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Who is this guy?

Who is this guy?

The second Academy Award: Mary Pickford... the Star of 1930

The second Academy Award: Mary Pickford... the Star of 1930

 

Norma Jeane Baker (or Marilyn if you prefer) was 4 years old, Picasso was 49, Ernest Borgnine was 13, Audrey Hepburn was 1, Katharine Hepburn was 23 and Charlie Chaplin... and Hitler... were both 41. 

.............It was 1930 and the 2nd edition of the Academy Awards took place at the Ambassador Hotel, in the same banquet room, the Coconut Grove used for the first ceremony. We were honoring movies released from August 1, 1928 to July 31, 1929. 

It was april the 3rd and the Host this time was the well known William C. DeMille, screenwriter and director of the silent era, and also the elder brother of Cecil B. DeMille, one of the founders of The Academy.

Facts happened in 1930 remained unique: 

The local radio station KNX broadcasted from the Academy Awards.

Not just one, but two ceremony were held that year, one in april and the other in november. 

There were no official nominees, and the number of awards decreased from 12 to just 7 categories. 

The Director Frank Lloyd won for The Divine Lady, the only Director winning an Academy Award with no other nomination for the movie itself, none of the movies won more than one Award each, and again this will be the first and last time in Oscars history. 

All awards went to sound movies...and that was the beginning of the end of the silent era. 

The Big Change for Mary Pickford 

             Mary Pickford with her statuette & her signature 

1930 was also the year of Mary Pickford's first Academy Award for here performance in "Coquette". Probably it was not so easy for Mary Pickford to change from Silent to Talkie. Despite of this epical shift,  the silent movie structure influenced the movie "Coquette" . 

For example, emphasizing on facial expressions was still a key point in the art of making movies.  Maybe the Academy Award came from the fact that she was so powerful at that time, than from her outstanding performance.... but who knows the Academy criteria??? 

To answer, or better say, not answer this question I'd like to share with you few lines of a book by Eileen Withfield: "Pickford: the woman who made Hollywood". 

We need to understand who was Mary at that time, and by reading these lines our imagination could bring us back... almost a hundered years ago when a woman had power and Hollywood was pink!   

"...she was a good staunch fighter...a brilliant woman and a determined one..."

"Most people do care about film technique, though they may not think about it in such terms. Film and its cousin in the field of moving images- television -dominate our lives. They have affected how we think about ourselves, how we filter our reality, and how we dream. To fully understand them, we must look for their roots in silent films. And there, as though in a secret garden, lies the seminal career of Mary Pickford- a woman of unstoppable power and purpose, whose genius still floods the screen, fierce and sweet."

Source: Eileen Withfield: "Pickford: the woman who made Hollywood"

"Coquette" clips...

                                                 Death

                                      Norma with her father

                                        Norma saving her father

Here you can find  the complete list of winners and "non official nominations" as reported in the official Oscar website. 

http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=1337641381378 

ACTOR

George Bancroft -- Thunderbolt {"Thunderbolt Jim Lang"}

*	Warner Baxter -- In Old Arizona {"The Cisco Kid"}

Chester Morris -- Alibi {"No. 1065, Chick Williams"}

Paul Muni -- The Valiant {"James Dyke"}

Lewis Stone -- The Patriot {"Count Pahlen"}

ACTRESS

Ruth Chatterton -- Madame X {"Jacqueline Floriot"}

Betty Compson -- The Barker {"Carrie"}

Jeanne Eagels -- The Letter {"Leslie Crosbie"}

Corinne Griffith -- The Divine Lady {"Emma Hart, Lady Hamilton"}

Bessie Love -- The Broadway Melody {"Hank Mahoney"}

*	Mary Pickford -- Coquette {"Norma Besant"}

ART DIRECTION

Hans Dreier -- The Patriot

*	Cedric Gibbons -- The Bridge of San Luis Rey

Mitchell Leisen -- Dynamite

William Cameron Menzies -- Alibi; and The Awakening

Harry Oliver -- Street Angel

CINEMATOGRAPHY

George Barnes -- Our Dancing Daughters

*	Clyde De Vinna -- White Shadows in the South Seas

Arthur Edeson -- In Old Arizona

Ernest Palmer -- Four Devils; and Street Angel

John Seitz -- The Divine Lady

DIRECTING

Lionel Barrymore -- Madame X

Harry Beaumont -- The Broadway Melody

Irving Cummings -- In Old Arizona

*	Frank Lloyd -- The Divine Lady

Frank Lloyd -- Drag; and Weary River

Ernst Lubitsch -- The Patriot

OUTSTANDING PICTURE

Feature Productions -- Alibi

Fox -- In Old Arizona

*	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer -- The Broadway Melody

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer -- Hollywood Revue

Paramount Famous Lasky -- The Patriot

WRITING

Tom Barry -- In Old Arizona; and The Valiant

Elliott Clawson -- The Cop; The Leatherneck; Sal of Singapore; and Skyscraper

Hans Kraly -- The Last of Mrs. Cheyney

*	Hans Kraly -- The Patriot

Josephine Lovett -- Our Dancing Daughters

Bess Meredyth -- A Woman of Affairs; and Wonder of Women A note was added to underline that those were not official nominations:  [NOTE: THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL NOMINATION. There were no announcements of nominations, no certificates of nomination or honorable mention, and only the winners (*) were revealed during the awards banquet on April 3, 1930. Though not official nominations, the additional names in each category, according to in-house records, were under consideration by the various boards of judges.]

