"I Love Lucy" Episode Guide
(Season 3 / 1953-54)

#068 - "The Girls Go Into Business"

Filmed: September 11, 1953 -- Aired: October 12, 1953 -- Rating/Share: 56.2/79

It's touch-and-go for Lucy and Ethel as they buy a dress shop on a shoestring and promptly go into the red. With typical beginner's luck, they unwittingly unload the losing venture on their husbands, Ricky and Fred.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note This episode was the first to be filmed after the "Red Scare." This episode introduces the Mayer twins they would appear as Little Ricky for the next three seasons.

#069 - "Lucy And Ethel Buy The Same Dress"

Filmed: September 17, 1953 -- Aired: October 19, 1953 -- Rating/Share: 57.3/80

Lucy wangles the star role in a revue staged by her women's club by promising that she will deliver her husband, Ricky, as the show's emcee. The fly in the theatrical ointment comes as Ethel Mertz, Lucy's arch rival for show honors, turns up in the same gown as Lucy's.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Music Performed "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along," "Friendship," "Vaya con Dios"
Production Note Lucille Ball had once before sang "Friendship" in the 1942 MGM motion picture DuBarry Was A Lady, with Red Skelton."
Extra Note Ethel's middle name is given as Louise in this episode. The TV show is to appear at midnight and run half-an-hour.

#070 - "Equal Rights"

Filmed: September 24, 1953 -- Aired: October 26, 1953 -- Rating/Share: 60.2/84

After a heated argument about equal rights, during which the girls insist they want to be treated exactly as if they were men, the Ricardos and the Mertzes go off to an Italian restaurant for dinner. When the waiter, on Ricky's insistence, presents four separate checks, the girls discover they have no money.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Extra Note Fred and Ethel say that they owned some land in Florida.

#071 - "Baby Pictures"

Filmed: October 1, 1953 -- Aired: November 2, 1953 -- Rating/Share: 61.4/82

A resolution by the Ricardos not to show snapshots of their youngster to their friends goes by the boards as two proud visitors, Charlie and Carolyn Appleby, gleefully exhibit pictures of their infant in a baseball suit resembling Little Ricky's.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Music Performed "In Acapulco"

#072 - "Lucy Tells The Truth"

Filmed: October 8, 1953 -- Aired: November 9, 1953 -- Rating/Share: 61.4/84

Lucy vows to tell the truth for twenty-four hours in order to win a bet. This lands her in a knife-throwing act on television. Her predicament stems from a little white lie during her round-the-clock truth test -- namely, that she can understand a talent agent who can't speak English. When he hires her, Lucy has a choice of facing the knife-thrower's blades or losing the bet.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note In the first draft of this episode the writers had a scene were the Ricardos are audited, however Desi was very proud of his naturalized American citizenship and asked the writers to change it. Because he did not want the viewers to think that Ricky would deliberately cheat the government.
Extra Note Lucy telling the truth says that Ethel is a tacky dresser and "Old Sneaky," Fred is a tightwad, and Ricky is hammy, stubborn, and a coward.

#073 - "The French Revue"

Filmed: October 15, 1953 -- Aired: November 16, 1953 -- Rating/Share: 60.0/81

Ricky plans a French revue at the Tropicana. Lucy hires DuBois, a waiter at a French bistro, to teach Ethel and herself some conversational French. In exchange for the free lessons, Lucy promises to get DuBois into Ricky's show. At first Ricky is mad, but he finally agrees to hire the waiter on the basis of his excellent "Louise" rendition. However, much to Lucy's consternation, Ricky forbids her to come near the club. She does her best to get into the Tropicana in various disguises.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Music Performed "Louise," "Valentine," "Frère Jacques," "Apache"
Extra Note In order to show Ricky that she could sneak into the Tropicana, Lucy dresses as a janitor carrying a lamp, with the shade over her head; a worker with a huge painting, with a wig over her face; as a bass instrument case; and a dumpy French lady.

