The Academy Awards was first held on May 16, 1929 at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood. The ceremony, which was hosted by Douglas Fairbanks and William C. DeMille (older brother of Cecil), honored films from 1927 and 1928. Rather than being a big, glitzy production, the first Academy Awards was a private dinner held for less than 250 people. This year will be the 81st Academy Awards ceremony and will be held across the street from the Hotel Roosevelt in the Kodak Theatre. Every year, the awards have been broadcast, first on the radio, then on television (after it became … Continue reading →