Oscars 2018: Here are the most memorable moments from 90 years of Academy Awards

by Shivendra Singh · March 1, 2018

The Oscars, the highest honours in the movie business, celebrate their 90th anniversary on Sunday.

Since 1929, the glamorous event has captured the imaginations of film fans around the world. The 90th Academy Awards, given out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will be held in Hollywood.

Following are some highlights of the last 90 years.

1929 –

The first Oscars ceremony is held on May 16, 1929, at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood and hosted by actor Douglas Fairbanks Sr. It is the only time a film from the silent era won best picture, with the award going to World War One romance Wings.

1939 –

The academy officially begins using the nickname “Oscar” for its awards. Though unconfirmed, the popular tale behind the origin of the name holds that academy librarian Margaret Herrick said the statuette looked like her Uncle Oscar.

1940 –

Hattie McDaniel becomes the first black performer to win an Oscar for acting, picking up the supporting actress prize for Gone with the Wind. She is required to sit at a segregated table at the ceremony. It would be 51 years before another black woman would receive an acting Oscar, when Whoopi Goldberg won for Ghost.