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Though the show opens with the words, “On the air for Fridgedairre!” There is no mid show commercial.
Lum has started a society to raise the level of ignorance in Pine Ridge. After the meeting of the uplifters club, an inspired Lum went home and wrote a complete opera. There’s a problem, tickets aren’t selling. What Lum needs is a big star. Caruso would be a good choice, if only Lum could get him. What’s his first name anyway? Robinson, of course.
Knowing someone with a band could be a good start…enter Opie Cates to tell about an accident down at the firehouse, and with the firehouse band. Abner wonders what makes a gent pick up playing an instrument in the first place. Opie tells how he got started with his clarinet. Can he get a big singing star for Lum?
Despite not knowing the name of the big star, ticket sales are booming. To settle Luke’s temper over his latest mishap with Opie, Lum slips him some freeopera tickets.
Zazu Pitts, the female lead in the opera is on hand to practice, and praise Lum for his opera writing. Though she doesn’t have the best voice, if she should lose it, who will take her place? What will Andy Divine be able to do with his gravely voice? He’s all for the idea, until he finds out he is to play a female role.
Finally, Opie returns with his singing star… who is it? Tennessee Ernie gets ready to star as Sampson to Andy’s Delilah. But troubles run rampant in the dressing room. lum worries that Ernie talks too country. Will some last moment elocution lesson save the day?
On stage, Opie opens with an overture. Act 1 begins with Tennessee Sampson singing to Delilah the tattooed lady. Lum narrates the action as the hill folk sing their undieing love. Jealousy complicates love when Delilah is actually interested in Bobo the clown, better known as Abner. How will the love triangle come to an end? A haircut away
for the lovers to be hitched.
PS: The singing in the opera is so bad its good, but Tennessee Ernie does a good job when he slips into his hit on the Country Music charts, Muletrain. Andy makes a pretty good mule too.
Note: Does anyone remember when Bobo made his first appearance on the show? Remember a one shot filler between story arcs where Cedric was trying to learn ventriloquism? Bobo was his doll that he had, and was trying to use to practice.
At least that’s the first time I can think of. It could be possible he showed up in a show that no longer exists.
