The History of the Academy Awards
The Academy Awards, sometimes called the Oscars, is a classic Hollywood event where the best of the film world is recognized for outstanding accomplishments in the current year. The 1st dinner was held on May 16, 1929 at the historical Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and has grown to be one of the most eagerly awaited awards shows in existence. From Shirley Temple to James Cameron to Walt Disney to Audrey Hepburn, the Academy Awards is all about the glitz, the glamor, and who will take home the coveted Oscar statuettes.
The Early Academy Awards Ceremonies
The 1st Academy Awards ceremony did not keep the recipients a secret. The winners were told months ahead and would receive the statuettes at the annual Academy Awards gala.
The Academy decided to change this and began keeping the winners a secret, but slipping envelopes to the press at 11:00 pm the night of the banquet. However , in 1940, the LA Times released the winners before the gala had taken place and the Academy Awards have adopted the sealed envelope policy ever since then.
Emil Jannings was the first individual to receive an Academy Award statuette and the first film to win Best Picture was Wings, a silent film about World War I pilots released by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by William A. Wellman and produced by Lucien Hubbard.
Now the Academy maintains a group of 5,835 who votes on the best out of the nominees.
Why is it called an "Oscar"?
We are doubtful as to the reasons why actually the name "Oscar" stuck with the statuettes. Some people say that the librarian at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced the statuette looked like her "Uncle Oscar."
Another story is that Bette Davis named it after her ex-husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson Jr.
Sidney Skolsky also called that statuette "Oscar" in his column saying that the name was derived from the music hall joke, "Will you have a cigar, Oscar?" He used this term in 1934 regarding Katherine Hepburn's win, and Walt Disney exploited the term at the Awards Ceremony that year also.
Academy Awards throughout History
Undoubtedly the Academy Awards has a large amount of engaging and controversial things occur at the gala itself. Who could forget when Adrien Brody gave Halle Berry the huge smooch when he won Best Actor for "The Pianist," or when Michael Moore was booed during his "Bowling for Columbine" acceptance speech for being overtly against President George Bush. In 1974, Robert Open ran across the stage bare-naked wearing nothing except a peace sign.
The Early Academy Awards Ceremonies
The 1st Academy Awards ceremony did not keep the recipients a secret. The winners were told months ahead and would receive the statuettes at the annual Academy Awards gala.
The Academy decided to change this and began keeping the winners a secret, but slipping envelopes to the press at 11:00 pm the night of the banquet. However , in 1940, the LA Times released the winners before the gala had taken place and the Academy Awards have adopted the sealed envelope policy ever since then.
Emil Jannings was the first individual to receive an Academy Award statuette and the first film to win Best Picture was Wings, a silent film about World War I pilots released by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by William A. Wellman and produced by Lucien Hubbard.
Now the Academy maintains a group of 5,835 who votes on the best out of the nominees.
Why is it called an "Oscar"?
We are doubtful as to the reasons why actually the name "Oscar" stuck with the statuettes. Some people say that the librarian at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced the statuette looked like her "Uncle Oscar."
Another story is that Bette Davis named it after her ex-husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson Jr.
Sidney Skolsky also called that statuette "Oscar" in his column saying that the name was derived from the music hall joke, "Will you have a cigar, Oscar?" He used this term in 1934 regarding Katherine Hepburn's win, and Walt Disney exploited the term at the Awards Ceremony that year also.
Academy Awards throughout History
Undoubtedly the Academy Awards has a large amount of engaging and controversial things occur at the gala itself. Who could forget when Adrien Brody gave Halle Berry the huge smooch when he won Best Actor for "The Pianist," or when Michael Moore was booed during his "Bowling for Columbine" acceptance speech for being overtly against President George Bush. In 1974, Robert Open ran across the stage bare-naked wearing nothing except a peace sign.