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Born on this day in 1899, American animator Walter Lantz is perhaps best known as the creator of cartoon character Woody Woodpecker. In fact, in 1979 when Robin Williams presented Lantz with an Honorary Award at the 51st Academy Awards for his contributions to the art of animation, an animated Woody Woodpecker appeared onstage alongside Lantz to accept the award.In 1948, eight years after Woody’s first theatrical appearance, Lantz was approached by the Coca-Cola Company to produce animated theatrical advertisements to promote their product. Lantz agreed and eventually produced 20 shorts…

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will explore the past, present and especially the future of moviegoing, as the availability of a wide variety of platforms for viewing films alters the habits of today’s audiences. “The New Audience: Moviegoing in a Connected World,” a live panel presentation on May 12, complements “This Is Widescreen,” an eight-week screening series beginning May 1 that illustrates one of the ways filmmakers more than a half-century ago responded to the competition of that era, television.THE NEW AUDIENCE: MOVIEGOING IN A CONNECTED WORLDTUESDAY, MAY 12│7:…

During the studio era, a symbiotic relationship existed between movie stars and the photojournalists assigned to cover the motion picture industry. Whether documenting the domestic lives of the stars or their more glamorous nighttime exploits, these news photographers helped mold the public images of Hollywood luminaries.Nat Dallinger (1911—2006) was an integral part of this celebrity culture and one of its foremost documentarians from the 1930s until his retirement in 1971. Initially a studio photographer, he later worked for the Los Angeles bureau of The New York Times and for King Features…

In this week's episode of Academy Originals, we examine the impact that Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong's first studio hit "Up In Smoke" had on the history of film. We sit down with Marin, Chong plus the director of "Grandma's Boy" and the writers of "Harold and Kumar." The latter credits the groundbreaking comedy team as their inspiration.  See more from our Moments That Changed The Movies series on our Academy Originals channel today.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has been a mainstay of the Hollywood scene since its founding in 1943, when a group of journalists gathered together to efficiently and accurately cover all aspects of the entertainment industry. During the HFPA’s early years, members initially held informal gatherings in their homes, but as they saw their organization grow over the years, their meetings and awards ceremonies became more formal.Headquartered in West Hollywood, California, the approximately 90 Southern California-based members of the HFPA consist of international journalists who…

Nothing says Spring Break like a trip to the beach, and these photographs from the Academy's Margaret Herrick Library showcase one of Hollywood's most famous stars, Marilyn Monroe, enjoying the sand and surf at two different points in her career.First, here are some photos taken by Andre De Dienes on Tobay Beach (Tobay being an acronym for Town of Oyster Bay) in Long Island, NY in 1949. The same year she had a role opposite the Marx Brothers in Love Happy, and the following year would begin her ascent to stardom with All about Eve and The Asphalt Jungle.  Image…