Sanford Arms
Based onSteptoe and Son created by
Ray Galton
Alan Simpson
Developed byNorman Lear (uncredited)
Directed byDick Harwood
Russ Petranto
StarringTheodore Wilson
LaWanda Page
Don Bexley
Whitman Mayo
Raymond Allen
Tina Andrews
John Earl
Opening themeHenry Mancini
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8 (4 Unaired) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersBernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub
Bud Yorkin
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22–24 minutes
Production companyTandem Productions
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseSeptember 19 (1977-09-19) –
October 14, 1977 (1977-10-14)
Related

Sanford Arms is an American sitcom television series produced as a spin-off and continuation of Sanford and Son, that aired Fridays at 8:00-8:30 PM on NBC from September 16 to October 14, 1977.

After six seasons, Redd Foxx left Sanford and Son to star in a variety show for ABC. The producers planned to continue the series with Demond Wilson as Lamont, but Wilson left the project in a dispute over his expected salary as the star of the series. The producers decided to continue the project with a new character. Norman Lear stepped down from his position as executive producer but stayed on as a consultant.

Premise

The new lead character was Phil Wheeler (Theodore Wilson), a widower and old Army buddy of Fred Sanford. It was explained that Fred and Lamont had moved to Arizona and they sold their property to Phil. Phil now lived in the Sanfords' old house in Los Angeles, with his two teenage children, Angie and Nat. The primary setting of the series, however, was the rooming house next door that Fred named "The Sanford Arms". Fred and Lamont bought the house in the penultimate season of the original series. The new series focused on Phil's attempts to turn the rooming house into a successful hotel.

LaWanda Page on Sanford Arms (1977)

Most of the recurring characters from the original series also starred in this series. Grady (Whitman Mayo) was now married to his girlfriend Dolly (who appeared in an episode of the original series). Bubba (Don Bexley) now worked at the Sanford Arms as a bellman and a maintenance man. Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page) was left in charge helping Phil and collecting the mortgage payments. Rounding out the cast of characters was Phil's girlfriend, Jeannie.

The attempt to continue a popular series without its two main stars turned out to be a failure. The ratings were low and the show was cancelled after four episodes. When Redd Foxx returned to television as Fred Sanford in the 1980–1981 short-lived spinoff Sanford, the events of Sanford Arms were completely ignored.

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Bye, Fred, Hi, Phil"Russ PetrantoBernie Orenstein,
Saul Turteltaub		September 16, 1977 (1977-09-16)
Fred and Lamont are gone, and Phil Wheeler takes control of "The Sanford Arms" hotel. Grady and his new wife Dolly (from Sanford and Son, "Grady and His Lady") check in to spend their honeymoon at the Sanford Arms, while Phil and Bubba try to find a way to come up with the rent money for the month. When Grady and Dolly check in, it is explained that Fred and Lamont moved to Arizona due to Fred's health.
2"Phil's Assertion School"Dick HarwoodS : Gene Farmer;
S/T : David Panich		September 23, 1977 (1977-09-23)
Phil's plan to teach people to be more assertive backfires when a student decides to sue him. The matter is worked out when Phil, with the help of one of his daughter's friends, gets the student to realize he can be assertive.
3"The Grandparents"Russ PetrantoT : Robert J. Hillard;
S/T : Woody Kling		September 30, 1977 (1977-09-30)
Nathaniel's grandparents come for a visit. As usual, they pester Phil to allow Nat to come and live with them in their upscale home in San Diego, reasoning that Watts is no place to raise a 12-year-old boy. Nat decides to go and live with his grandparents—but only to prove to them they are too old to handle a child of his age.
4"Phil's Past"Dick HarwoodS : Ron Landry,
Jim Mulligan;
T : Gene Farmer		October 14, 1977 (1977-10-14)
To Esther's dismay, Phil tries to obtain a liquor license for The Sanford Arms. His attempts are halted when a past incident stands in his way.
5"The TV Show"Dick HarwoodGene FarmerUnaired
The Sanford Arms is chosen as the site for a TV show.
6"Young Love"Russ PetrantoRick MittlemanUnaired
One of Phil's children falls in love.
7"The Wedding Reception"Russ PetrantoWoody KlingUnaired
Angie and Nat plan a wedding for Phil and Jeannie
8"The Ernie Williams Memorial Golf Course"Dick HarwoodLan O'KunUnaired
Phil plays golf at a course named after Ernie Williams.

Syndication

Sanford Arms was not included in the syndication package with Sanford and Son. Eight episodes had been produced, but the final four episodes did not air before the series' abrupt cancellation. In 1991, BET aired reruns of the series. In 2019, CHCH, a Canadian rerun channel, picked up the series for reruns, airing 6 of the 8 episodes.

References

  • Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earl (2003). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
  • Margulies, Lee (October 5, 1977). "NBC Gives the Ax to Sanford Arms". Los Angeles Times. p. H14. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
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