1929, First Academy Awards ceremony The Oscars
On this day on May 16, 1929, the very First Academy Awards ceremony the Oscars, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best films of 1927 and 1928.
First Academy Awards ceremony Oscars
Firstly, the event took place at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California. AMPAS president Douglas Fairbanks hosted the show. Therefore, the tickets cost $5 and 270 People attended the event and the presentation ceremony lasted 15 minutes.
AMPAS presented Academy Awards – now it’s known as the Oscars – in 12 categories. Meanwhile, the winners were announced three months before the live event. Therefore, utmost winners at the ceremony included 7th Heaven and Sunrise, which each received three awards, and Wings, receiving two awards.
Academy Awards
7th Heaven
- Frank Borzage – Best Directing (Dramatic Picture)
- Janet Gaynor (as Diane) – Best Actress
- Benjamin Glazer – Best Writing (Adaptation)
Sunrise
- Fox Film Corporation – Best Unique and Artistic Picture
- Janet Gaynor (as The Wife) – Best Actress
- Charles Rosher and Karl Struss – Best Cinematography
Wings
- Paramount Famous Lasky – Outstanding Picture
- Roy Pomeroy Two Arabian Knight – Best Engineering Effects
- Lewis Milestone – Best Directing (Comedy Picture)
The Last Command
- Emil Jannings ( as General Dolgorucki) – Best Actor
The Way of All Flesh
- Emil Jannings (as August Schilling) – Best Actor
Underworld
- Ben Hecht – Best Writing (Original Story)
The Dove
- William Cameron Menzies – Best Art Direction
Street Angel
- Janet Gaynor (as Angel) – Best Actress
Best Writing (Title Writing) – No specific film – Joseph Farnham
Honorary Awards (Special Awards)
- Charles Chaplin – “To Charles Chaplin, for acting, writing, directing and producing The Circus”.
- Warner Bros. – “To Warner Bros., for producing The Jazz Singer, the pioneer outstanding talking picture, which has revolutionized the industry.
