The first Oscars lasted 15 minutes — plus more surprises from the 95th anniversary awards.

The first Academy Awards presentation and reception was held in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California in May 1929.

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

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Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

The first Academy Awards presentation and reception was held in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California in May 1929.

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

You read that right – just 15 minutes. The first Academy Awards ceremony took place in May 1929 in the Blossom room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel at the end of the black-tie party. Fairbanks Announces First Oscar Nominations

All of the nominees for that year were silent films. Except for one thing: jazz singer, Starring Al Jolson, Grand Prize in 1929 went to wingThis is a movie about an airplane that is similar to one of the best picture contenders this year. Top Gun: Maverick.

The following year, the Academy Award for Best Production went to a war film. Quiet on the Western Front (The film’s remake was also a contender this year.) Press footage from the 1930s film captures MGM head Louis B. Mayer congratulating filmmaker Carl Laemmle, saying, “Sorry that I’m not here.” Don’t beat me, Laemmle. I know no one I’d rather beat me than you.”

When the silent film era ended and the talk began. Meyer dreamed up an academy concept for Hollywoodland. which is known for the first time

“He was afraid of the union movement that was moving across the country. And he didn’t want the movie industry to be unionized,” said Bruce Davis, the Academy’s former CEO for more than 30 years.. “So he thought, ‘Anyway, we’re going to have this organization. and we will all come together and talk about our sorrows and troubles.’”

Davis Author Academy and Awards, In the late 1920s, writers, directors, actors and other members The new institution’s distrust of Meyer’s anti-union studio group. They soon formed a guild. And Davis said the Academy was almost dissolved in 1933.

“Eventually the Academy had to agree to get out of the labor business altogether,” Davis said.

Instead, the organization focuses on giving out the Oscars. Because these statues later got their nicknames. Radio stations and news programs began to highlight the ceremony, captivating movie fans with Hollywood glamour and glamor.

In 1939, Hattie McDaniel became the first African American actress to win an Oscar for her role as Mammy in Gone with the WindMcDaniel rose from her seat at a separate table to accept the award for Best Supporting Actress.

“I sincerely hope that I will always be honored by my race and the film industry,” she said, wiping away her tears.

over the years The Oscars have been riddled with scandal and feuds … such as the famous rivalry between sisters Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland vying for the Best Actress Oscar in 1942 (Fontaine won Award for her role in Alfred Hitchcock’s film suspicion.)

The ceremony continued during the famous McCarthy era. When several Hollywood writers were blacklisted for suspected communism, This all came to an end in 1957 when the winner of Best Picture was announced: Robert Rich, the screenwriter of braveA story about a Mexican boy and his bull.

Someone else received the award on his behalf. “No one can find this man. And that’s because he doesn’t exist.” Michael Schulman, author of New Yorker and the author of the new book The Oscars Wars: Hollywood History in Gold, Sweat, and Tears.

Robert Rich is the pseudonym of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who was imprisoned for challenging the House Un-American Activities Committee.

“He realized the paradox was that all of these people – suspected of being communists – were blacklisted. But they’re all still working,” Schulman said. and now they are rewarded.”

Schulman said that was one of the Hollywood scandals the Oscars revealed.

In 1953, the Oscars began airing on television, with host Bob Hope praising, “Isn’t it exciting to know that so many stars will be in your house tonight? “

The ceremony had a long reputation, but in 1959 the show lasted just 20 minutes, so host Jerry Lewis had to record audio and anecdotes to fill the airtime.

“Now we want to do 300 chorus of ‘There’s no business like show business,'” he said before accepting the baton to lead the orchestra at the Pantages Theatre.

“Lewis invited all the winners and participants of the show back onto the stage. And they feel like idiots So they started dancing together.” Davis chuckled. “But it hasn’t died down yet. Then people started sneaking off the stage.”

For the remaining minutes, NBC cuts to reruns of the sports program.

Davis said that one of the most painful moments in Oscar history was that moment.
Charlie Chaplin started out in silent movies. Received a lifetime achievement award in 1972.

“He was almost expelled from the country because his politics were too far-fetched for the American public,” Davis said. That’s very impressive.”

The audience applauded Chaplin for 12 minutes.

The following year, the crowd cheered when Marlon Brando sends Sachin. Little Feather took the stage to turn down the Best Actor award because “Treatment of American Indians” by the film industry

Years later, Littlefeather I remember being taken down by a security guard from the Oscars stage. She said that for years Hollywood had boycotted her. by calling her Finally, almost 50 years later, the Academy has formally apologized to the Littlefeather of the abuse she endured for her Oscar appearance.

In 1974, the Oscars audience shrieks when gay activist Robert Opel leaps naked across the stage. Streaker urged host David Niven to quantify, “The only laugh a man can get in life is to take off his clothes and show his flaws.”

In 1985, Sally Field, winner of the Best Actress award. delivered one of Oscar’s most unforgettable speeches. “I can’t deny the fact that you like me,” she muttered. “Wait, you like me?!”

Shulman said there were other flattering moments, such as the 1989 release, which included actor Rob Lowe singing a duet with showman Snow White.

Schulman says the 11-minute, stellar debut was a failure for the flamboyant producer Allan Carr, who had previously produced musicals. grease and La Cage aux Falles.

“When it’s bad It became a scapegoat,” Schulman said. “He was banished within days. and he never recovered. It ruined his career. It ruined his life.”

in the past decade The Oscars took racial considerations after being criticized for not awarding black actors and filmmakers. movement #OscarsSoWhite Leading the mix in 2017:

“There was a freshman from Pricewaterhouse that year who was a little too eager to be backstage with all the stars. And obviously he lost interest in his work,” Davis explains. “He sent the presenter the wrong envelope.”

On stage, presenter Warren Beatty looked puzzled at the envelope, then Faye Dunaway announced the final winner of the night: la la land.

Producer Jordan Horowitz accepted the award in the first episode. Surrounded by a team of actors, after much confusion on stage He returned to the mic.

“I’m sorry, there was no mistake: moonlightYou guys got the best shot,” Horowitz said before showing the camera the card with the correct winner. “This isn’t a joke. moonlight Awarded Best Picture”

Last year, the winner was eclipsed by a confrontation with Best Actor nominee Will Smith, who walked onto the stage and slapped host Chris Rock after he joked about S’s wife’s hair. myth

After sending the slap seen and heard around the world Smith sat down in his seat and roared at Rock. Smith won Best Actor for his leading role. King RichardBut the Academy banned him from the event for 10 years.

Schulman said anything could happen during the live broadcast. “Whether it’s an angry slap or just something that really moves. Someone is living the dream,” he said most of the Oscars. “Wrapped up by this kind of celebrity like ‘you like me’ absurdity and BOOM! Something happened that shocked your system a bit.”