The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences handed out the first Awards at a dinner party for about 250 people on May 16, 1929 to honor movies released from August 1, 1927 – August 1, 1928. The first Academy president, Douglas Fairbanks, hosted and presented in the ceremony held in the Blossom Room of the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. The brainchild of MGM studio mogul, Louis B. Mayer, the Academy was formed in 1927 as a non-profit dedicated to the advancement and improvement of the film industry. Some might argue about some of those achievements, but there is one thing that is sure to impress classic movie and Hollywood fans – when the music plays to open this year’s Oscars on March 4, 2018 it will be the 90th time the film industry honors achievements in movies.
Here are the 1929 Winners and Nominees
If you take the time to look through all of the moments in 90 years of Oscars ceremonies, you’ll find numerous surprises, disappointments and controversy any number of which may spur debate from film aficionados. That’s where we come in. For the sixth consecutive year, I am joining forces with Kellee of Outspoken & Freckled and @Irishjayhawk66 and Paula of Paula’s Cinema Club and @Paula_Guthat to bring you the 31 Days of Oscar Blogathon. Given Oscar’s special anniversary and all of the memories, we hope you’ll consider joining us to make this the best and brightest outing yet.
As you know, this blogging event is inspired by Turner Classic Movies’ 31 Days of Oscar marathon, which begins its 23rd installment on February 1. This year the network is presenting the movies based on the categories in which they were awarded or nominated. February 1st will honor Best Original Song Winner and Nominees and the festival kicks off with Busby Berkeley’s Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935). William Wyler’s Ben-Hur (1959) will end the 31-Day presentation on March 3, the day dedicated to Best Picture Winners.
Since both TCM and the Oscars bring to mind our beloved host and favorite historian, Robert Osborne, we thought we would kick off our Blogathon with his words about the 31 Days of Oscar marathon…
“One thing seems to stir the souls of our Turner Classic Movie loyalists like no other: the 31 Days of Oscar salute.”
Blogathon Details
Rather than hosting the 31 Days of Oscar Blogathon for the entire month of February, as we’ve done in the past, we will host all entries the weekend before the Oscars this year. That is from Friday, February 23 through Sunday, February 25, which leaves Oscar weekend free for last minute movie watching. We’re also combining all topics this year and simply presenting them over the three days. Any Oscar-related topic is fair game. We are not limiting this event to classic film fare as we’d like to see entries covering the entire 90-year history of Oscar, including this year’s nominees. To help get you motivated here are the categories we have used in the past…
- The Actors
- The Directors
- The Motion Pictures
- Oscar Snubs
- The Crafts (music, costumes, etc.)
- New Idea – Oscar Controversies
Most of you know the drill, but as a reminder, adhering to the following is necessary:
- Let us know what your desired topic is by leaving a comment on any of the host blogs
- Include the title and link to your blog in the comments area
- Advise if you have a date preference – Friday 2/23, Saturday 2/24 or Sunday 2/25
- Include the event banner on your blog and in the entry post to help us promote the event
Restrictions – just two:
- Please do not submit previously published posts
- No duplicates will be accepted to ensure we cover as much of Oscar history as possible
We look forward to hearing from you and to reading your entries. As many entries as you want, actually, so get to it!
Until then here’s to Oscar, to TCM and to YOU!
Happy blogging!
Participating Blogs and Topics
Caftan Woman – 1936 Best Dance Direction Nominee, Benjamin Zemach for Hall of Kings from Merian C. Cooper’s SHE (1935)
Blog of the Darned – 7 Films that Should Have Been Nominated for Best Picture
One Gal’s Musings – The 1954 Best Actress Competition
Silver Screenings – How the Oscars Began
Movie Movie Blog Blog – Embarrassing Oscar Moments
Old Hollywood Films – Janet Gaynor’s Three Oscar Wins
Hometowns to Hollywood – Bob Hope’s Oscars Hosting Duties
Critica Retro – The Trouble with Thrillers
Realweegiemidget Reviews – Oscar-winning Actresses in Romantic Comedies
Moon in Gemini – Forgotten Winners and Nominees
Cracked Rear Viewer – Claire Trevor in Key Largo
Thoughts All Sorts – John Wayne and Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn in both versions of True Grit
Movie Mania Madness – A Man For All Seasons (1966)
The Old Hollywood Garden – The Snubbing of Howard Hawks
Classic Film Obsessions – Agnes Varda and 2018 Best Documentary Nominee Faces Places
The Story Enthusiast – Male and female Actors Who never Won an Oscar
Paula’s Cinema Club – Oscar SNUBS 2018 Edition
Midnite Drive-In – The Day the Academy Lost its Mind – When The Greatest Show on Earth Won
Top 10 Films – Horror Films to Triumph at the Oscars
Wolffian Classic Movies Digest – Ray Harryhausen Honorary Oscar Snub
The Filmatelist – The 1982 Oscars: Tootsie and Victor Victoria
Another Old Movie Blog – Joan Crawford’s Oscar Win for Mildred Pierce
Honeybeeidol – Katharine Hepburn’s Oscar Wins
The Wonderful World of Cinema – Favorite Best Actor/Actress Nominations
Top 10 Films – Top 10 Oscar-Winning Directors Who Didn’t Win For Their Best Film
The Nitrate Diva – Pillow Talk (1959)
Once upon a screen... 
