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".