From Wikipedia:

The Academy Awards®, popularly known as the Oscars®, are presented annually by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers. The formal ceremony at which the awards are presented is one of the most prominent award ceremonies in the world. It is also the oldest award ceremony in the media, and many other award ceremonies such as the Grammy Awards (for music), Golden Globe Awards (all forms of media), and Emmy Awards (for television) are often modeled from the Academy. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences itself was conceived by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio boss Louis B. Mayer.

The 1st Academy Awards ceremony was held Thursday, May 16, 1929, at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood to honor outstanding film achievements of 1927 and 1928. It was hosted by actor Douglas Fairbanks and director William C. deMille. The 81st Academy Awards, honoring the best in film for 2008, was held on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, with actor Hugh Jackman hosting the ceremony.

The first awards were presented on May 16, 1929, at a private dinner in Hollywood with an audience of fewer than 1,000 people.  Since the first year, the awards have been publicly broadcast, at first by radio then by TV after 1953.

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Thumbnail of Gilbert Cates

Gilbert Cates on memorable moments from Academy Awards that he's produced

10:56
Thumbnail of Charles Lisanby

Charles Lisanby on his design work on the 60th Annual Academy Awards and his idea to helicopter a giant Oscar statue over the "Hollywood sign"

02:47
Thumbnail of Hector Ramirez

Hector Ramirez on preparing for shots for the Academy Awards

07:12
Thumbnail of John Rich

John Rich on working on the first Academy Awards telecast in 1952; the 3-camera technique

02:45
Thumbnail of Bruce Vilanch

Bruce Vilanch on staying topical with his writing for Academy Awards shows

01:45
Thumbnail of Jerry Lewis

Jerry Lewis on the infamous end of the April 6,1959 Academy Awards telecast for which he was co-host

01:57

Ray Aghayan

Ray Aghayan on designing for the Academy Awards, starting in 1968

02:14

Ray Aghayan on costume design for the Academy Awards

02:28

Debbie Allen

Debbie Allen on choreographing for the Academy Awards show ten times

05:52

Army Archerd

Army Archerd on his dismay at Elia Kazan receiving an honorary Oscar

01:30

Army Archerd on covering the red carpet at the Academy Awards

05:42

Army Archerd on Ingrid Bergman being shunned then accepted by the Hollywood community

01:03

Army Archerd on Charlie Chaplin's return to Hollywood

00:56

Gilbert Cates

Gilbert Cates on producing the Academy Awards

30:17

Gilbert Cates on memorable moments from Academy Awards that he's produced

10:56

Tom Cherones

Tom Cherones on directing the Academy Awards

01:19

Ed Christie

Ed Christie on serving as Muppet wrangler for a trip to Los Angeles for the Academy Awards

03:37

Roy Christopher

Roy Christopher on how he came to do production design for the Academy Awards, and on the first one he worked on, directed by Marty Pasetta

04:09

Roy Christopher on the process of designing the sets for the Academy Awards

04:26

Roy Christopher on the logistics of the stage and moving the pieces of the set at the Academy Awards

04:40

Roy Christopher on the challenge of keeping the Academy Awards fresh year after year

01:59

Roy Christopher on how the Academy Awards have changed over the years, and on how it compares with production designing the Emmy Awards

04:18

Bill Conti

Bill Conti on being asked to conduct and be music director for the Academy Awards

07:33

Bill Conti on memorable collaborations during his time as music director for the Academy Awards

05:17

Bill Conti on the technical processes in place for conducting the orchestra at the Academy Awards

01:01

Bill Conti on his first time conducting the orchestra at the Academy Awards

01:34

Bill Conti on playing someone off when their acceptance speech goes long at the Academy Awards

02:48

Bill Conti on playing Cuba Gooding, Jr. off when his speech went long at the Academy Awards

00:51

Bill Conti on playing Julia Roberts off when her speech went long at the Academy Awards

02:52

Bill Conti on being music director for the Academy Awards

03:04

Bill Conti on the enormous viewership of the Academy Awards

01:23

Bill Conti on interacting with hosts of the Academy Awards

02:52

Alexander Courage

Alexander Courage on his arrangement work for several Academy Awards broadcasts

02:32

Warren Cowan

Publicist Warren Cowan on working on his first "For Your Consideration" Oscar campaign for Joan Crawford's Mildred Pierce

03:35

Judith Crist

Judith Crist on her opinion of the Academy Awards

02:31

Billy Crystal

Billy Crystal on watching Bob Hope host the Academy Awards telecasts when he was a kid

02:40

Billy Crystal on how he put his own stamp on hosting the Academy Awards

04:20

Billy Crystal on his recurring Jack Palance jokes at the Academy Awards, many written by Bruce Vilanch

03:24

Billy Crystal on his ad lib when Hal Roach spoke without a microphone on the Academy Awards

02:27

Billy Crystal on his filmed pieces inserting himself into the movies on the Academy Awards

02:59

Robert Dickinson

Robert Dickinson on working with production designer Roy Christopher on the 1983 Academy Awards

02:14

Robert Dickinson on lighting the 1983 Academy Awards - his first live broadcast

05:05

Robert Dickinson on lighting all but four Academy Awards ceremonies since 1983

04:56

Robert Dickinson on lighting the Academy Awards one year and trying to make it monochromatic

01:01

Patty Duke

Patty Duke on winning an Oscar for her role in "The Miracle Worker"

02:42

Mitzi Gaynor

Mitzi Gaynor on performing with Donald O'Connor on the 1954 Academy Awards

01:11

Mitzi Gaynor on singing "There's No Business Like Show Business" on the 1961 Academy Awards

00:59

Mitzi Gaynor on singing "Georgy Girl" on the 1967 Academy Awards - the most heralded performance on an Oscar broadcast

05:26

Mitzi Gaynor on how appearing on the Academy Awards changed over the years

01:08

Larry Gelbart

Larry Gelbart on the 1985 Academy Awards show, which he was asked to write, but during which there was a Writer's Guild strike; on his commitment to the WGA during this time

03:14

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg on attending the Oscars for her nomination in The Color Purple -- with her date, Michael J. Fox

01:18

Whoopi Goldberg on her first time hosting the Oscars (1994) -- becoming the first Black person and first solo woman to hosting the Academy Awards

01:23

Whoopi Goldberg on becoming close with Billy Crystal and Robin Williams through Comic Relief specials and getting guidance from them on hosting the Oscars

01:07

Whoopi Goldberg on becoming close with ABC executive Susan Futterman when hosting the Oscars

01:41

Whoopi Goldberg on her second and third times hosting the Oscars and criticism of her as Queen Elizabeth

01:50

Whoopi Goldberg on the process of putting together material for hosting the Oscars

02:24

Whoopi Goldberg on what it meant to her to be nominated for an Oscar and what the telecast celebrates, and on believing that Oscar hosts should be movie lovers and very knowledgeable about film

05:09

Whoopi Goldberg on a memorable Oscar moment with Billy Crystal and Hal Roach

00:57

Danette Herman

Danette Herman on working with Marty Pasetta on various variety and awards shows

08:48

Danette Herman on producing the Grammys, Emmy Awards, and Academy Awards telecasts

03:39

Danette Herman on dealing with talent for awards shows and how the process has changed

