Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz star in sitcom “I Love Lucy” for the premiere show on CBS

Lucille Ball is an American comedienne, film, television, stage, and radio actress.  She was one of the most popular and influential stars in the United States during her lifetime and had one of Hollywood’s longest careers, especially on television.  Ball became the first woman to run a major television studio, Desilu.

Desi Arnaz is a Cuban-born American musician, actor and television producer.  He gained fame for his lead role in a Latin music band, but is most known for his role in I Love Lucy.

On this day, October 15th, in 1951, I Love Lucy premiered on CBS, featuring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.  The American television sitcom was filmed in black-and-white and was the most watched show in the United States for four of the six seasons.  To this day, I Love Lucy is still syndicated in dozens of languages worldwide.  The show was the first scripted television program to be shot on 35mm film in front of a live studio audience.  It received numerous nominations, won five Emmy Awards and was listed as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME.