May 14, 1950

“Numerology” is episode #88 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on May 14, 1950.

Synopsis ~ Mr. Curry, George and Liz’s landlord, is raising the rent, supposedly on instructions from his late wife, Bernice. Liz figures that she can fix things with a crooked Ouija Board.

Notes: This program was a basis for the “I Love Lucy” episode “The Seance” (ILL S1;E7) filmed October 19, 1951 and first aired on November 26, 1951.

It is a revision of the script used for “My Favorite Husband” episode #24, also titled "Numerology” aired on Christmas Day 1948. The characters were then known as the Cugats. 

“My Favorite Husband” was based on the novels Mr. and Mrs. Cugat, the Record of a Happy Marriage (1940) and Outside Eden (1945) by Isabel Scott Rorick, which had previously been adapted into the film Are Husbands Necessary? (1942). “My Favorite Husband” was first broadcast as a one-time special on July 5, 1948. Lucille Ball and Lee Bowman played the characters of Liz and George Cugat, and a positive response to this broadcast convinced CBS to launch “My Favorite Husband” as a series. Bowman was not available Richard Denning was cast as George. On January 7, 1949, confusion with bandleader Xavier Cugat prompted a name change to Cooper. On this same episode Jell-O became its sponsor. A total of 124 episodes of the program aired from July 23, 1948 through March 31, 1951. After about ten episodes had been written, writers Fox and Davenport departed and three new writers took over – Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Pugh, and head writer/producer Jess Oppenheimer. In March 1949 Gale Gordon took over the existing role of George’s boss, Rudolph Atterbury, and Bea Benadaret was added as his wife, Iris. CBS brought “My Favorite Husband” to television in 1953, starring Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson as Liz and George Cooper. The television version ran two-and-a-half seasons, from September 1953 through December 1955, running concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” It was produced live at CBS Television City for most of its run, until switching to film for a truncated third season filmed (ironically) at Desilu and recasting Liz Cooper with Vanessa Brown.

MAIN CAST

Lucille Ball (Liz Cooper) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. With Richard Denning, she starred in a radio program titled “My Favorite Husband” which eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon.

Richard Denning (George Cooper) was born Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger Jr., in Poughkeepsie, New York. When he was 18 months old, his family moved to Los Angeles. Plans called for him to take over his father’s garment manufacturing business, but he developed an interest in acting. Denning enlisted in the US Navy during World War II. He is best known for his  roles in various science fiction and horror films of the 1950s. Although he teamed with Lucille Ball on radio in “My Favorite Husband,” the two never acted together on screen. While “I Love Lucy” was on the air, he was seen on another CBS TV series, “Mr. & Mrs. North.” From 1968 to 1980 he played the Governor on “Hawaii 5-0″, his final role. He died in 1998 at age 84.

Gale Gordon (Rudolph Atterbury) and Bea Benadaret (Iris Atterbury) do not appear in this episode. 

Ruth Perrott (Katie, the Maid) was also later seen on “I Love Lucy.” She first played Mrs. Pomerantz (above right), a member of the surprise investigating committee for the Society Matrons League in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25), as one of the member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3), and also played a nurse when “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16). She died in 1996 at the age of 96.

Bob LeMond (Announcer) also served as the announcer for the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy”. When the long-lost pilot was finally discovered in 1990, a few moments of the opening narration were damaged and lost, so LeMond – fifty years later – recreated the narration for the CBS special and subsequent DVD release.

GUEST CAST

Jay Novello (Mr. Curry, the Landlord) appeared on “I Love Lucy” as superstitious Mr. Merriweather in “The Seance” (ILL S1;E7), Mario the gondolier in “The Visitor from Italy” (ILL S6;E5), and nervous Mr. Beecher in “The Sublease” (ILL S3;E31). He also appeared on two episodes of “The Lucy Show,” but Novello is probably best remembered for playing Mayor Lugatto on “McHale’s Navy” in 1965. 

It is rare that an actor plays the same character, although differently named, on a television version of a “My Favorite Husband” script. Novello normally plays Mr. Negley, the Coopers’ mailman, one of Katie the Maid’s boyfriends. 