#074 - "Redecorating The Mertzes' Apartment"

Filmed: October 22, 1953 -- Aired: November 23, 1953 -- Rating/Share: N/A

The Ricardos nearly wreck the apartment of their landlord friends, the Mertzes, when they try to help decorate their apartment and Lucy proves herself an inferior decorator.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Music Performed "Lily of the Valley"
Production Note Lucille Ball made a error when she says "Let's paint the furniture and reupholster the old furniture," instead of "Let's paint the apartment and reupholster the old furniture." Desi who managed to cover for his wife by ad-libbing.
Extra Note The Mertzes have lived in their apartment for 20 years. In the last season, they had only lived there 16 years.

#075 - "Too Many Crooks"

Filmed: October 29, 1953 -- Aired: November 30, 1953 -- Rating/Share: 60.1/85

Fred's birthday is approaching, and the Ricardos decide to buy him a custom-made tweed suit as a surprise. Lucy sneaks into the Mertz apartment to borrow one of Fred's old suits as a model. But Mrs. Trumbull, unaware of Lucy's intentions, sees her and tells Ethel. Because of a robbery scare in the neighborhood involving a "Madame X," Ethel immediately jumps to the conclusion that Lucy is she.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note The Ackerman's apartment has just been robbed, however in real life Harry Ackerman was a CBS executive who worked closely on I Love Lucy. The night that this episode aired, Desi threw a surprise anniversary party at the Macambo, during the party a TV set was brought in to enjoy the show.
Extra Note Mrs. Trumbull sees Lucy sneak out of the Mertzes apartment with Fred's suit.

#076 - "Changing The Boys' Wardrobe"

Filmed: November 5, 1953 -- Aired: December 7, 1953 -- Rating/Share: 67.2/79

Lucy and Ethel hatch an ingenious plot to make their husbands stop wearing disreputable clothes in public. Ricky proudly displays his sweatshirt from his alma mater, Havana U.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Music Performed "Granada"
Extra Note one of Fred's most favorite sweaters states on the front Golden Gloves 1909.

#077 - "Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined"

Filmed: November 12, 1953 -- Aired: December 14, 1953 -- Rating/Share: 55.2/80

Lucy winds up with drops in her eyes when Ricky visits an oculist, but it takes more than impaired vision to quell her latest attempts to crash the show at Ricky's nightclub -- this time with a sizzling jitterbug dance.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Music Performed "Stompin' at the Savoy," "The Varsity Drag," "There's No Business Like Show Business"

#078 - "Ricky's Old Girl Friend"

Filmed: November 19, 1953 -- Aired: December 21, 1953 -- Rating/Share: 52.8/76

Ricky creates a fictitious old flame, Carlota Romero to make Lucy fly into a jealous rage. By coincidence, a singer by the same name is actually appearing in New York. The next evening, a press agent arranges for Carlota Romero, with whom Ricky did work many years ago to see Ricky again.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note After this episode aired originally the Four Santas skit was seen for the last time. For Lucy's ex-boyfriends the names were taken from the I Love Lucy staff, Billy (Bill Asher, director), Jess (Jess Oppenheimer, producer), Maury (Maury Thompson, camera coordinator), Argyle (Argyle Nelson, production manager), Bud (Bud Molin, film editor), Wilbur (Wilbur Hatch, musical director), Karl (Karl Freund, director of photography, and last Martin (Martin Leeds, a Desilu vice-president).
Extra Note Ricky worked with the Five Romero Sisters, fifteen years ago.

#079 - "The Million-Dollar Idea"

Filmed: November 28, 1953 -- Aired: January 11, 1954 -- Rating/Share: 62.7/83

Lucy and Ethel have visions of making a million dollars by bottling and selling old-fashioned salad dressing -- until their operations reach the point of diminishing returns, largely because of their bizarre views on how to run a business.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note Lucille Ball makes a mistake when she states that they have completed 1153 orders, however moments later tells Ricky that she only has 1133 jars. In the commercial scenes, Ethel portrays Mary Margaret McMertz, which was a take off from the 1940's radio personality, Mary Margaret McBride, who hosted a daily talk show.
Extra Note Ethel's middle name is given as Roberta.

