1927

The most prestigious, internationally-acknowledged award is rich in 95 years of history, and dates back to 1927. The Oscars. Louis B. Meyer, head of the MGM film studios, founded an organisation, alongside his dinner guests, to recognize and encourage excellence in motion picture production. Today, this organisation is known as the International Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, or as we know it, The Oscars.

1929

The first Oscars gracefully rolled around the corner, within the next two years. However, how did the Oscar figure come to be? What is the story behind its name, and who does it portray, if anyone? MGM art director, Cedric Gibbons, gave light to the very first physical depiction of the award that the world had ever seen. It was initially named the Academy Award of Merit, and adopted its well-known nickname in 1939. Just like all beautiful things, part of its history is left unknown. However, it is a popular belief that the Academy’s first-ever librarian, and eventually, executive director, Margaret Herrick, acknowledged that it mirrored her uncle, Oscar. Gibbons' creative expression illustrated a knight holding a sword before a reel of film. The movie reel consisted of five spokes, each symbolising the five original branches of the Academy; namely, actors, directors, producers, technicians and writers. The sword was regarded as an instrument of protection and advancement for the industry's welfare and advancement.

The magical night of the first ceremony took the breath away of its 270 attendees, on the evening of May 16th, 1929, at the Roosevelt Hotel’s Blossom Room. It was only possible to attend the Awards in person. The anonymous envelope system of nowadays plays grace to what developed on that night, and the upcoming years. At first, it was the norm for the recipients to be revealed three months in advance. However, this immediately changed the upcoming year of 1930, when the Academy opted for a more incognito approach, incentivising a strong hunger within one. A hunger to know, a hunger for an answer, so strong, that it eats you up from the inside. Namely, known as anticipation. Nevertheless, letting the newspapers in on the secret, allowing them to publicise the winners at 11pm. Such routine embedded itself until 1940, when guests could easily access the winners in the evening edition of the Los Angeles Times.

When it was time to make history, and award the first ever Oscar, the Warner Bros. movie, The Jazz Singer, was out of the running for winning Best Picture, as it was one of the first movies to include sound. As, however, sound was a predominantly new aspect in productions, the Academy cohesively agreed that the competition between such a ‘talking’ production, and the other competing silent movies, was unfair. Moments later, The Oscars awarded Best Picture to Wings. This was a noteworthy romantic film, following two WW1 pilots who share the same love for a woman, directed by William Wellman. It was notorious for having the highest budget out of any work so far, with a total of $2 million. It tied with Friedrich Murau’s Sunrise, as the best films of that year. Janet Gaynor achieved the unthinkable, receiving the first and only female award of the ceremony, but not only commemorating her on one of her works, but for three!

1935

The year of 1935 arose the opportunity for audience participation, in the form of write-ins. Such votes allowed voters to specify their choice for an unlisted candidate by writing their name on the ballot. This year came with its first write-in, devoted to Bette Davis, in honour of her performance in Of Human Bondage. Not only this, but the number of Award categories opened its arms to another three- Film Editing, Song, and Music scoring.

1937

Two years later, the Academy awarded its first supporting actor and actress for productions from the previous year. Gale Sondergaard received a grand round of applause for her nomination in Anthony Adverse, and Walter Brennan for his performance in Come and Get It.

1947

It was during 1947, when the Oscars broadened its horizon, and awarded its very first nomination to an Italian, and therefore, foreign language motion picture. This production, Shoe-Shine, set things in motion for the award honouring a foreign language, leading to seven consecutive awards until 1956, the year when foreign language films became an annual category.

1949

Fashion and clothes became the focus of attention, as voting ballots were established for costume design, and introduced not only the category for black-and-white, but also colour. The two films who received the first Oscars for these new categories were Hamlet, and Joan of Arc.

1953 & 1966

Finally, the year came around when The Oscar Awards were broadcasted, increasing the number of people the Awards reached, outsourcing to Canada and The US in 1953. It took another thirteen years until the Oscars were televised in colour!

Not only do the Oscars continue to seize the amazement of people worldwide, but continual developments and improvements are being made, as we speak, which might just take our breaths away the next time such a golden statuette is being awarded.