The Birth of The Academy Awards
In January, 1927, MGM's Lois B. Mayer discussed an idea with his dinner guests Conrad Nagel (actor), and Fred Beeston (producer). They agreed upon the idea of one group overseeing the film industry and decided to present it to the 32 movie-making giants. A few days later 36 of the industry's leaders unanimously approved of the idea and "The International Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences" became reality. A few months later at the Crystal Ballroom of the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. A dinner was being held for the members of the newly formed "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". They had assembled to discuss the objectives of the new organization. The decision was made to create an award to recognize the outstanding achievements of its members. This was the beginning of what would become the film industry's biggest event, featuring its most cherished prize, "The Oscar".
Douglas Fairbanks The First Academy Awards Ceremony - 1929
In 1929 the "Roaring ‘20's" were still in full swing. Herbert Hoover was the 31st President of the United States, "Popeye the Sailor" was the newest comic strip character, and "Amos and Andy" made their debut on radio.
On May, 16th the first "Academy Awards" Ceremony took place during a banquet in the Blossom room at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. The event was hosted by Academy President, Douglas Fairbanks and Director William C. DeMille There were 270 guests in attendance. This was a small group with no media in attendance. Public interest in the first Academy Awards presentations was convincing enough for a Los Angeles radio station to do a live, one hour broadcast of the event the following year. During the 1929 ceremony there were 15 "Oscars" presented.
Some of the winners in 1929 were; Best Production/Picture -"Wings"; Best Actor - Emil Jannings; and Best Actress - Janet Gaynor.
Two Special Awards were also presented to Charles Chaplin for "The Circus", and Warner Brothers for "The Jazz Singer".
The "Oscar" Statue "Individually hand crafted."
The "Oscar", officially named the "Academy Award® of Merit", was originally designed by Cedric Gibbons, MGM art director. George Stanley, a Los Angeles sculptor, was commissioned to transform the design into a three dimensional figure of a knight standing on a reel of film, his hands gripping a sword. The "Oscar" still remains in its original form.
The statuettes have been individually hand crafted by R.S. Owens & Company in Chicago since 1982. In addition to the "Oscars", R.S. Owens & Company also creates; the "Emmy Award", "Academy of Country Music Award", the "Spike TV Video Game Award", "MTV Popcorn Award", the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Award", and the "NASCAR Nextel Cup". The "Oscars" are 13 ½ inches tall and weigh 8 ½ pounds. They are made of gold plated britannium, a metal alloy with a metal base. The 50 "Oscar" statuettes take about three weeks to produce.
Who Received the Most?
Wins by film; Ben Hur (11); Titanic (11); The Lord of The Rings;The Return of the King (11).
Nominations by film; Titanic (14); All About Eve (14); Forrest Gump (13); Chicago (13); Shakespeare In Love (13); From Here To Eternity (13); Gone With The Wind (13).
Nominations by Actor/Actress; Meryl Streep (14); Katherine Hepburn (12); Jack Nicholson (12).
Wins by Actor/Actress; Katherine Hepburn (4); Ingrid Bergman (3); Walter Brennan (3); Jack Nicholson (3).
Youngest Nominees Acting in a Leading Role; Jackie Cooper,9yrs. 20 days. Skippy (1930/31); Keisha Castle-Hughes, 13 yrs. 309 days Whale Rider (2003)
Youngest Winners Acting in a Leading Role; Adrien Brody, 29 yrs. 343 days, The Pianist (2002); Marlee Matlin, 21yrs. 218 days Children of a Lesser God (1986)
Oldest Nominees Acting in a Leading Role; Richard Farnsworth, 79yrs. 167 days The Straight Story (1999); Jessica Tandy,80yrs. 252 days Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
Oldest Winners for an Acting Award; Henry Fonda, 76yrs. 317 days On Golden Pond (1981); Jessica Tandy,80yrs. 292 days Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
Film with most wins for all categories nominated; The Lord of The Rings; The Return of The King 2003 (11) Nominations and Wins.
Henry Fonda was nominated for the first time in 1940 as Best Actor for "The Grapes of Wrath". He didn't however win the cherished prize until "On Golden Pond" in 1981 The 41 year span between his first nomination and first win is an Academy record.
"Titanic" tied the record with "All About Eve" for most nominations by film (14),and with "Ben Hur", and "Lord of the Rings; The Return of the King", for most wins by film (11). James Cameron co-produced "Titanic" with Jon Landau and won 3 awards in 1997 for Directing, Film Editing, and Best Picture.
See James Cameron at www.beautifulniagara.com/blog.
Who's Never Won the Acting Prize?
The "Academy Awards" have been the cause of celebration for some and disappointment for many during its 80 year history. Here is a list of Actors and Actresses for whom the ultimate prize in the film industry has been elusive. Some on the list may have been presented with non-acting "Oscars", or been recognized with "Honorary Awards" however they didn't achieve the highest honor for an acting role. The number of times nominated are in brackets beside each name.
Albert Finney (5), Glenn Close (5), Irene Dunne (5), Mickey Rooney (4), Greta Garbo (4), Rosalind Russell (4), Kate Winslet (4), Tom Cruise (3), Kirk Douglas (3, Angela Lansbury (3), Michelle Pfeiffer (3), Natalie Wood (3), Judy Garland (2), Clint Eastwood (1), Harrison Ford (1), Bob Hope (0)
Bob Hope hosted Academy Awards 19 years. Received 2 "Honorary Oscars" and 10 "Special Awards"
"Oscar" Quick Facts
There are 5,829 voting members in the Academy.
In 2007 the U.S. audience totaled 75 million.
In 2007 the Global audience was several hundred million.
There have been 2,658 Oscars presented since 1929.
The longest televised awards show was 4hrs, 23 min. in 2002.
The first televised broadcast was on March 19, 1953.
Bob Hope hosted the Academy Awards 19 times.
During its 80 year history there has been only three times in 80 years that the Awards presentation didn't go as planned;
1938 floods washed out Los Angeles and the ceremony was delayed for a week.
1968 the Awards ceremony was postponed from April 8 to April 10 out of respect for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who had been assassinated a few days earlier.
1981 the Awards were postponed for 24 hours because of the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
