend event:

Getting ready to show some samples of my Snuffy Smith comic strips to the crowd in the  before the crowd in the Rose prepares to show some samples of his work on King Features’ popular Barney Google and Snuffy Smith comic strip to the crowd in the Ouachita Little Theatre in Mena, AR.

Drawing Jughaid during the Snuffy Smith Chalk Talk portion of the program. Drawing Jughaid during the Snuffy Smith Chalk Talk portion of the program.

Shading in Snuffy's hat during the Chalk Talk. Shading in Snuffy’s hat during the Chalk Talk.

Rose and Dick Tracy comic strip writer, Mike Curtis share a laugh during the book signing portion of the festivities. Rose and Dick Tracy comic strip writer, Mike Curtis, share a laugh during the book signing portion of the festivities.

In the rich tradition of the Lum and Abner Radio Show, we read a new radio script written In Old Time Radio tradition, a new Lum and Abner script written by Tim Hollis and Donnie Pitchford was performed for the audience.  In this new story, Lum (played by Hollis) and Abner (played by Pitchford) meet Dick Tracy (played by Curtis) and Snuffy Smith (played by Rose).  Not pictured: Sam Brown as Dick Huddleston and Jeff Sinsley as Coffee.

After performing the radio show, After performing the radio show, Rose and Curtis are both surprised when they each receive The Lum And Abner Memorial Award.  This year’s meeting celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of the first meeting of The National Lum and Abner Society. From left are: NLAS founder Sam Brown, Rose, Curtis, NLAS founder Tim Hollis and NLAS founder Donnie Pitchford.

Click here to read more about the The National Lum and Abner Society