THE "PICKFAIR" & PICKFORD FARIBANKS STUDIOS (SAVE THE STUDIOS NOW!!!)

THE "PICKFAIR" & PICKFORD FARIBANKS STUDIOS (SAVE THE STUDIOS NOW!!!)

Hi everybody ;) ok to answer yesterday's question let me introduce you the so called and well known "Pickfair". Douglas Fairbanks and his wife Mary Pickford were one of the most powerful couple in Hollywood history. Mary and Douglas were at the same time actors, producers, oscar winners (Pickford in 1930 for "Coquette", and both and Honorary Oscar later) and Studio owners, the Pickford-Fairbanks Studios on Santa Monica Blvd. Mary has been the firs America's Sweetheart and with her second housband created one of the most well-known places in Hollywood: the Pickfair.

The Pickfair was a 65 acre estate located in Beverly Hills. The name came from the press that mixed their surnames.

1143 Summit Drive, Ysidro Canyon, Beverly Hills, CA

From LIFE MAGAZINE: "a gathering place only slightly less important than the White House, and much more fun." 

They had a huge swimming pool (maybe the first private property within a pool in Hollywood) sorrounded by a big garden. 

The forniture was amazing; they had an old west bar from a saloon, a large collection of Chinese Objects d'Art, 18th century French forniture and paintings.

During the 20's the Pickfair became the core of Hollywood, the beating heart where big names were meeting, an invitation was a sort of a social acceptance in the Hollywood community.

That's the reason why I put this picture yesterday; 4 people, power, history, celebrities, culture and money all toghether. 

       Pickford, Griffith, Chaplin and Fairbanks @ Pickfair Studios! 

                            That was Hollywood at that time.

Today the Pickfairs studios are facing problems because the CIM Group, now owner of several buildings in West Hollywood wants to raze those buildings and sound-dubbing stages. According to the official plannings, the first phase will be the demolition of the studio's Pickford Building... BUT THAT'S OUR OLD HOLLYWOOD...

They cannot destroy history... LET'S DO SOMETHING!!! SAVE PICKFORD-FAIRBANS STUDIOS NOW!!!

WHO??? DID YOU RECOGNIZE THEM?

WHO??? DID YOU RECOGNIZE THEM?

 

Stay tuned.... Uncle Oscar

The Design of a Dream: The Oscar Statuette

   The Design of a Dream: The Oscar Statuette

In 1928 a famous actor, screenwriter and director Emilio "el Indio" Fernández was about to pose (reluctant!) as a model.  A naked knight holding a crusade sword, that was what the designer Cedric Gibbons wanted. When the sketch was completed, he called the sculptor George Stanley. Under the supervision of engeneer Archibald Gardner, Stanley produced the award based on an original sketch by Gibbons, and that was the moment in which The Oscar Statuette was born. 

The Statuette itself is 13.5 in (34 cm) tall and weighs 8.5 lb (3.85 kg). It stands on a black metal base with a reel of film with five spokes. The interesting thing is that the five spokes represent the original branches of the Academy: Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers, and Technicians. The Original Oscar, in 1928 was produced at the C.W. Shumway & Sons Foundry, in Batavia, Illinois. Since 1983 more than 50 Oscars are made each year in Chicago by Illinois manufacturer R.S. Owens & Company.

^{The name Oscar is contested... But that's another story I'll tell you next time...} 

^{From 1950 neither winners, nor their heirs may sell the Statuette, before selling they have to offer it back to Academy for US1$.}

 

 The making of... The Oscar: gold-plated on a black metal base

 

                  The Design of a Dream: 

                The Oscar Statuette Video

Murnau...

Murnau was a German Film Director of the silent era... He could have won an Academy Award in 1922 if they would have existed. He was one of the most influential directors but he died very young in 1931. In 1922 he realized the earliest screen adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula novel: Nosferatu. You also need to know that this adaptation caused a lot of problems because of the copyright. Bram Stoker's wife almost destroyed all copies because of copyright infringement. For that reason they couldn't use the word Vampire, and Count Dracula became Count Orlok. One of the main remarks about that amazing movie is how Murnau in early 20's used the light and darkness. Light, shadows and darkness were used to emphasize the effect of distortion of reality. Remember Count Orlok' shadow! Have a look!