#080 - "Ricky Minds The Baby"

Filmed: December 3, 1953 -- Aired: January 18, 1954 -- Rating/Share: 59.4/78

Ricky changes his vacation plans so he can spend all his time with Little Ricky. Lucy uses her free time to go shopping, but when she returns she finds Little Ricky wandering the hallway by himself. Ricky and Fred have been so involved in a TV football game, they hadn't seen him wander off. To teach Ricky a lesson, Lucy phones her husband and nonchalantly asks about Little Ricky. Panic sets in when the father realizes his son is missing.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note By 1954, I Love Lucy was seen by the US Armed Forced all over the globe. Watch for Ricky's story telling of Little Red Riding Hood, in Spanish. This episode was the only episode not to be filmed without a studio audience, although people showed up, they were turned away because they were afraid that the babies would not be able to perform on cue with and audience.
Extra Note We learn that Mrs. Trumbull owns a cat in this episode. Now the Mertzes claim to have been married only 23 years.

#081 - "The Charm School"

Filmed: December 10, 1953 -- Aired: January 25, 1954 -- Rating/Share: N/A

Lucy and Ethel enroll in a charm school to cope with their husbands' interest in a sweet young thing who exudes personality-plus.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note Natalie Schafer who portrayed Phoebe Emerson, appeared in the 1956 Lucille Ball/Desi Arnaz movie Forever Darling, and later portrayed Lovey Howell the Millionaire's wife on Gilligan's Island. In this episode Ricky discuss the coming of color television, in 1954 CBS had considered filming I Love Lucy in color however the idea was dropped.

#082 - "Sentimental Anniversary"

Filmed: December 17, 1953 -- Aired: February 1, 1954 -- Rating/Share: 61.1/82

Lucy and Ricky want to spend their thirteenth anniversary at home, but the Mertzes have arranged a surprise party for them. When Ethel asks Lucy where they'll be that night, Lucy quickly concocts some story that they'll be out. As the party guests start arriving, Lucy and Ricky move their champagne dinner into the hall closet. Finally they manage to divert the guests' attention so they can slip out the front door and make a properly "surprised" entrance.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note The Ricardos and Arnazes have both been married for thirteen years. Lucy and Ricky reminisce about their marriage through real life scrapbooks.
Extra Note This episode was filmed just two weeks after Desi through the special anniversary party for Lucille. After the filming of this episode, the I Love Lucy Company took a two-week Christmas vacation.

#083 - "Fan Magazine Interview"

Filmed: January 7, 1954 -- Aired: February 8, 1954 -- Rating/Share: 62.4/83

Lucy and Ricky madly prepare for a visit from a fan magazine writer who is doing a series on happily married couples. But their frayed nerves and a family quarrel make for a touch-and-go situation before the scribe arrives.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Music Performed "Vesti La Giubba"
Production Note Before this episode aired originally Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz made a public service announcement stating for viewers to send a dime to the I Love Lucy March of Dimes. Eleanor Harris was a real magazine writer she wrote about Lucille and Desi back in 1940. She also wrote a book intitled The Real Story of Lucille Ball it was published in 1954. The is the last we see of Jerry Hausner, it was reported that the was fired after he had a shouting match with Desi Arnaz.

#084 - "Oil Wells"

Filmed: January 14, 1954 -- Aired: February 15, 1954 -- Rating/Share: 63.9/85

When a fast-talking petroleum "tycoon" from Texas tries to foist some phony stock off on the Ricardos and the Mertzes, they discover the ruse just in time to avoid being fleeced.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note After this episode originally aired Lucille and Desi pitched an ad for their new movies The Long, Long Trailer. Sandra Gould later co-starred in ABC's Bewitched as the second Mrs. Kravitz.

