John Garfield (Jacob Julius Garfinkle) (March 4, 1913 – May 21, 1952)

Garfield earned Best Actor Oscar nominations for his roles in 1947’s Body and
Soul and 1938’s Four Daughters. His other notable films include Tortilla Flat in
1942 and The Sea Wolf in 1941. He also co-starred in the 1947 film, Gentleman’s Agreement, with Gregory Peck. He began his acting career performing on stage 
for the  American Laboratory Theater and Civic Repertory Theater. Long-term
heart problems led to his death at the age of 39.

 

Jean Harlow (Harlean Harlow Carpenter) 
  
          (March 3, 1911 – June 7, 1937)  

                 

The platinum blonde actress was often paired with Clark Gable in films like
Dinner at Eight in 1933. She also appeared in Three Wise Girls (1931) and
The Beast of the City (1932). Jean died at the young age of 26 from kidney
failure.

The 1927 action film Wings was the only silent film to win the Academy
Award for Best Picture.

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.

Sandy Kozel