Hans Conried (Mr. Wood, the Coopers’ neighbor) first co-starred with Lucille Ball in The Big Street (1942). He then appeared on “I Love Lucy” as used furniture man Dan Jenkins in “Redecorating” (ILL S2;E8) and later that same season as Percy Livermore in “Lucy Hires an English Tutor” (ILL S2;E13) – both in 1952. The following year he began an association with Disney by voicing Captain Hook in Peter Pan. On “The Lucy Show” he played Professor Gitterman in “Lucy’s Barbershop Quartet” (TLS S1;E19) and in “Lucy Plays Cleopatra” (TLS S2;E1). He was probably best known as Uncle Tonoose on “Make Room for Daddy” starring Danny Thomas, which was filmed on the Desilu lot. He joined Thomas on a season 6 episode of “Here’s Lucy” in 1973. He died in 1982 at age 64.

Conried has played Mr. Wood on several occasions but he has also played many other roles on the series, including Mr. Atterbury, George’s boss.

Hal March (Mr. Lawrence, Real Estate Agent) first appeared on the “I Love Lucy” in “Lucy Fakes Illness” (ILL S1;E16) using his own name to play an actor posing as the doctor who diagnoses Lucy with ‘golbloots.’ March got his first big break when he was cast as Harry Morton on “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” in 1950. He eventually lost the part to Fred Clark who producers felt was better paired with Bea Benaderet, who played Blanche, and here plays Iris Atterbury. He stayed with the show in other roles, the last airing just two weeks before his appearance as Eddie Grant in “Lucy is Matchmaker” (ILL S2;E27). In 1966 he was seen on “The Lucy Show.”

Coincidentally, March originated the role of Cory on “My Favorite Husband”, a character that was in the original version of “Numerology” in 1948, but played by March’s successor in the role, John Heistand. The character was eventually written out completely, but March made several appearances in other roles. 

EPISODE

ANNOUNCER: “And Now, let’s look in on the Coopers. It’s morning, and we find them at breakfast.”

Liz is engrossed in reading a book on numerology. She says that George’s name in numerology is five. She offers him another cup of two. George wants to nip it in the three before it gets out of hand.  The only number he cares about is thirty eight fifty – the amount her budget was overdrawn last month.  Liz tries to determine the ‘right’ name / number for George – to help their ‘vibrations’. 

GEORGE: “Liz!  Aren’t you  happy with the way I vibrate?”

Liz determines his perfect name: Genevieve.

GEORGE: “Of course, you’ll have to buy towels marked ‘hers’ and ‘hers’. 

Seven (Katie the Maid) serves George two sixteens (eggs), and gives them the mail Mr. Six (the new mailman) just brought.  While delivering next door, Mr. Six got bit in the twelve (legs).  

George opens a letter from Mr. Curry, their landlord. He is raising the rent to $250 a month – more than double what they are paying.  Liz wants to blame Mrs. Curry, but George reminds her that she’s been dead for five years. Liz says that he checks in with her via the Ouija board.  Before George leaves for work, he starts to smile. 

GEORGE: “I was just thinking of a cute four I used to know.”

George has invited Mr. Curry over to talk about the rent. He tells Liz to let him do the talking.  Mr. Curry (Jay Novello) says he was delayed by a message from his wife Bernice.  George tells him that the new rent will cause them to have to move.  Mr. Curry says that it is Bernice, not him, that insisted upon the increase. Liz says she likes the address 321 Bundy Drive because it adds up to six and gives off a good vibration.  Mr. Curry reveals that he also studies numerology!  

MR. CURRY: “I’m a one.”
LIZ: “I’m a three.”
GEORGE: “I’m a five.”
LIZ: “We’re all odd, aren’t we!”
MR. CURRY: “Bernice is a one, too. The first time I ever met her I said ‘Are you one?’ She said ‘Yes. Are you one, too’ And then we got married.”

Liz wonders if Bernice meant to lower the rent, instead of raise it. Mr. Curry says that Bernice contacted him on the upstairs Ouija board.  He has one in the car if she wants to check.  He goes out to get it and they try to contact Bernice.

Ouija boards (also called spirit boards or talking boards) were used to communicate with the spirit world by moving a planchette around a board marked with letters of the alphabet. Today Ouija boards are sold by Hasbro, which holds a copyright on the name.

MR. CURRY: “One, two, three, testing!  One, two, three, testing!” 

The indicator spells out A – R – F.  

TRIVIA: This joke may give a clue as to the big payoff of the episode when it was written for television. 

GEORGE: “Maybe you’ve contacted Rin Tin Tin.”

Rin Tin Tin was a male German Shepherd born in Flirey, France, who became an international star in motion pictures. His offspring who also sported the name had careers on radio, print media, and television. Whenever there was a joke about dogs, it was either Lassie or Rin Tin Tin who were the punchline. On a 1971 episode of “Here’s Lucy”, Harry says that Lucy is star-struck and goes to pieces over Rin Tin Tin.

