Whatever films or stars you’re looking for at the Oscars, one thing is certain: the annual telecast is almost always good for a defining moment, a moving speech or a memorable accident.
A Hollywood institution since 1929, the Oscars were first broadcast on radio the following year, then moved to television in 1953. Almost from the start, the ceremony had some memorable moments, such as in 1934 when presenter Will Rogers inadvertently led lady for a day‘s Frank Capra to think had been named best director and even directed to the stage, when in fact the winner was Cavalcadeit’s Frank Lloyd. (Moral of the story: Last names matter!)
Oh and understand, in 1959 the awards ceremony ended in advanceleaving host Jerry Lewis with 20 minutes of dead air to fill, with vamping and so on.
In addition to those mentioned above, and ahead of this year’s Oscars telecast (airing March 12 on ABC, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel), TVLine revisits more than two dozen of the most memorable moments, speeches and slip-ups from the Show of carried away by the windHattie McDaniel is making Slap history heard around the world – with a shimmering Snow White, a deeply steamy “Shallow” duet and a mortifying #EnvelopeGate in between.
Revisit our curated list of memorable moments, then tell us which of them you remember like it was yesterday, or chime in with other “Only at the Oscars!” incidents that resonate with you.