The annual ceremony honoring achievements in the film industry, The Academy
Awards, was held for the first time on May 16, 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt
Hotel. It was a private dinner with an attendance of about 270 people.

The ceremony lasted only 15 minutes with fifteen statuettes (Oscars) awarded to
artists, directors and other personalities of the movie industry for achievements
during the 1927 to 1928 period. The post awards party was held at the Mayfair
Hotel. The cost of guest tickets for the night was $5.

Emil Jannings received the first Oscar, Best Actor in a Leading
Role for the movies “The Last Command” and The Way of All
Flesh” (1929).

Douglas Fairbanks, the Academy’s first president, and
Janet Gaynor, winner of the Best Actress award.

John Wayne accepts the Best Director Oscar on behalf of an absent John
Ford during the 25th Academy Awards in 1953. It was the first time the
ceremony was televised.