I Love Lucy: A Look Back at the Birth of a Hollywood Legacy

Since the 1950s, generations have grown up watching one of the funniest women on television, Lucille Ball. I don't know anyone who doesn't like watching "I Love Lucy," and the show has lived on through reruns for 60 years now. Who doesn't love the "Vita-meata-vegamin" episode? It's the perfect cure-all for the blues.

Here is a look back at the gorgeous redheaded comedian/actress who would have turned 100 years old today.

* Aug. 6, 1911: Lucille Desiree Ball was born in Jamestown, New York to Henry Durrell Ball and Desiree "DeeDee" Evelyn Hunt. When Lucy was only three, the family moved to Anaconda, Montana, and Lucy liked to tell people that she was born in Butte, Montana, the closest major town to Anaconda.

* Lucy's father died in 1915, and the family moved in with her mother's grandparents in New York. Her mother remarried a man who was a Shriner, Ed. He encouraged Lucy to audition for one of his shows when she was 12, and the young girl found that she enjoyed the praise and recognition that came with being on the stage

* In 1927, Ball began attending a drama school in New York City, but her instructors told her that she had "no future in show business", as Lucy often found her nerves got the best of her. She stayed in New York despite her teachers advice, and began going by the name of "Montana" as well as Diane Belmont. Ball found work as a model, and ultimately became the Chesterfield cigarette girl.

* In 1933, Lucy made her move to Hollywood, where she was almost immediately given a role as one of 12 Goldwyn Girls, promoting the film "Roman Candles". Just a few years later, she was cast in Stage Door with Kathryn Hepburn and Ginger Rogers.

* It was in 1940, that Ball met her future husband, Desi Arnaz, while co-starring in the musical, "Too Many Girls". They married that same year. Though Arnaz was known as a ladies man, he was also a big supporter of his wife's career.

* The birth of the "I Love Lucy" show, actually came from the radio comedy that Lucy starred in called, "My Favorite Husband". Her husband on the show was played by Richard Denning. Audiences fell in love with Lucy on her radio show, and CBS took notice. They wanted to put the show on-screen, and Ball insisted that her real life husband be her co-star.

* Lucy and Desi created their own production company, Desliu Productions, and on October 15, 1951, the "I Love Lucy" show was born. The show ran for six years, and for four seasons it was the number one show in the country.

The show has continued to be a hit for six decades, living on through syndication, and it has been called one of television's greatest shows of all-time. We all love Lucy. Happy 100th birthday, Ms. Ball.