THE ANSWER: SUNRISE BY MURNAU

THIS WAS THE ANSWER GUYS! THIS IS THE POSTER OF "SUNRISE" BY MURNAU IN 1927 ;)

STAY TUNED -- UNCLE OSCAR

DID YOU RECOGNIZE THIS?

DID YOU RECOGNIZE THIS? 

WRITE YOUR COMMENT BELOW AND CHECK OUT THE ANSWER IN FEW HOURS!!!

GOOD LUCK

BEING THE "FIRST" OSCAR 1929

BEING THE "FIRST" OSCAR 1929 

                           Douglas Fairbanks & Janet Gaynor

Just went through my last post... and wondering what?!?! I was asking myself: do we really know NOW who was Douglas, Emil or Janet? Well guys actually not... so I promise you, or better I'll try to fully describe the most important and significant men, women, personalities, facts and places that will allow you (and me) to have a complete, romantic and real story of The Academy Awards.

Being "the First" is amazing!!! But almost 85 years have passed and we want to know, to meet those amazing men that truly build our beloved show-biz ;)

Let me introduce you Douglas Fairbanks.

He was born in 1883 ( a hundered years before the lady who's writing that post), in Denver and died very young in 1939 in Santa Monica.

Douglas was a great actor, director, screenwriter, producer and businessman. 

In 1919 the Big Four Group formed by Fairbanks himself, Mary Pickford (his wife), Charlie Chaplin and D. W. Griffith founded the United Artists, that independly produced five films per year facing in 1921 a big crisis due to low budget. Fairbamks was also one of the 36 founders and members of the AMPAS and the FIRST Host of the Academy Awards!!!

Known as "The King of Hollywood", Fairbanks is well-known for his heroic characters in silent movies such as Robin Hood, The Mask of Zorro, The Three Musketeers and The Thief of Bagdad.

Fairbanks was the main inspiration for Jean Dujardin, the man who brought silent movie back on the screen in 2012 and thanks to his great performance won an Academy award and a Golden Globe mentioning Fairbanks in his acceptance speech.

Emil Jannings was the FIRST actor winning an Oscar.

Born in Switzerland and being half german and half american, Emil grew up in Germany and worked with Murnau in 1924. His career was not so long and ended up with the advent of talkies. He won his one and only Oscar thanks to his performance for the movies "The way of all Flesh" and "The Last Command". With his career coming to an end and before starting to join Nazi Propaganda Films, he went back to Europe to act with Marlene Dietrich in "Der Blaue Engel" (banned in 1933 in Nazi Germany). The movie was filmed both in english and german, and was the first sound picture for Jannings, who asked the Director of "The Last Command" Sternberg to direct him again.

Hilmar Eichhorn character in Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds" is based on Jennings. He never went back to USA, he died in Austria in 1950.

Women are coming ;)

Janet Gaynor at the age of 22 was the FIRST woman winning an Oscar for "Seventh Heaven", "Street Angel" and "Sunrise"; She was directed by Murnau exactly like Jannings few years later. She had success also in sound movies and she worked a lot during the 30's having always leading roles. Anyway we like to remember Janet for her outstanding performance in Sunrise..and with that I WISH YOU ALL GOOD NIGHT ;) 

stay connected UNCLE OSCAR

MAY 16 1929 HOLLYWOOD ROOSEVELT HOTEL: THE FIRST ACADEMY AWARDS

MAY 16 1929 HOLLYWOOD ROOSEVELT HOTEL: THE FIRST ACADEMY AWARDS

Almost two years have passed since the AMPAS was created. 

L.B. Mayer formed a group of 36 representatives of the most important cathegories: Actors, Directors, Lawyers, Producers, Technicians and Writers. 36 members including names like... Irving Thalberg, Ernst Lubitsch, Cecil B. DeMille, Mary Pickford, Warner brothers Harry and Jack and Douglas Fairbanks, the first President and first Host of the ceremony.

One of the very first documents was released in 1927, describing their purposes and future projects and signed by Fairbanks with an effective mission statement: " Our purpose is positive not negative. We are formed to do not to undo."

The First Academy Awards was held at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (7000 Hollywood Blvd.) in the famous Blossom Room. A private dinner for 270 people where the ticket costed 5$. It was the only Academy Awards that was not broadcasted either on radio or television, but winners had been announced to the press three months earlier, and the ceremony lasted 50 minutes.

                                 The Blossom Room in 1929

The Hollywood Roosevelt was opened in 1927 financed by L.B Mayer, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford is now managed by Thompson Hotels.