I would like to submit an entry on the 23rd looking at a 1936 Best Dance Direction nominee, Benjamin Zemach for Hall of Kings from the 1935 Merian C. Cooper adventure film SHE.
THANK GOODNESS it’s not the SHE starring Ursula Andres. Worst movie I’ve ever seen! Anyway, thrilled you’ll be joining us, Paddy.
Ha. Ha. Would I do that to you?
Guess not. 😉
I’m in! I’d like to write about the 1954 Best Actress competition. I don’t know if we should file it under “Actor” or “Controversies,” since that’s the year Grace Kelly won over the heavily favored Judy Garland.
Don’t remind me! But I’m happy you’re joining us.
Ooh yay…been waiting for this Blogathon. I’d like to do a post on Jeff Bridges’ nominations. Can’t wait. Well…either that or a comparison between the Jeff Bridges and John Wayne roles in True Grit. Will confirm later this weekend.
Sounds great! Let me know when you know. 🙂
Will do so…I’ve been indecisive the whole day…such a tough choice. But will get back to you asap…
Hi…after a loooong back and forth, I’ll tackle Jeff Bridges and John Wayne in their respective roles as Rooster Cogburn in True Grit.
Done! Great choice.
Hi Aurora, I’d like to answer the question: “How the Oscars Began”, but it doesn’t neatly fit into a category. Would it be OK to cover that topic? If not, I’ll choose something else. I’m in either way!
P.S. Lovely banner!
The banner is all Paula.
Yes, of course. Thrilled you’re joining us. Thanks, Ruth!
I’m in! I’d like to do a blog about embarrassing moments at the Oscars.
Woooohoooo! Sounds great.
Sorry, I forgot to mention: I’d like my blog to fall under the heading “Oscar Controversies,” and I’d like to post it on the first day of your blogathon.
My blogathon post is now live at: https://moviemovieblogblog.wordpress.com/2018/02/06/10-embarrassing-academy-award-moments/
Thanks!! Looking forward to reading it.
Hello, for Old Hollywood FIlms I would like to write about the first best actress winner Janet Gaynor and the three films she won the Oscar for: 7th Heaven, Sunrise, and Street Angel.
Sounds great, Amanda. Thanks!
Unfortunately, I already signed up for another blogathon for that weekend and I just can’t do two at the same time (not time, unfortunately 😦 ). But I’ll be on the lookout for all the posts for this one when they come out :-).
Tam May
The Dream Book Blog
http://thedreambook.wordpress.com/
I’m sorry you can’t take part, but completely understand. There are far too many blogathons these days IMO.
Hello! I’d like to write about Wings (1927) if possible. Thanks!
Annette Bochenek
Hometowns to Hollywood
https://home2hollywood.wordpress.com/
Of course! Wonderful, thanks!
Yay! I want to write about The Trouble with Thrillers – why are thrillers rarely recognized at the Oscars? Any day is fine to me.
Kisses!
Great topic!! I’ll add you to the list in a bit, Le.
Hi there, can you add me for Oscar Winning Actresses in Superhero movies… as I honoured the men in this genre last year. Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews
Hi, Aurora. I’d like to write about forgotten nominees and winners. I’ll focus on actors. I would prefer to post on Sunday.
Thanks!
You got it, Debbie! 🙂
Hello, Aurora! I’d like to contribute a piece on Claire Trevor, specifically focusing on her Gaye Dawn in “Key Largo”, one of the most brilliant acting jobs ever committed onscreen! It will be ready for publication on February 24 at https://www.crackedrearviewer.wordpress.com
Wonderful choice, Gary! Thanks for joining us.
I’d love to do a post on A Man For All Seasons, one of my favorite Best Picture winners, but I’ve never written about it before! I could try to have it ready by Feb. 23.
https://moviemaniamadness.wordpress.com/
Wonderful!! Thanks, Daniel.