01:52

Danette Herman on the ideal host for the Academy Awards

04:38

Danette Herman on Christopher Reeve at the Academy Awards

03:35

Danette Herman on her forty-year history with the Academy Awards

01:50

Danette Herman on what makes the Academy Awards unique and selecting performers

02:18

Danette Herman on the difficulties of handling talent for the Academy Awards

04:32

Danette Herman on the aura of the Academy Awards

01:06

Danette Herman on the "In Memoriam" segment at the Academy Awards

01:09

Danette Herman on the day of the Academy Awards

08:08

Danette Herman on her favorite Academy Awards show hosts

02:14

Danette Herman on the "pizza selfie" on the Academy Awards

01:38

Louis J. Horvitz

Louis J. Horvitz on first directing the Academy Awards in 1997

07:31

Louis J. Horvitz on directing the Academy Awards since 1997; working with various hosts; and challenges of the show

35:21

Louis J. Horvitz on highlights of some of the Academy Awards that he's directed

08:46

Louis J. Horvitz on how production numbers on the Academy Awards and the Emmys differ

02:58

Ron Howard

Ron Howard on the experience of winning the Academy Award (for Best Director) on the live Oscar telecast

01:19

Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones on producing the 1996 Academy Awards

03:45

Hal Kanter

Hal Kanter on working on the Academy Awards shows and winning an Emmy for the show in 1991

04:31

Arnie Kogen

Arnie Kogen on writing for the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards

03:12

Buz Kohan

Buz Kohan on writing for the opening numbers and musical categories for the Academy Awards shows (the Oscars)

03:40

Buz Kohan on working on specific categories and with specific producers on the Academy Awards shows; on the routine nature of the show

02:07

Buz Kohan on the fascinating thing about being a writer for Academy Awards shows -- the things you can't anticipate -- and on the constant complaints about the writing of the shows

00:45

Buz Kohan on the formula for writing an Academy Awards show and the pressure of the show; on working with the host and the host's writers

03:15

Buz Kohan on working with Hal Kanter on Academy Awards shows; on memorable, unscripted moments on the show

03:59

Buz Kohan on the preparations for Academy Awards shows -- nominations, working with presenters, turning in material, and the producer (often Gil Cates) being the position of power

04:49

Buz Kohan on memorable hosts and moments from Academy Awards shows

10:29

Buz Kohan on the required exposition when writing for the Academy Awards show

01:49

Buz Kohan on the biggest changes to the Academy Awards over the years

01:01

Buz Kohan on integrating current events into Academy Awards ceremonies and the difficulties surrounding acceptance speeches

03:22

Buz Kohan on how writing for the Emmys and for the Grammys differs from writing for the Oscars

03:31

Buz Kohan on his speciality -- writing for award shows -- and why he believes he continues to get ask to work on them

05:12

Jack Lemmon

Jack Lemmon on hosting the Academy Awards

00:49

Jerry Lewis

Jerry Lewis on the infamous end of the April 6,1959 Academy Awards telecast for which he was co-host

01:57

Charles Lisanby

Charles Lisanby on his design work on the 60th Annual Academy Awards and his idea to helicopter a giant Oscar statue over the "Hollywood sign"

02:47

Bob Mackie

Bob Mackie on designing clothing for the red carpet and designing production numbers for the Academy Awards

07:15

Anita Mann

Anita Mann on dancing on and choreographing the Academy Awards

10:00

Delbert Mann

Delbert Mann on winning an Academy Award for Marty

01:00

Eryn Krueger Mekash

Eryn Krueger Mekash on her work for the 60th Annual Academy Awards and how she got her start on several ABC shows, including General Hospital

04:12

Nolan Miller

Nolan Miller on designing a gown for Susan Hayward for the Academy Awards

01:52

Nolan Miller on designing a suit for Tatum O'Neal for the Academy Awards

00:58

Nolan Miller on designing a gown for Whoopi Goldberg for the Academy Awards

01:36

Nolan Miller on designing a gown for Barbra Streisand for the Academy Awards

01:44

Nolan Miller on designing for the Academy Awards

01:36

Marty Pasetta

Marty Pasetta on his first time directing the Academy Awards

07:17

Marty Pasetta on Charlie Chaplin appearing on the first Academy Awards he directed

