History

The Academy Awards is the awards ceremony of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, founded by Louis B. Mayer to unite the five branches of the film industry—actors, directors, writers, technicians, and producers. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is composed of members from across these groups (around 6,000), who are responsible for voting on nominations for the Academy Awards.

The first Academy Awards, held on May 16, 1929, was far from the lengthy and extravagant affair that is seen in the present day but, instead, was a private event held at Hotel Roosevelt, where just 15 awards were presented, with ...