“The Sublease”

(S3;E31 ~ May 24, 1954) Directed by William Asher. Written by

Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh and Bob Carroll, Jr. Filmed April 22, 1954 at Ren-Mar Studios. 

At the end of this season, “I Love Lucy” was #1 in the ratings finishing with a 58.8. This was down from season two’s rating of 67.3. 

Synopsis ~ When Ricky gets a summer booking in Maine, they decide to sublet the apartment. When the job falls through, they must figure out a way to get rid of their nervous new tenant, Mr. Beecher (Jay Novello), a witness at a recent murder trial. In the meantime, they must move in with the Mertzes.

This episode was first aired on the 44th birthday of golf superstar Jimmy Demaret, who was the guest star on the previous week’s episode, “The Golf Game” (S3;E30). The episode was filmed on the 31st birthday of actor / producer Aaron Spelling, who would be seen in “Tennessee Bound” (S4;E15) and would later produce Lucille Ball’s final series “Life With Lucy.” 

Also on the date this episode was first aired, Kaye Ballard appeared on the cover of Life Magazine. The actress and singer guest-starred on “Here’s Lucy” in 1971 in “Lucy and Harry’s Italian Bombshell” (HL S4;E3). In August 1971 Ballard was the musical guest on the “Tonight Show” which also featured Lucille Ball. In 1967 she had co-starred in “The Mothers-In-Law” with Eve Arden, a sitcom produced and directed by Desi Arnaz. Ballard remained friends with Lucy and Desi and lived in the Rancho Mirage home near Palm Springs once owned by them. She died in 2019. 

---

Jay Novello (Mr. Beecher) had previously appeared as superstitious Mr. Merriweather in “The Seance" (S1;E7), and would return as Mario in “The Visitor from Italy” (S6;E5). He also appeared on two episodes of “The Lucy Show,” but dapper Novello is probably best remembered for playing Mayor Lugatto on “McHale’s Navy” in 1965.

This plot was recycled on “Lucy Makes Room for Danny,” the seventh episode of “The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour.” In it, the Ricardos sublet their house to Danny Williams (Danny Thomas) and his family while they travel to Hollywood so Ricky can do a movie. As soon as the Williams’ move in, the movie is canceled, forcing the Ricardos to move into the guest house with the Mertzes. 

The storyline also resembles “Lucy Hates To Leave” (S6;E16), where the Ricardos move in with the Mertzes before their Connecticut home is ready. 

The scene where Lucy and Ethel scare Mr. Beecher away by staging a murder is reminiscent of “Equal Rights” (S3;E4), where the pair fake a hold-up over the telephone, popping a paper sack for a gunshot. 

Here, Lucy uses one of Little Ricky’s toy balloons. 

While political references were rare on “I Love Lucy,” this episode references Ike and Mamie, aka President Dwight D. Eisenhower and first Lady Mamie Eisenhower. Mamie is also mentioned in “The Golf Game” (S3;E30). The First Lady is said to have watched “I Love Lucy” and invited Ball to the White House shortly after Ball was accused of being a Communist sympathizer in 1953. More people tuned in to see the birth of Little Ricky than Eisenhower’s inauguration a day later! 

Fred’s reading lamp makes a second appearance, after doing its descending shade trick in “Redecorating the Mertzes Apartment” (S3;E8).

Interestingly, the rent on the Ricardo apartment in 1954 is just $125, but their real estate agent Mrs. Hammond knows she can get $300, which is approximately $2,800 in today’s dollars. The average rent of a one bedroom / one bath apartment on East 68th Street (Lenox Hill) in NYC today is between $4,000 and $5,000 per month!  

RICKY: “They’re trying to make us look at this thin’ through a sweater.”
LUCY: “You mean they’re trying to pull the wool over our eyes.”

The scene with Lucy comforting Little Ricky was done to an empty crib.  The scenes with the actual baby

(The Mayer Twins)

were shot after the studio audience left. 

Among the things the Ricardos have to store at the Mertzes is Little Ricky’s chair manufactured by Cosco. During Christmas 1953 these listed for $20.95. Ricky’s conga drum and guitar are decorating the set because they are symbolic of Ricky Ricardo! 

Oops!  After Lucy pulls the kitchen window shade, the handle swings in and out of the window indicating there is no glass!  Lucille Ball notices it, but continues with the scene. 

Although this is the only series appearance by Virginia Brissac (Mrs. Hammond), she started her acting career in 1913 (two years after Lucille Ball’s birth) and did two films with William Frawley.  Her final film appearance was as James Dean’s Grandmother in Rebel Without A Cause (1955). She died in 1979 at age 96. 

Both Lucy and Ethel catch up on the news by reading the same April 19, 1954 issue of Time magazine with theologian Henry P. Van Dusen on the cover. Lucille Ball had appeared on the cover of Time two years earlier. Using the magazine on camera was Lucy and Desi’s small way of thanking them for their coverage. 

For more about the magazines seen on “I Love Lucy” click here!    

“The Sublease” has a twist ending. Lucy and Ethel manage to scare off Mr. Beecher, freeing up their apartment, but not before Fred announces he’s found and paid for an outside rental. Just then, Ricky comes in and announces that he’s booked in Del Mar, California – meaning they have two apartments, when they don’t need any! Since this is the last episode of season 3, it leaves the unanswered question: Did the Ricardos ever go to Del Mar? If so, wouldn’t their famous trip to Hollywood during season 4 be their SECOND California trip?  When the show resumes in the fall, Del Mar is never mentioned again. 

In real life, Lucy and Desi owned a summer home in Del Mar at 1920 Ocean Front Drive. The Arnaz family actually spent their 1954 summer hiatus relaxing there. It was Desi’s favorite vacation spot. He spent many happy hours there fishing and at the Del Mar racetrack. He retired to Del Mar with his second wife, Edie, and lived there until his death in 1986.

Although we never hear about the Ricardos visiting Maine, they do make it as far as Vermont in “Lucy’s Summer Vacation,” a 1959 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.”  

---

FAST FORWARD

Getting rid of an unwanted tenant has been a staple of “Lucy” sitcoms.

In “Viv Moves Out” (TLS S2;E22), Lucy Carmichael rents Viv’s room to a mother and son musical act (Roberta Sherwood and Robert Lanning) who rehearse – loudly – at all hours of the day and night. 

In a 1972 episode of “Here’s Lucy,” Lucy Carter sublets the Unique Employment Agency to a toy distributor (Wally Cox). 

A year later, Lucy regrets renting to her new tenant, a sexist used car dealer named Kermit Bosworth (Jackie Coogan). On one early episode of “I Love Lucy” new mother Lucy wonders aloud whether Little Ricky will grow up to be the next Jackie Coogan. Although he is best remembered today as the feisty Uncle Fester on “The Addams Family”, he was first a famous child star.