They try again.  They ask the Ouija board if Mr. Curry should raise the rent. The indicator spells out Y – E – S.  Mr. Curry wonders if Bernice is jealous of Liz.  Thanks to Liz opening up her ‘big fat Ouija board’ the rent has gone up to three hundred dollars! 

End of Act One

ANNOUNCER: “Their landlord, Mr. Curry, on Ouija board orders from his late wife, has raised the Cooper’s rent to three hundred dollars. Forced to move, the Coopers are going over the classified ads in the paper.”

GEORGE: “Here’s one. ‘Beautiful cottage. Here’s a house without a flaw’.”
LIZ: “What do they walk on?”
GEORGE: “F-L-A-W.”
LIZ: “Ewwww.”

Liz sees an ad that finally admits how badly they build houses. 

LIZ: “’Hillside home. Reasonable. Hurry. This one won’t last long.’”

George sees one at 321 Edgemont, but Liz rejects it because it doesn’t add up to six.

Liz and George go to see a real estate agent named Mr. Lawrence (Hal March). Liz says she needs a home with the right vibrations. He suggests one down by the railroad tracks.  Liz has a list of addresses for him to check.  

LIZ: “321 Maple. Is there anything there?”
MR. LAWRENCE: “Yes. You’re husband will be crazy about it. 321 Maple is the YWCA.”

She tries 510 Kenmore. It is a vacant lot. He offers 830 Kenmore, but Liz rejects it.  

MR. LAWRENCE: “Maybe if you’ll ask them, they’ll drag 830 down to 510.”

Liz asks about one more address: 420 Lake.

MR. LAWRENCE: “Excellent choice. Just the place for you. And I think I can get you in right away.”
LIZ: “Really?  What kind of place is it?”
MR. LAWRENCE: “The county insane asylum.”  

The Coopers arrive home exhausted from house hunting. The doorbell rings and it is Mr. Wood (Hans Conried), their next door neighbor who has 11 children. He wants to sell them tickets to the school carnival. He says there will be a fortune teller there. George says he is probably a phony.  Mr. Wood says he is – it is him!  Once a year he plays Zucchini The Great!  Liz asks if he’s ever met a grouch named Bernice but Mr. Wood reminds her that he is just play acting. Liz hatches a plan. She enlists Zucchini the Great to hold a séance in their living room in which he pretends to contact Bernice – actually Liz behind the curtain – who will tell him to lower the Cooper’s rent.  

Hans Conried played a Swami Magician in the 1943 Orson Welles film Journey Into Fear. 

That night, Mr. Wood has fashioned a turban from a hotel towel (that he got from the Cooper’s linen closet).  Liz tells them to hurry up because her hiding place is about the heating grate!  George ushers in Mr. Curry and they begin the séance. 

MR. WOOD: “Zucchini to Bernice!  Zucchini to Bernice!  Come in Bernice!  Over!”  

On television, it was Madame Mertzola (aka Medium Raya aka Ethel Mertz, played by Vivian Vance), whose incantation was similar to the Great Zucchini’s.  On television, Lucy crouched next to the fireplace, not over the heating grate. 

In a hollow voice, Liz says “Helloooooo!” Mr. Curry says she doesn’t sound like she used to.  He asks if she is sick.

LIZ: (Popping out of character) “Sick?  I’m dead!” 

As Bernice, Liz says that its awfully hot where she is.

MR. CURRY: “I knew it!”

As Bernice, Liz tells Mr. Curry to lower the Cooper’s rent to $75 a month. She presses her luck and asks him to lower it to $50 a month… and fix the leak in the roof… and paint the dining room… and redecorate the living room… and add a sun porch. 

GEORGE: “You’d better quit while you are ahead, Bernice!”

With the séance over, Mr. Curry says that she sounded younger.

MR. CURRY: “Dying must have agreed with her.”

George says that he’d better do as she said and lower their rent. Mr. Curry says he probably should – but won’t!  He was reminded what a bully Bernice was to him and he is determined to do the opposite to defy her.  Their rent is raised to $400 a month!

Three days later, Mr. Curry calls to say that it has been three days since he defied Bernice and nothing has happened. So he isn’t going to raise their rent after all!  Liz is upset.  She has been re-reading her book on Numerology and realized she got it all wrong. 

LIZ: “This house has the complete wrong vibrations for us!”

End of Episode