Hallmark Channel Celebrates Lucille Ball's 100th Birthday With 'I Love Lucy' Marathon
by Chris Harnick, posted Aug 4th 2011 12:25PM
How do you pay tribute to Lucille Ball on her 100th birthday? If you're Hallmark Channel, you dedicate 48 hours of programming to the beloved redhead.In celebration of the milestone, Hallmark will air 96 episodes of 'I Love Lucy' -- no reruns, 96 different episodes -- on Sat., Aug. 6, Ball's actual birthday. The marathon begins at 6AM ET and ends Mon., Aug. 8 at 6AM.
The original black and white 'I Love Lucy' series ran from 1951 to 1957, but continued for three more seasons with 13 one-hour specials -- 'The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show,' later called 'The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour' -- from 1957-1960.
Born in 1911, Lucille Ball got her start in radio and movies in the 1930s before heading to TV in the 1950s. Up until her death in 1989 at the age of 77, Ball was doing TV and film work. Her last credited role was in the 1986 series 'Life With Lucy.'
Watch a classic scene from 'I Love Lucy' below.

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