The Academy Awards are held in Hollywood for the first time on 16th May 1929.
The event took place at a private dinner held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in LA. The awards were a brainchild of Loius B. Mayer, founder of a film company that is now merged as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Here are some facts about the first Academy Awards
- The event was not broadcast on TV or radio
- The awards were presented in twelve categories
- The winners had already been announced 3 months before the event
- Janet Gaynor and Emil Jannings, the Best Actress and Best Actor, respectively, received their awards for their roles in multiple films (not just one)
- 1927 film Wings, received the Best Picture award
- Charlie Chaplin was awarded a special trophy for the film, Circus
