15 minutes of formality: how the first ever Oscars were held. Historical photos

94 years ago, the first ever Oscar ceremony took place in Los Angeles. However, the event, which took place on May 16, 1929, was called the Academy Awards and lasted only 15 minutes. The whole ceremony was a mere formality.

OBOZREVATEL tells how everything was organized 91 years ago, as well as who received the awards, which were then called Honorable Mention ( to see archived photos and videos, scroll to the end).

Interesting facts

The first ever Oscars were held at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. The whole ceremony lasted only 15 minutes, and the list of winners was published in the print press two months before the ceremony.

Entrance to the event cost $5. The first Oscar was attended by 250 people.

The winners were awarded a 30-centimeter gold-plated statuette in the form of a knight on a reel of film.

That evening, the statuettes were presented by the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts, Sir Douglas Fairbanks, and the director Cecil Demille.

The nominees were films released in 1927-1928. The actors were not awarded for a specific role, but for all the films in which they appeared.

For the only time in the history of the Oscars, the 1929 ceremony presented awards for the best titles to a silent film and unique artistic performance.

Thus, two films, Sunrise and Wings, were recognized as the best films of 1927-1929.

The first best actress in the history of cinema was Janet Gaynor (Seventh Heaven), and the best actor was Emile Jannings (The Last Order).

The first Oscar for Best Director of a Comedy was awarded to Lewis Milestone (Two Arabian Knights).

Frank Borzeigi received the statuette for Best Director of the drama "The Seventh Heaven".

"Screenwriter Ben Hatch also won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay in the movie Underground.

Charlie Chaplin, actor, director and producer of the movie Circus, was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography Award.

The same statuette was awarded to Warner Brothers for the sound film The Jazz Singer.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told you which films and actors are in the running for the 2023 Oscars.

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