Best Picture: The Broadway Melody
Awards were presented in only seven categories.
No distinction was made in the voting between sound and silent films. All awards went to films with sound.
The award presentations were made by the new Academy president, William C. de Mille.
The first radio broadcast from an Academy Awards ceremony (by local L.A. station KNX) took place.
Frank Lloyd received consideration for his direction of three films, The Divine Lady, Drag and Weary River; he won the Directing award for The Divine Lady.
Hans Kraly won for writing for The Patriot; his work on The Last of Mrs. Cheyney was also considered by the judges.
In September 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin.
On November 6, 1928, Herbert Hoover won the U.S. presidential election.
In November 1928, the Boston Garden opened in Boston.
In March 1929, the San Francisco Bay Toll Bridge opened; it was the longest bridge in the world at the time.
In July 1929, Pope Pius XI emerged from the Vatican and entered St. Peter’s Square after the ratification of the Lateran Treaty, which established Vatican City as a sovereign state. The pope’s appearance ended nearly 60 years of papal self-imprisonment within the Vatican.