01:26

Marty Pasetta on the process of directing the Academy Awards

01:55

Marty Pasetta on the producers of the Academy Awards

01:17

Marty Pasetta on the Academy Awards hosts and the process of directing it

03:16

Marty Pasetta on the location of the Academy Awards and keeping the show interesting

02:11

Marty Pasetta on the Academy Awards infamous streaking incident 

01:34

Marty Pasetta on Marlon Brando refusing his Oscar

01:20

Marty Pasetta on John Wayne's final Academy Awards appearance 

01:03

Marty Pasetta on Vanessa Redgrave's infamous protest speech at the Academy Awards

01:48

Marty Pasetta on dealing with the winners and their speeches while directing the Academy Awards

01:57

Marty Pasetta on the music cues at the Academy Awards and experimenting with parts of the show

01:52

Marty Pasetta on how the Ronald Reagan assassination attempt impacted the Academy Awards

02:16

Hector Ramirez

Hector Ramirez on shooting live award shows

03:01

Hector Ramirez on how shooting the Academy Awards differs from shooting the Grammys

09:22

Hector Ramirez on preparing for shots for the Academy Awards

07:12

John Rich

John Rich on working on the first Academy Awards telecast in 1952; the 3-camera technique

02:45

Hank Rieger

Hank Rieger on United Press covering the Academy Awards

00:13

Fatima Robinson

Fatima Robinson on working with Pharrell Williams on his performance of "Happy" at the Oscars

01:05

Fatima Robinson on receiving her first choreography Emmy nomination for Beyoncé's performance at the 2022 Oscars

02:25

William Schallert

William Schallert on getting a shout-out from Johnny Carson when Carson hosted the Academy Awards

00:49

Edgar J. Scherick

Edgar Scherick on working with ABC founder Leonard Goldenson and Goldenson taking him to the Academy Awards

00:55

Mel Shavelson

Mel Shavelson on writing material for the Academy Awards telecasts hosted by Bob Hope

06:13

Nina Shaw

Nina Shaw on writing a 2017 article for Variety about the lack of diversity in Oscar nominations

04:16

Neil Travis

Neil Travis on the experience of winning the Oscar for "Dances with Wolves" (on the live broadcast)

02:29

Ret Turner

Ret Turner on costume design for the Academy Awards

06:50

Ret Turner on dressing Cher in her infamous Academy Awards dress

01:02

Ret Turner on dressing Billy Crystal for the Academy Awards

00:53

Bruce Vilanch

Bruce Vilanch on writing for the Academy Awards in 1989 produced by Alan Carr with Snow White and Rob Lowe

07:08

Bruce Vilanch on the challenges of writing for the Academy Awards

02:25

Bruce Vilanch on writing jokes for the Academy Awards on the fly, and on Billy Crystal's Jack Palance jokes -- for which they won an Emmy

03:24

Bruce Vilanch on bringing politics and current events into the Academy Awards

02:56

Bruce Vilanch on where he is physically during the Academy Awards telecast

01:07

Bruce Vilanch on the various Academy Awards hosts during his time as a writer, and on what the hosts hope to accomplish

03:52

Bruce Vilanch on his writing process for the Academy Awards show

01:08

Bruce Vilanch on the challenges of keeping the Academy Awards telecast interesting each year

02:29

Bruce Vilanch on staying topical with his writing for Academy Awards shows

01:45

Bruce Vilanch on the difference between writing for the Emmy Awards and the Academy Awards

01:42

Bruce Vilanch on writing for actors on the Academy Awards

02:48

Bruce Vilanch on James Franco and Anne Hathaway hosting the Academy Awards and on writing for the presenters

05:17

Bruce Vilanch on becoming head writer for the Academy Awards and on divvying up the writing

01:54

Bruce Vilanch on the involvement of the Academy in the Academy Awards telecast and on serving the producers

09:56

Andy Williams

Andy Williams on "Moon River" - his show's theme song, and performing the song at The Academy Awards

02:16

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