“The Business Manager”

(S4;E1 ~ October 4, 1954) Directed by William Asher. Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh and Bob Carroll, Jr. Filmed June 17, 1954 at Ren-Mar Studios. Rating: 50.9/72

Synopsis ~ Tired of Lucy’s over-spending, Ricky hires a business manager. When all he gives her is $5 spending money, Lucy finds a way to outwit him and make extra money in the process!  

This was the 100th episode filmed. After the filming, Lucy and Desi hosted a

party with a cake that said “The first 100 are the hardest."  The episode was saved for the opening of season four, although for some reason “Lucy Cries Wolf” (S4;E3) and “The Matchmaker” (S4;E4), which were filmed before it, were broadcast later.

Right after this season four premiere on October 4, 1954, CBS debuted a new sitcom filmed by Desilu titled “December Bride” starring Spring Byington, Verna Felton (Lucy’s maid, Mrs. Porter), and Harry Morgan. This premiere episode featured Sam McDaniel, who will play the porter in “The Great Train Robbery” (S6;E5), the first black actor on “I Love Lucy.”  He was also Oscar-winner Hattie McDaniel’s brother!  It will also feature Moroni Olson, who played the Judge in “The Courtroom” (S2;E7).  Desi Arnaz will play himself in a 1956 episode of the series, which ran until May 1959. 

Waffles are a favorite breakfast for the Ricardos. As this episode opens, Lucy uses a new Westinghouse ‘Grill-n-Waffler’ Waffle Iron. In the above video, their spokeswoman Betty Furness demonstrates the product. She would also do TV ads with Lucy and Desi when Westinghouse sponsors “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”.  

Oops!  Lucy was making waffles when the utilities were turned off so when she opens the waffle iron, there she finds nothing but gooey batter. The question is, why does the audience laugh when Lucy first puts the batter in the waffle maker, before it is discovered that the electricity is off? It is likely that the laugh track was added knowing the outcome of the joke, but without thinking of it from the audience’s perspective. It might also be due to this being a second or third take so the studio audience knew the outcome. 

Lucy pours Ricky a nice cup of cold water while he reads the New York Daily Bulletin.

Groundhog Day Alert!  If Ricky is looking at the newspaper for any current news, he’ll be disappointed. This is the same edition of the New York Daily Bulletin he read in “The Matchmaker” and “Lucy Cries Wolf,” which was the 100th episode aired. These are three of five episodes filmed at the end of Season 3 in June 1954, but saved for the start of Season 4. 

When Ethel is calling her friend at the power company, the camera gets a back view of the planter on the ledge. It is also a nightlight!  Apparently the light is not used as a nightlight as the cord is wound around the bulb’s base. One less item to bump up the unpaid power bill!  

The Ricardos’ business manager was named after the Arnazes real-life business manager and Desilu vice-president Andrew Hickox. One of television’s most recognizable character actors Charles Lane makes his third of four appearances on the series, this time as Mr. Andrew Hickox. He would make two more appearances with the Ricardos on "The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour” and go on to play another money-manager who frustrates Lucy, banker Barnsdahl on the first season of "The Lucy Show.” From 1933 to 1949 he appeared in seven films with Lucille Ball. He also appeared in five films with William Frawley.

During this time, Charles Lane was a recurring character on the NBC series “Dear Phoebe” starring Peter Lawford. It aired opposite CBS’s “Our Miss Brooks” starring Eve Arden. Sponsored by Campbell Soup, the series only lasted two seasons. 

Lucy’s household debts include:

• $11.25 for telephone
• $8.75 for gas and electric
• $15.00 for cleaning and laundry
• $20.00 for the milk bill
• a total of $55. That is the equivalent of more than $500 today!

Lucy tries to flatter Mr. Hickox into giving her more money by comparing him to Clark Gable, a name that was frequently mentioned in the series, especially in season four as the gang headed to Hollywood. Lane actually did two films with Clark Gable one of which, 1958′s Teacher’s Pet, is seen above. While Gable never guest-starred on the "I Love Lucy” Lucy and the third Mrs. Gable, Carole Lombard, were friends and Gable appeared with Lucy on a 1944 radio play “China Seas.” In “Lucy and Harpo Marx” (S4;E28),
Lucy wears a Clark Gable mask to fool near-sighted Caroline Appleby.

RICKY (to Fred): “Mr. Hickox? He makes you look like Diamond Jim Brady.” 