Heya! Love this, glad it’s back! 😀
Could I talk about Howard Hawks and his constant snubbing at the Oscars (only nominated once), despite making such varied (and classic) films?
Carol, The Old Hollywood Garden
Yes, fantastic idea. I’ll add you to the list in the morning. Thanks for joining us. 🙂
Hi Aurora, I would like to join again this year. I have the opportunity to see Agnes Varda in person on Feb 23 at a screening of Faces Places, and since that is nominated for Best Doc this year, it makes sense to me to include it here! I will likely provide a short review of the film, along with sharing Varda’s comments, and highlighting some of her other work as appropriate. Hope that works! I would prefer Sunday for posting. Thanks! http://www.classicfilmobsessions.blogspot.com
Thrilled that you’re joining us, Jocelyn and terrific idea for a post. 🙂
Aurora
I’m so excited about this! I was thinking to write about Barbara Stanwyck, but I’ll wait and see what your contributors come up with. This is a great idea!
There’s NEVER too much Stanwyck!! I’m focusing just on the 1942 Oscars where she’s concerned so have at her in other other topic if you want. 🙂
I’m kind of wanting to write about actors/actresses who never won an Oscar and then naming a film they should have won for as well as my personal favorite of their films. What do you think?
I’m at http://www.storyenthusiast.com
YES, please! Sorry for the delay in responding, but that sounds great. I’ll add you to the list in the morning. Thanks for joining us.
Mine went live a little early. Here is the link.
https://wp.me/p8cFHd-M7
Wonderful! Thank you
I am interested in writing about performances that should have been Oscar nominated and weren’t
http://whimsicallyclassic.wordpress.com
Sounds good! Thanks 🙂
Hi, can I change my entry to Oscar Winning actresses in Romantic Comedies? thanks Gill at Realweegiemidget Revews,
Done!
Hey! So I was originally going to write about Wings (1927) but would like to change my topic. Can I write about the first Academy Awards instead? Thanks!
Yes, DONE! 🙂
Oh wait. We already have an entry on “How the Oscars Began”. Sounds too similar to me. Any other ideas.
Ahh ok. Maybe something about Bob Hope and his hosting duties?
That’d be great! Thanks, Annette
THE FILMATELIST – The 1982 Oscars: Tootsie and Victor Victoria
GREAT!! Looking forward to this.
Hi Aurora, I hope I’m not too late to subscribe! I’d like to do fun top lists of my favourite Oscar nominations for Best Actors and Best Actress 🙂
I’m at The Wonderful World of Cinema
https://thewonderfulworldofcinema.wordpress.com/
Hi Virginie! My apologies for the delay in responding. We’re happy to have you join us.
Aurora
My post about Oscar Controversies: The 1954 Best Actress Race is up.
https://onegalsmusings.blogspot.com/2018/02/31-days-of-oscar-blogathon-controversies.html
I didn’t get a reply to my above comment that I’ve been up since dawn on Thursday. In case you missed it, here’s the link again: https://onegalsmusings.blogspot.com/2018/02/31-days-of-oscar-blogathon-controversies.html
Strange. I replied, but no matter. Thank you and thrilled!!
Hey! Here’s my post on Bob Hope’s hosting duties. https://home2hollywood.wordpress.com/editorials/the-academy-awards-and-plenty-of-hope/
Wonderful! Thank you. 🙂
Aurora! Here’s my post on the “Oscar Origin Story” – haha.
https://silverscreenings.org/2018/02/22/why-do-we-have-the-oscars/
YAY!! Thanks!
Now posted – Top 10 Horror Film Successes At The Oscars: https://www.top10films.co.uk/44432-top-10-horror-film-successes-oscars/
Great!! 🤗
Dancing the night away: http://www.caftanwoman.com/2018/02/31-days-of-oscar-blogathon-best-dance.html
Woooohoooo!
Just posted, my review of Oscar Winning Actresses in Romantic Comedy films. https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/entertainment-lists/its-romance/
Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews
Great, thanks!
Great you got it – seems to have dissappeared on the other hosts blogs
Kellee missed my post on her update. I feel so unwanted…
Oh, well,. try try again.
http://midnitedrive-in.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-day-academy-lost-its-mind.html
NO!!! I’ll host you tomorrow. If she takes all the fabulousness then what’s left for me?
My Blog post is now up: http://filmatelist.blogspot.com/2018/02/drag-race.html
Thanks!! 😀
Great!! Thank you!
Hello, Aurora! My post is up and running: https://crackedrearviewer.wordpress.com/2018/02/24/moanin-low-on-claire-trevor-and-key-largo-warner-brothers-1948/ Enjoy!
Great, thanks!! I’ll be promoting later today. Look forward to reading it.