The National Comedy Center is marking the 70th anniversary of the debut of “I Love Lucy.” Submitted photo

The National Comedy Center will mark the 70th anniversary of the debut of “I Love Lucy” today with special episode screenings throughout the weekend, enhanced Lucy Desi exhibits and new interactive experiences for fans of the beloved TV series.

“I Love Lucy” premiered on the CBS television network on Oct. 15, 1951, and quickly became a cultural phenomenon — and one of the most popular television shows of all time.

“Seventy years since its television premiere, I Love Lucy is still loved by millions of fans worldwide,” said Journey Gunderson, National Comedy Center and Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum executive director. “With the extraordinary talent of Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley, and the creativity of the Desilu production team, I Love Lucy essentially invented television comedy as we know it today. We invite fans to visit our museums throughout this 70th anniversary year as we celebrate the legacy of this remarkable TV show.”

Visitors can celebrate the 70th anniversary in a number of ways:

¯ The National Comedy will present 70 of the best episodes of “I Love Lucy” in its theater over four days beginning today, including the very first episode to be broadcast, “The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub,” and fan favorites like “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” (Vitameatavegamin episode), “Job Switching (chocolate factory episode) and “Lucy’s Italian Movie” (grape stomping episode).

¯ At the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum, new photo experiences will officially debut today, including the unique opportunity to walk on to the most famous TV living room in TV history — an exact replica of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo’s New York apartment set — for a photo op. Six Emmy Awards won by Lucille Ball are newly presented within the museum for another photo opportunity.

Throughout the museum, new audiovisual presentations and upgraded artifact displays enhance the visitor experience as the remarkable stories of Lucy, Desi and “I Love Lucy” are told. These new photo ops and exhibit enhancements will be available to visitors year-round.

Fans worldwide can celebrate the “I Love Lucy” 70th anniversary virtually by taking part in the Lucy Desi Museum’s new Picture Mosaic experience. Fans are invited to submit photos of themselves to help create a Lucy Desi 70th anniversary mural mosaic that will take shape in real time as fan photos are received. The mural will be displayed within the museum gallery and online, and become a permanent part of the museum archives. For details and to submit photos for free, visit LucyMosaic.com.