The 25th Academy Awards Memorable Moments

25th Oscars

Best Picture: The Greatest Show On Earth


The Greatest Show On Earth also won the Academy Award for Writing – Motion Picture Story (Fredric M. Frank, Theodore St. John, and Frank Cavett). 


High Noon was only the third movie to win for both Song and Score. The previous two were The Wizard of Oz and Pinocchio.


For the first time, television cameras covered the Academy Awards presentation. In addition to the event at the Pantages Theatre, hosted by Bob Hope, a companion event took place in New York at the NBC International Theatre, hosted by Conrad Nagel. Cameras switched back and forth between the two shows, depending on the location of the presenter or the winner. The show received the largest single audience to that date in television's five-year commercial history.


On January 14, 1952, The Today Show debuted on NBC.


On February 6, 1952, King George VI died, to be succeeded by Princess Elizabeth, who was on an official tour of Kenya. It marked the first time that a British sovereign acceded to the throne while away from England and abroad in the Commonwealth.


In April 1952, Lever House opened at 390 Park Avenue. It was the first International Style skyscraper. 


In May 1952, Ann Davison began her successful attempt to become the first woman to sail solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She landed in Dominica on January 24,1953.


In June 1952, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl was published in the United States and featured an introduction by Eleanor Roosevelt.


On July 26, 1952, María Eva Duarte de Perón – Evita – died of cancer in Argentina at the age of 33.


On November 25, 1952, Agatha Christie's murder-mystery The Mousetrap premiered at the Ambassadors Theatre in London.


Honorary Foreign Language Film Award

To France for Forbidden Games.


Honorary Award

To George Alfred Mitchell for the design and development of the camera which bears his name and for his continued and dominant presence in the field of cinematography.


Honorary Award

To Joseph M. Schenck for long and distinguished service to the motion picture industry.


Honorary Award

To Merian C. Cooper for his many innovations and contributions to the art of motion pictures.


Honorary Award

To Harold Lloyd, master comedian and good citizen.


Honorary Award

To Bob Hope for his contribution to the laughter of the world, his service to the motion picture industry, and his devotion to the American premise.


Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award

To Cecil B. DeMille