#085 - "Ricky Loses His Temper"

Filmed: January 21, 1954 -- Aired: February 22, 1954 -- Rating/Share: 56.8/80

Ricky tries his hand at a little psychology to overcome Lucy's mania for buying hats.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note Madge Blake had appeared in the Arnazes film The Long, Long Trailer, and would later co-star on both The Real McCoys as Flora MacMichael and on Batman as Aunt Harriet.
Extra Note Ricky Ricardo is seen searching for the January 22, 1954 issue of TV Guide.

#086 - "Home Movies"

Filmed: January 28, 1954 -- Aired: March 1, 1954 -- Rating/Share: 58.5/83

When Ricky makes a film and succeeds in selling it to a producer, Lucy decides to get into the act by producing her own western. When TV producer Bennett Green arrives to see Ricky's pilot, "Ricky Ricardo Presents Tropical Rhythms," he is treated to a spliced-in sampling of Lucy's theatrical travesty.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Music Performed "I'm an Old Cowhand," "Vaya con Dios"
Production Note Bennett Green in real life was Desi's stand in.
Extra Note Lucy claims to have visited Hollywood before.

#087 - "Bonus Bucks"

Filmed: February 4, 1954 -- Aired: March 8, 1954 -- Rating/Share: 57.8/83

Lucy and Ethel engage in a not-too-neighborly tiff over the ownership of a "bonus buck" when its serial number turns up in a newspaper.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note Lucy's starched dress was only one in a series of outlandish outfits to be designed for Lucille Ball by Elois Jenssen who had also designed Lucille's wardrobe for the movies in Lured and Forever Darling.
Extra Note The number on the bonus buck is B78455629G.

#088 - "Ricky's Hawaiian Vacation"

Filmed: February 11, 1954 -- Aired: March 22, 1954 -- Rating/Share: N/A

When Ricky makes no provision for Lucy to accompany him on a trip to Hawaii, Lucy sets out to win a free trip to the ukulele capital for herself and the Mertzes.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Music Performed "King Kamehameha," "A Hawaiian War Chant," "Cielito Lindo," "La Cucaracha," "I Get The Blues When It Rains," "Honey," "Let's Have Another Cup o' Coffee," "I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket," "How Deep Is The Ocean"

#089 - "Lucy Is Envious"

Filmed: February 16, 1954 -- Aired: March 29, 1954 -- Rating/Share: 59.5/83

A wealthy ex-schoolmate of Lucy's is collecting for a charity. Lucy tells her friend to put her down for "five." But when the uppity friend arrives to collect the pledged funds, Lucy is shocked to learn that her "five" meant five hundred dollars. In order to raise the money, Lucy and Ethel get a job dressed as two maids from Mars in a stunt to publicize a science fiction movie. They "invade" the top of the Empire State Building and scare the daylights out of a group of hotel patrons.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note Mary Jane Croft makes her first appearance on the show, she would later return in the final season as neighbor Betty Ramsey, and she would later appear on Lucille Ball's other shows. This episode was one of Jess Oppenhiemer's least favorite episodes. Dick Elliott would later go on to appear as Mayor Pike from 1960-62 on CBS's The Andy Griffith Show.
Extra Note In order to find some money Lucy finds 51 cents, a button, a nail file, and a piece of old Christmas candy in the couch. Ethel finds 76 cents in one of Fred's old coats.

#090 - "Lucy Writes A Novel"

Filmed: March 4, 1954 -- Aired: April 5, 1954 -- Rating/Share: 51.5/75

Lucy decides to become an author after reading about a woman who won $10,000 for her book. Ricky, Fred, and Ethel find themselves the central characters in Lucy's first novel, "Real Gone With the Wind."

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note Dorrance & Company was based in Philadelphia.
Extra Note This is the first time the Ricardos' fireplace is used, it is used to burn the manuscript.

#091 - "Lucy's Club Dance"

Filmed: March 11, 1954 -- Aired: April 12, 1954 -- Rating/Share: 59.1/85

Lucy organizes an orchestra among her girl friends and books them for a club dance. But the orchestra plays so horribly that she asks Ricky to come to a rehearsal and give them some advice. Determined to get publicity for the dance, Lucy announces the premiere performance of "Ricky Ricardo and His All-Girl Orchestra."