James Buchanan Brady (1856-1917) was a real-life millionaire and philanthropist who was fond of jewels (hence the nickname). He had a longtime relationship with singer Lillian Russell. In the late 1960s, Lucy was announced to play Russell to Jackie Gleason’s Brady in a film project that never materialized. In future, the writers frequently compare thrifty characters (like Mr. Mooney on “The Lucy Show” above) to Diamond Jim Brady. Left with only $5 for the entire month (which she loses to Ethel betting she can’t wheedle Mr. Hickox out of more money), Ethel rubs it in by announcing she’s going shopping. 

ETHEL: (To Lucy) “Anything I can get for you? There having a sale down at Saks.”

Saks Fifth Avenue, is a luxury department store that was founded in 1867 with their flagship store in Manhattan. The store still exist today and Saks now has stores nationwide. Packages from Saks were extensively used as props at the beginning of season 6, when Lucy and Ethel shopped for their trip to Florida.

Taking on the shopping of the entire building, Lucy thumbs through her shopping lists: “Benson, Williams, Trumbull.”  Mrs. Benson (played by Norma Varden) made an appearance in “The Ricardos Change Apartments” (S2;E26), but no tenant named Williams ever appeared on the series. If the writers had longer memories, they might have mentioned Miss Lewis, who lived in the building and was even mentioned once after her only appearance by Bea Benadaret in “Lucy Plays Cupid” (S1;E15). 

Mrs. Trumbull’s shopping list: 

• a can of green beans 
• a box of saltine crackers 
• a large roasting chicken 
• a quart of milk 
• a bottle of sherry (”COOKING sherry”) = $4.23 

After Mrs. Trumbull (Elizabeth Patterson) asks Lucy to buy her a can of All Pet cat food tomorrow, Lucy writes “Tuesday: Buy Can All Pet.”  

Interestingly, the action of this scene is set on a Monday, the day of the week “I Love Lucy” aired and a day that became synonymous with all things Lucy.

When Ricky and Fred see the note pad, they think the cat food is a stock and that Lucy’s food market is the stock market.  

FRED: “Get ready for another crash.”

The exact name of the cat food / fake stock Can All Pet (Canadian Allied Petroleum) wasn’t thought up until the day of filming. It was probably due to CBS lawyers trying to avoid actual stock names!

Mrs. Trumble owns a cat, but in “Little Ricky Gets a Dog” (S6;E14) Fred states that the lease says no pets allowed. According to Mrs. Trumble in “No Children Allowed” (S2;E22), she and the Ricardos signed the same lease. In an earlier episode, a worried Lucy mistakes the meow of Mrs. Trumbull’s cat for Little Ricky’s cry.

Ethel’s shopping list: 

• a loaf of bread 
• waxed paper 
• a large jar of mayonnaise 
• a sack of flour = $3.80 

These same items shopped today would cost both Mrs. Mertz and Mrs. Trumbull a minimum of $18 each. The total amount Lucy owes the grocer in the end is $473, which is like owing $4,270 today! Luckily, Ricky gives her $500 from his stock market windfall to cover the debt.

Product Placement! This episode features quite a few products.  Although most have their labels turned away from the camera, a few brand names are visible.  

• Kellogg’s Corn Flakes – In 1954 artist Norman Rockwell did the art for the boxes. There was generally a free toy inside. 
• Kellogg’s Rice Krispies – In the 1950s, in addition to Snap, Crackle and Pop, there was briefly a fourth gnome named Pow who represented the ‘explosive nutritional value’ of Rice Krispies. 
• Quaker Oats Puffed Rice – The cereal’s slogan was “shot from guns”! 
• Hills Bros Coffee – The brand name has been redacted by matching tape, but their distinctive can is recognizable due to the font and their logo of an Arab drinking coffee called "the taster”.

LUCY: (Listening) “Lucy to Little Small Voice. Lucy to Little Small Voice.  Come in, Little Small Voice. Over.” 

The episode ends with Ricky still thinking that Lucy has a “little small voice” that gives her stock tips. It would be interesting to know if Ricky ever found out the truth about Lucy’s marketing scheme! 

FA$T FORWARD

In 1954, Lucy Ricardo’s finances were put in the hands of a tightfisted money manager played by Charles Lane. In 1962, Lucy Carmichael’s finances were put in the hands of a tightfisted money manager played by Charles Lane. The character was written out to make way for Gale Gordon to play Theodore J. Mooney.