While we all anxiously await the presentation of the Eighty Fourth Academy Awards, do you ever wonder where this majestic ceremony began ? It was May of 1929. A private brunch was being held at the now famous Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. There were 270 guests in attendance. The host’s of this event were two prominent members of the Hollywood community by the names of Douglas Fairbanks and William C. deMille.
Awards were given to directors, actors and actresses and others who had made a significant contribution to the film industry in 1927 and 1928. The number of honorees totaled fifteen in all. That evening, a post Academy Awards party was held for the recipients at the Mayfair Hotel. A ticket to the post party was a very expensive five dollars.
The first ever winner of the best actor award was Emil Jannings for his portrayals in both “The Last Command” AND “The Way of All Flesh”. The best picture went to “Wings”. This was a silent feature about pilots of World War One. It was released by Paramount Pictures. It starred Clara Bow and Charles “Buddy” Rogers. There was also an appearance by a little known actor in 1927 who you may have heard of, Gary Cooper. “Wings” was the first and only silent film to win for best picture. For the first six years of the presentations the awards included parts of the previous two calendar years. So until it was changed in 1935 the award was given, sometimes acknowledging multiple works and performances during that given period of time.
As of 1935 this changed to January first thru December thirty first of the previous year only. Notable best film awardees of these early years includes “All Quiet on the Western Front” in 1930, “Mutiny on the Bounty” in 1936, and “Gone with the Wind” in 1940.
Hosting the Academy Awards, has always been a “feather in ones hat” in itself. Will Rogers received the honor in 1934. The much beloved Bob Hope was first the master of ceremonies in 1940. He then subsequently repeated this task sixteen more times during his life. He would be considered the patriarch of the group. His good friend Jack Benny took over for him twice. One of the more popular host’s was late night talk king, Johnny Carson, who emceed the festivities for four years in a row from 1979 thru 1982. The first female host was Agnes Moorhead who actually shared the duties with Dick Powell.
Many of you may not even recall last years host and hostess. They were James Franco and Anne Hathaway. This year, Billy Crystal returns for his ninth go around in the role, having last appeared in 2004. Needless to say over the course of the past eighty three years there are too many individual actors and actresses to acknowledge. But it is fair to say they are the truly elite in the acting community. From Spencer Tracy, to two time winner, Dustin Hoffman to Sean Penn. From Katherine Hepburn to last years winner, a nominee this year and record setting eighteen nominations recipient Meryl Streep for best actress.
Through last year, 2,809 statuettes were handed out for 1,853 achievements over the past eight decades plus. This total will be added to on Sunday, February 26,2012