1929 Academy Awards Banquet

Awards Ceremony

The first Academy Awards Ceremony was on May 16, 1929. It was a small gathering, with 270 people in attendance. Paying $5 to get in (whereas now it is by invitation only), the public gathered in the Blossom Room at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel to watch 14 Oscar winners receive their honors. This first ceremony was only heard by those in attendance, with no broadcast recordings of the program. The next year, in 1930, Los Angeles radio listeners were able to tune in to hear about the best actors and films of the day, as the awards ceremony was broadcast locally.
29th annual 1954 Academy Awards CeremonyOriginally, Oscar winners were not secret, with everyone knowing who would win before the ceremony began. The sealed envelope was soon introduced, making the ceremony much more exciting. Early Academy Ceremonies were held as banquets, but as attendance increased and the war raged on, 1942 marked the last year of the banquet-style ceremony. From 1943 on, the ceremony has taken place in theaters.

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Not to be confused with Academy Award Theater, this collection contains two complete Academy Awards Ceremonies and the music portions from two Academy Awards Ceremonies; in one musical portion, Judy Garland sings the national anthem. Bob Hope hosts the 17th annual show.