The First Academy Awards

It's Oscar night here in Hollywood and the town is all a flurry. I have to admit, I get pretty excited myself - the ceremony is right down the street from my house and well, being a Hollywood type and all (snicker), I like to join in the revelry. Naturally, the history of the event interests me. So while many in the rest of the country are lambasting Hollywood for its superficiality and botox injections (by the way folks...you are the ones who flock to the movies and buy the fanzines so shut up. Really...it's irritating) I'll offer a just a little on the first ceremony. The very first Academy Awards ceremony took place at a private dinner in the Blossom Room at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood (just a block west from where the ceremony takes place today) in May, 1929. Douglas Fairbanks hosted the event, which honored films made in 1927 and 1928. There were 270 people in attendance and the award presentations lasted just under 15 minutes. Wow...things have certainly changed.

And in case you are interested, the Best Picture nod went to Wings, a 1927 WWI fighter pilot drama starring Clara Bow, Charles Rogers, and Richard Arlen. You can check out the rest of the winners HERE.

With compliments,

Keith