Awards ceremony

An awards ceremony is a type of ceremony where awards are given out. The ceremony may be arranged by a government organization, a society, a school, a trade association or even a company that specializes in running awards ceremonies. Typically a master of ceremonies presents award winners, speaks to the audience, entertains people, and generally keeps the ceremony moving.

Ancient Greece

The Ancient Greeks held annual competitions for tragedy and comedy, financed by the wealthiest citizens. Awards were given out for best play, best producer and best actor.[1] In the early Olympic Games there were two awards ceremonies. After each event the judges gave palm branches to the winners. On the last day of the games all the event winners were announced, and were crowned with olive garlands.[2] No medals were given, and only the winner was announced, since the runners-up were not considered significant.[3] It was not unusual for the athletes to risk heavy fines and to bribe the judges to be declared winners.[4]

Modern ceremonies

Components of a modern awards ceremony typically include:[5]

  • A defined and equitable method of choosing the winners
  • A venue, which may be a hotel, theatre or other facility. Dinner and entertainment may also be provided to attendees.
  • A master of ceremonies
  • Technical equipment such as microphones, speakers and video projectors
  • Invitations to selected attendees
  • Arrangements for journalists to cover the ceremony
  • Certificates or trophies for the winners

American media awards

The major American media awards have evolved into major prime-time television ceremonies, but had small beginnings.[6] The first awards by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were held in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel three months after the winners had been announced. The Oscar statuettes for best movie, best actress and best actor were given out in a 15-minute ceremony.[6] The Golden Globe Awards were founded in 1944 by eight journalists who had formed the Hollywood Foreign Correspondents Association. They arranged for a luncheon at 20th Century Fox where scrolls were given for best picture, best actress and best actor.[6] The Tony Awards for theatrical plays and musicals were first presented at the Waldorf Astoria New York in 1947.[6] The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presented the first Emmy Awards at the Hollywood Athletic Club in 1949.[6] The first Grammy Awards were given by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 1958, with Volare winning the Best Single award.[6] The first Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards were presented in 1988. The Game Awards, an award show dedicated to the video game industry, has been livestreamed on YouTube and Twitch annually since its inception in 2014.

Major English-language entertainment awards ceremonies in January/February/March of each year now include the Academy Awards, American Cinema Editors, American Society of Cinematographers, Art Directors Guild, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Costume Designers Guild, Critics Choice, Directors Guild of America, Grammy Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, New York Film Critics Circle, Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, Producers Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, and Writers Guild of America.[7] The Game Awards are livestreamed in December of each year.

See also

References
  1. Jones 2019.
  2. Simons 2014, p. 18.
  3. Swaddling 2011.
  4. Haines 1999, p. 64.
  5. Greenwell, Danzey-Bussell & Shonk 2014, p. 182.
  6. Bathroom Readers Institute.
  7. Nolfi 2020.

Sources
  • Bathroom Readers Institute, "What the Golden Globes—And 4 Other Major Award Shows—Used to Be Like", Reader's Digest, retrieved 2020-01-11
  • Greenwell, T. Christopher; Danzey-Bussell, Leigh Ann; Shonk, David (2014), Managing Sport Events, Human Kinetics, ISBN 978-0-7360-9611-9, retrieved 2020-01-11
  • Haines, Marci (1999-01-01), Ancient Greece Gr. 4-6, Rainbow Horizons Publishing, ISBN 978-1-55319-282-4, retrieved 2020-01-10
  • Jones, Peter (2 February 2019), "Sick of award ceremonies? So were the ancients", The Spectator, retrieved 2020-01-10
  • Nolfi, Joey (January 7, 2020), "2019-2020 awards season calendar: Key dates for the Oscars, Grammys, more", Entertainment Weekly, retrieved 2020-01-11
  • Simons, Lisa M. B. (1 July 2014), The First Olympics of Ancient Greece, Capstone, ISBN 978-1-4914-0273-3, retrieved 10 January 2020
  • Swaddling, Judith (2011-02-17), Ancient Greek Olympics Gallery, BBC, retrieved 2020-01-10
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