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Music Performed "Twelfth Street Rag"

#092 - "The Diner"

Filmed: March 18, 1954 -- Aired: April 26, 1954-- Rating/Share: 51.1/77

Ricky becomes interested in a diner that is for sale, so the Ricardos and the Mertzes all buy it together. Right away, Ethel and Fred decide that they are doing all the work while Lucy and Ricky have all the fun. The couples decide to split the diner down the middle. The Ricardos' side says "A Little Bit of Cuba," and the Mertzes' side says "A Big Hunk of America."

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.

#093 - "The Black Wig"

Filmed: March 25, 1954 -- Aired: April 19, 1954 -- Rating/Share: 55.8/77

Ricky forbids Lucy to get "one of those new Italian haircuts." She rebels by borrowing a wig from her hairdresser Roberta, who insists Lucy looks like a different person with it on. Lucy plans to wear the wig so she can test Ricky's fidelity, but the salon manager tips off Ricky to the scheme. When Lucy puts on the wig and starts flirting, Ricky flirts back.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note Lucille Balls' hairdresser was Irma Kusley. The strange outfit that was made for Ethel was the best sight gag ever to made for Vivian Vance, who often served as the "straight woman" to Lucy's strange antics.

#094 - "Tennessee Ernie Visits"

Filmed: April 1, 1954 -- Aired: May 3, 1954 -- Rating/Share: 57.3/80

When country cousin Tennessee Ernie Ford -- a hillbilly's hillbilly -- wears out his welcome with the Ricardos, Lucy tries a vamp act to scare him back to the mountains.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Music Performed "Wabash Cannon Ball," "Turkey In The Straw," " She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain" Tennesse Ernie Ford, a Country singer who produced many albums, also starred as himself in the 1956-61 The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show.
Extra Note Ernie is the middle boy of a cousin of an old college roommate of a friend of Mother McGillicuddy.

#095 - "Tennesseee Ernie Hangs On"

Filmed: April 8, 1954 -- Aired: May 10, 1954 -- Rating/Share: 55.6/80

Lucy gets sick of an extensive visit by Tennessee Ernie, who claims he is her cousin. She tries to get rid of the likable character by pleading poverty. The scheme backfires when Tennessee Ernie promotes a benefit hoedown to assist Lucy and Ricky.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Music Performed "Wabash Cannon Ball," "Y'all Come"
Production Note This was the first story that was told in more than one episode.
Extra Note Lester Bike hosts the TV show in which Ernie, the Ricardos, and the Mertzes appear.

#096 - "The Golf Game"

Filmed: April 15, 1954 -- Aired: May 17, 1954 -- Rating/Share: 54.2/81

Championship golfer Jimmy Demaret visits the Ricardos when Lucy and Ethel arrive at a bizarre scheme for combating their "golf widowship." The girls install a basketball court in the Ricardo living room and pretend to be as deeply absorbed in the game as their husbands are in the fairways.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note Golf was one of Desi Arnaz's favorite sports. In 1954, he built a new home for himself and his family overlooking the gold course at the Thunderbird Country Club in Palm Springs. Jimmy Demaret was a famous golf pro who won the Masters golf tournament in 1940, 1947 and 1950.

#097 - "The Sublease"

Filmed: April 22, 1954 -- Aired: May 24, 1954 -- Rating/Share: N/A

Hoping to spend the summer away, the Ricardos decide to sublet their apartment and split the profits with the Mertzes. Their tenant is a shy, timid soul who has been a witness in a murder trial and who wants nothing but peace and quiet. The deal is made when Ricky suddenly learns that his summer job has been canceled. Lucy stages a murder scene to frighten the tenant away so that she and Ricky can move back into the apartment.

Produced by Jess Oppenheimer Directed by William Asher
Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.
Production Note The Arnazes spent the summer of 1954 in seaside Del Mar.
Extra Note Lucy claims that she was 22 years old when she got married.