Abraham Charles "Abe" Vigoda appeared in dramas, including
The Godfather, (1972) and in the ABC-TV comedy Barney Miller
(1975-1982) and the 1990 film Joe Versus The Volcano.

In 1953, the first nationwide televised Oscars ceremony was held, with Bob
Hope acting as the master of ceremonies (above).

 
John Wayne accepts the Best Director Oscar from Olivia DeHavillan for John
Ford who was absent during the 25th annual ceremony.

Bob Hope

      Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. (April 29, 1951 – February 18, 2001)

Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was involved in a fatal car accident during the last
lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on
February 18, 2001. The checkered flag dropped after the accident
and Michael Waltrip won the race, with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finishing
in second place.

The first Academy Awards of Merit (Oscars) were presented on May
16, 1929, at a private brunch at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel with
an audience of about 270 people. Fifteen statuettes were awarded,
honoring artists, directors and other personalities of the filmmaking
industry of the time for their works during the 1927–1928 period.

Wings won for Best Picture and Emil Jannings won for Best Actor
for Last Command, although he never actually showed up for the
ceremony. The post Academy Awards party was held at the Mayfair
Hotel. The cost of guest tickets for that night’s ceremony was $5.

Emil Jannings

Douglas Fairbanks presenting the very first Best Actress
Oscar to Janet Gaynor