(Wednesday, May 11, 1927) — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a professional honorary organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of motion pictures, known around the world for its annual Academy Awards, now officially known as “The Oscars,” was founded today during a luncheon banquet in the Crystal Ballroom at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Continue reading Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences founded 90 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 11 1927)
Video: 'Part 1: Buck v. Bell: SCOTUS Case That Led to Forced Sterilization of 70,000 & Inspired the Nazis'
(Monday, May 2, 1927) — The U.S. Supreme Court, in Buck v. Bell, upheld 8-1 today a Virginia law allowing the forced sterilization of people to promote the “health of the patient and the welfare of society.” Continue reading U.S. Supreme Court upholds forced sterilization 90 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 2 1927)
(Thursday, April 7, 1927, 3:25 p.m. EST) — The image and voice of U.S. Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover were transmitted live this afternoon from Washington to New York in the first successful long-distance demonstration of television (click here to watch a film of today’s event).
Video: 'It (1927)'
(Friday, January 14, 1927) — It, a silent romantic comedy film about a shop girl who sets her sights on the handsome and wealthy boss of the department store where she works, premiered today at Grauman’s Metropolitan Theatre in Los Angeles. Continue reading ‘It’ premieres in Los Angeles 90 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 14 1927)
(Tuesday, January 11, 1927) — The creation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, better known today as the “Oscars,” was proposed tonight during a dinner of 36 Hollywood luminaries at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.
Video: 'The Complete Metropolis - Official Trailer [HD]'
(Monday, January 10, 1927) — Metropolis, a German expressionist epic science-fiction drama film from the silent era about a city of the future that is threatened with destruction when a wealthy corporate leader enlists a mad scientist to put down labor reformers, premiered today at the Ufa-Palast am Zoo in Berlin. Continue reading ‘Metropolis’ premieres in Berlin 90 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 10 1927)
Video: 'The General' (trailer)
(Friday, December 31, 1926, New Year’s Eve) — The General, an American silent comedy film about a Confederate engineer who fights to save his train and his girlfriend from the Union army, premiered today in two small theaters in Tokyo, Japan. Continue reading ‘The General’ opens in Tokyo 90 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 31 1926)
Video: 'DW - Step Back in Time: The Mystery of the Missing Crime Queen'
(Friday, December 3, 1926, at around 9:45 p.m. GMT) — A real-life mystery began tonight as English novelist Agatha Christie, 36, drove away from her home in Sunningdale, Berkshire, and disappeared. Continue reading English novelist Agatha Christie temporarily goes missing 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 3 1926)
Video: 'The Lost World FULL MOVIE! (1925)'
(Monday, February 2, 1925) — The Lost World, a silent fantasy adventure film based on the Arthur Conan Doyle novel about explorers who encounter living prehistoric animals in South America, had its world premiere today in the U.S.
Directed by Harry Hoyt, the film starred Bessie Love, Lewis Stone, Wallace Beery, Lloyd Hughes and Alma Bennett.
(Saturday, December 20, 1924) — German Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler was released from prison today after the Bavarian Supreme Court issued a pardon, against the state prosecutor’s objections, having serving nine months for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch; during his time behind bars, he’d written his autobiographical screed, Mein Kampf.
