The first Academy Awards were held in 1929. Photos show what it was like and how much it's changed.

Zoë Ettinger,Frank OlitoApr 25, 2021, 17:25 IST

The Blossom Room, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 1929.Courtesy of AMPAS

The first Academy Awards in 1929 had just 270 guests and tickets cost $5 each (about $77 today).
Some of the award categories were the same as today's, but some were only in the 1929 ceremony.
Today, the Academy Awards are dramatically different in size and importance.

The ceremony for the first ever Academy Awards was held in 1929 in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California.

The Blossom Room, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 1929. Courtesy of AMPAS

The hotel looks nearly the same now as it did then.

The Roosevelt Hotel in the first half of the 20th century and, right, in 2014. Dick Whittington Studio/Corbis/FG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images

The ceremony was hosted by silent movie star Douglas Fairbanks and lasted just 15 minutes.

A portrait of the host, Douglas Fairbanks. Bettmann/Getty Images

Among the awards he presented, Frank Borzage won best director for a dramatic picture for his 1927 film "7th Heaven."

Frank Borzage poses with his award in 1929. Courtesy of AMPAS

Lewis Milestone won best director for a comedy picture for his 1927 film, "Two Arabian Knights."

Lewis Milestone and his award in 1929. Courtesy of AMPAS

"Wings" won the first Academy Award for best picture.

The 1927 poster for "Wings." Courtesy of AMPAS

Charlie Chaplin was given an honorary award for his 1928 film, "The Circus."

Charlie Chaplin and Merna Kennedy in "The Circus." Mondadori/Getty Images

Joseph Farnham won the first and only Academy Award for title writing.

Douglas Fairbanks, who hosted the ceremony, presents Joseph Farnham with his award in 1929. Courtesy of AMPAS.

Janet Gaynor won the first award for best actress for her performances in three films.

Janet Gaynor with her award in 1929. Courtesy of AMPAS

She is the only person to ever win best actress for multiple roles in a single year.

Presenter Douglas Fairbanks gives Janet Gaynor her award in 1929. Getty Images

Emil Jannings was named best actor- he's still the only German actor in history to win the award.

Emil Jannings and Phyllis Haver in 1927. Ullstein Bild/Getty Images

William Cameron Menzies won the award for art direction for his film "Tempest."

A 1928 poster for "Tempest." LMPC/Getty Images

Menzies also won the award in art direction for his 1927 film, "The Dove."

Actress Norma Talmadge in "The Dove." Ullstein Bild/Getty Images

Charles Rosher won the best cinematography award for his work on "Sunrise."

Charles Rosher (center) alongside actress Mary Pickford. Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis/Getty Images

Karl Struss also won the cinematography award for "Sunrise."

Karl Struss (right) sits next to Bing Crosby on the set of Rhythm Range (1936). ohn Springer Collection/Corbis/Getty Images

Roy Pomeroy won the first and last engineering effects award for his work on the 1927 film "Wings."

Roy Pomeroy studying film in 1935. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Ben Hecht won the writing award for the 1927 film "Underworld."

Ben Hecht smoking a cigar. Eileen Darby/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

Today the typical ceremony looks very different, with around 3,400 attendees and 24 categories.

The 91st Academy Awards in 2019. Matt Petit/AMPAS/Getty Images

This year's Academy Awards, however, will look very different.

This year's Academy Awards will not take place virtually. Richard Harbaugh - Handout/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images

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