Modern Screen (Jan-Nov 1956)

seven pounds. The, only change has been a minor streamlining of the base. Another change: The original Oscar cost $30, and he now costs $60 to manufacture. The first person to win an Academy Award was Janet Gaynor. Toward the end of a long evening banquet at the Hollywood-Roosevelt Hotel, on May 16, 1929, the President of the Academy, Douglas Fairbanks, called tiny Janet Gaynor to the speaker's table and bestowed upon her the award for her performance in Seventh Heaven. Other winners that eventful evening included Emil Jennings, voted best actor and two directors, Frank Borzage and Lewis Milestone. The best movie of the year was Wings. Thirteen awards were distributed in all. Janet Gaynor began her acceptance speech, "I am deeply honored . . ." She established a style, distinguished by surprise and tears, adopted by winners for many years. Don't be surprised, but this first Academy Awards dinner was a flop. Hollywood gave it little attention. The local newspapers gave it polite coverage. Now the Oscar Derby is covered by five newsreels, seventy-five photographers, and more than 500 correspondents with detailed accounts going to countries throughout the world. At the first Academy Awards banquet, a special Oscar was given to Charles Chaplin for his "versatility and genius in writing, acting, directing and producing The Circus." I am told this Oscar is with Charlie Chaplin in Switzerland. Most Hollywood historians believe that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, began with this 1929 banquet. The truth is that the Academy was created two years previous — and chiefly for political and economic reasons. Neither art nor science From an unexpected source, I learned that one night in January, 1927, a group of important movie people dined at the Santa Monica beach house of the very important Louis B. Mayer. Nothing much happened until Mayer started to speak. All the ills of the world, Mayer told them, were the result of misunderstanding. L. B. hadn't done anything about correcting Hollywood's misunderstanding because everyone would say, "Aha! I wonder what Mayer has up his sleeve now?" After a dramatic pause, L. B. disclosed his idea — the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. There was no mention of the Awards of Merit. These were to be inadvertently invented two years later. Mayer's Academy was planned to solve Hollywood's immediate troubles — chiefly — labor unions. And so, the Academy, which today presents the industry's own awards to the Industry's most deserving, was born to keep unions out of the movies. The Academy flourished, and for a while even its anti-union plan worked. Being an Academy member meant you were a success, that you belonged to the top social set. Your membership (by invitation) cost $100. Today, membership costs you $36, and technically, it's still by invitation. Two members recommend you. Now there are approximately 1,600 members. In its early years, the Academy tried to prove it wasn't "company owned and controlled." Routine committees were appointed to appease skeptics. One was appointed to consider giving some sort of annual Awards of Merit Two years later this committee, finally had to do something about it. The committee asked Cedric Gibbons to design an appropriate trophy. And Oscar was born. Surprise? The first year's winners had been anaounced on a back page of the Academy 3ulletin three months before the banquet. Ejkquisite Form gives you X* APPEAL (X = GLAMOUR PLUS COMFORT) Worth pawning jewels for... Hl |OW WITCHERY with gentle touch Ribbon Wire*! Diamonds notwithstanding, your best friend is Hi* Low Witchery. It moulds you J into glamour curves; gives you X* appeal from dawning to yawning! The fabulous, exclusive Ribbon Wire is light as a feather, flexible as a willow, lies comfortably flat under each cup. Can't poke or mark your fair skin like old-fashioned round wire. And there's no connecting wire at the Divide, to cut or dig; each cup is individually RibbonWired. A, B, C and D cups in bandeau and longline styles. White or black nylon lace bandeau, $5. White or black embroidered cotton bandeau, $3.50. D cups slightly higher. JT. M. Res. give you X* appeal At your favorite store, or write Dept. MS-4, Exquisite Form Brassiere, Inc., 159 Madison Avenue, New York City for store nearest you.