Scandalous Facts About The Academy Awards, Hollywood's Biggest Night
Sure, there are the Golden Globes, the BAFTAs, the SAG Awards—but let's be real. The real be-all and end-all when it comes to film are the Academy Awards. It seems like, ever since they began, each year's ceremony has been marked by some sort of astounding triumph or heartbreaking defeat. Add in red carpet run-ins, flubs, controversial speeches, behind-the-scenes drama, and a pinch of Adele Dazeem, and you've got one of the most exciting nights of the year. Here are 60 scandalous facts the Academy Awards.
1. The Beginning
The first-ever Academy Awards were held in 1929 at a private dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel with only 270 people in attendance. The first ceremony took only 15 minutes—guess no one was doing speeches back then! The awards were first broadcast live via radio in 1930, and via television in 1953.
2. The Awards
There are currently 24 artistic and technical awards categories, though this hasn’t always been the case.
Over the years, the Academy has given awards for categories such as Best Assistant Directing, Best Dance Direction, Best Unique and Artistic Picture, and Best Title Writing, though these categories have been discontinued.
Categories for Best Casting, Best Stunt Coordination, and Best Title Design have been proposed in recent years, but have been rejected.
3. First Ever
The very first Academy Award ever given out was for the Best Actor in 1929—it was actually awarded to its winner prior to the ceremony! Emil Jannings couldn't attend, so he was given the award in advance, but the surprise was ruined. In those days, the winners were announced three whole months before the ceremony. Kind of takes the suspense away!
4. Who is Oscar?
The “Oscar” statuette was created by sculptor George Stanley, said to be modeled on Mexican actor Emilio "El Indio" Fernández. The origins of the “Oscar”
nickname are disputed: Bette Davis, who served as president of the Academy, claims to have named the statuette after her husband, band leader Harmon Oscar Nelson.
Academy Executive Secretary Margaret Herrick claims to have coined the nickname in 1931 when she remarked the statue reminded her of her “Uncle Oscar.”
Walt Disney was quoted as having thanked the Academy for his “Oscar” in 1932—the first reported use—and the Academy officially adopted the nickname in 1939.
