The First Quarter Century of the Best Picture Oscar

In May of 1927, in an effort to head off unionization efforts in Hollywood, MGM executive Louis B. Mayer set up the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Within a year, the organization was arranging its first annual award presentation to honor the talent in front of and behind the camera. As Mayer later put it, “I found that the best way to handle them was to hang medals all over them.” He also said, “If I got them cups and awards they’d kill themselves to produce what I wanted. That’s w...