The Beginnings of the Academy Awards
The man behind the establishment of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1927 was Louis B. Mayer, boss of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios. The organization’s goals were defined as developing a means of honoring notable achievements in film in order to encourage even greater efforts and achievements in the future of the industry.
The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, have been distributed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in recognition of excellence and achievement within the film industry since 1929, making it the oldest awards ceremony in the history of all media. These awards established the paradigm upon which the Grammys, Emmys, and Tonys are based (its music, television, and theatre industry equivalents, respectively).