The complete List of Nominees and winners:

Actor

• Richard Barthelmess in "The Noose" "The Patent Leather Kid"
• Emil Jannings in "The Last Command" "The Way of All Flesh" WINNER

Actress

• Louise Dresser in "A Ship Comes In"
• Janet Gaynor in "7th Heaven" "Street Angel" "Sunrise"WINNER
• Gloria Swanson in "Sadie Thompson"

Art Direction

• Rochus Gliese "Sunrise"
• William Cameron Menzies "The Dove" "Tempest"WINNER
• Harry Oliver "7th Heaven"

Cinematography

• George Barnes "The Devil Dancer" "The Magic Flame" "Sadie Thompson"
• Charles Rosher "Sunrise"WINNER
• Karl Struss "Sunrise"WINNER

Directing (Comedy Picture)

• Lewis Milestone "Two Arabian Knights"WINNER
• Ted Wilde "Speedy"

Directing (Dramatic Picture)

• Frank Borzage "7th Heaven"WINNER
• Herbert Brenon "Sorrell and Son"
• King Vidor "The Crowd"

Engineering Effects

• Ralph Hammeras
• Roy Pomeroy "Wings"WINNER
• Nugent Slaughter

Outstanding Picture

• The Caddo Company "The Racket"
• Fox "7th Heaven"
• Paramount Famous Lasky "Wings"WINNER

Unique and Artistic Picture

• Fox "Sunrise"WINNER
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer "The Crowd"
• Paramount Famous Lasky "Chang"

Writing (Adaptation)

• Alfred Cohn "The Jazz Singer"
• Anthony Coldeway "Glorious Betsy"
• Benjamin Glazer "7th Heaven"WINNER

Writing (Original Story)

• Lajos Biro "The Last Command"
• Ben Hecht "Underworld"WINNER

Writing (Title Writing)

• Gerald Duffy "The Private Life of Helen of Troy"
• Joseph Farnham WINNER
• George Marion, Jr.

• Honorary Awards

• • Charlie Chaplin "For versatility and genius in acting, writing, directing and producing The Circus"

• • Warner Brothers "For producing The Jazz Singer, the pioneer outstanding talking picture, which has revolutionized the industry".

THE COMPLETE HISTORY & CURIOSITIES OF THE ACADEMY AWARDS STEP 1.0 Mayer & MGM

THE COMPLETE HISTORY (& CURIOSITIES) OF THE ACADEMY AWARDS

STEP 1.0

Nowadays everyone knows something about The Oscars... but do you really want to know the entire true long amazing story? 

OK, that's exactly where I want to start today! 
84 years, 2 WW's, 14 Presidents of USA (8 Republicans), 9/11, lots of Guinness World Records, thousands of awards, people, faces, speeches, tears and of course MOVIES!

It's more than business, more than money, more than the "one and only night", is passion...

You can agree or not agree about winners, about nominees, about members of the Academy, but what they create in almost 90 years is something unique, and if you love movies you can be truly fascinated by The Oscar Univers... 

so let's start...

Did you know that everything started with a russian? yes!!! Mr. Louis Burt Mayer (born Lazar Meir) or L.B as he loved.

Moving from the Russian empire and after previous odd jobs, he started his adventure in movies by owning a theatre in Massachussetts; he became a talented producer and an amazing business man in the 20's. He moved to the west coast from New York where he founded with partners the well-known MGM or Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

MGM was the one and only studio that payed dividends in 1930 during the Great Depression!!! THAT SOUNDS AMAZING TODAY HUM!!!

The fascinating logo with the lion is famous all over the world, the very first "Leo the Lion" was Slats from 1917 to 1928, followed by Jackie (1928/56), Telly and Coffee (1927/34), Tanner (1934/56), George (1956/58) and Leo (1957 to present).

 

L.B.Mayer

 

Leo the Lion (lion Slats the first)

Check out Slats on youtube

Well that man created, or helped to create the AMPAS (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) on a sunday evening. That elite club was created with no mention of any awards at the moment... I guess they wanted congratulates themselves for their great job hahahaha...

Anyway... memberhip were established and the first formal Banquet took place at the Ambassador Hotel (3400 Wilshire Blvd, between Catalina Street and Mariposa Avenue) in Los Angeles happened January 11, 1927.

The Ambassador hosted the 2nd and 12th Academy Awards and was the tragic scene of the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. After that cruel and sad moment in June 1968, the Hotel was closed in 1989, just used for events and cerimonies.

 

                                                             Ambassador Hotel L.A.

Right after they added an activity of bestowing “awards of merit for distinctive achievement.”
OF COURSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO CREATE... THE SHOW BIZ HAVE STARTED!!!

From now on we had the show biz HQ in L.A.!!! happy about that??? I AM ;)

The World of motion picture had a house, L.A. especially Hollywood and Beverly Hills started to PLUSE... new life, new biz and a LOT of money started to merge... 

THE ACADEMY AWARDS HISTORY...