Movie buffs get ready for the biggest night in Hollywood The Oscars ! Every year we tune in to see stars walk the red carpet emotional acceptance speeches and of course who takes home those golden statues. But have you ever stopped to think about where all this Oscar magic actually happens? Well it's time to take a closer look at the iconic venue that's become synonymous with the Academy Awards and also peek into the history of places that have hosted this glamorous event over the years.

The Dolby Theatre: Home Sweet Home for the Academy Awards

These days when you picture the Oscars you probably picture the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles right? That's because this place is basically the permanent home for the Academy Awards ceremony since it opened way back in 2001. Yep for over two decades now the Dolby Theatre previously known as the Kodak Theatre has been rolling out the red carpet for Hollywood's elite.

What's really cool is that the Dolby Theatre was designed specifically with the Oscars in mind. It's built for this kind of grand spectacle. Inside it is massive state-of-the-art and perfectly set up to showcase the biggest night in film. So next time you watch the Oscars remember you are seeing it from a venue practically made for the event.

Oscar Venue Hopping Through History: From Hotels to Auditoriums Before Settling Down

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But it wasn't always the Dolby Theatre. The Oscars have moved around quite a bit since the very first ceremony in 1929. Back then it was a much smaller more intimate affair a private dinner for industry folks. Let's take a quick trip down memory lane and check out some of the other venues that have hosted the Oscars before the Dolby became the long-term spot:

  1. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel: This is where it all began! The very first Academy Awards in 1929 were held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. It was a small banquet in the Blossom Ballroom. Fun fact the nickname "Oscar" hadn't even been invented yet!
  2. Ambassador Hotel: From 1930 to 1943 the Oscars bounced between the Ambassador Hotel and the Biltmore Hotel. The Ambassador's Cocoanut Grove nightclub hosted the ceremony six times. This was also the first venue to broadcast the Oscars live on radio.
  3. Biltmore Hotel: The Biltmore Hotel hosted the Oscars eight times between 1931 and 1942 in its Biltmore Bowl ballroom. The hotel itself has tons of Oscar history even before hosting the ceremony. The Academy was actually founded at a luncheon in the Biltmore's Crystal Ballroom and the Oscar statuette design was supposedly sketched on a Biltmore napkin!
  4. Grauman's Chinese Theatre: A true Hollywood landmark Grauman's Chinese Theatre (now TCL Chinese Theatre) hosted the Oscars from 1944 to 1946. This was the first time the ceremony moved to a large public venue away from the banquet style. It was also the first year the Oscars were broadcast on network radio.
  5. Shrine Auditorium: The Shrine Auditorium a Moorish Revival style venue in downtown Los Angeles hosted the Oscars in 1947 and 1948 and then again later on. The 1948 Awards and the Shrine got a cool retro makeover in 2020 for a scene in Ryan Murphy's Netflix series "Hollywood".
  6. Marquis Theatre: For just one year in 1949 the Oscars were held at the Academy's own private theater the Marquis Theatre. The 21st Academy Awards took place there and it was a ceremony of firsts including the first non-Hollywood Best Picture winner and the introduction of the Best Costume Design category.
  7. Pantages Theatre: The Oscars had a long run at the Pantages Theatre (now Hollywood Pantages Theatre) from 1950 to 1960. This Art Deco theater was where the first televised Oscars took place in 1953 and Bob Hope hosted for the first time (out of his record 19 times!).
  8. NBC International Theatre & NBC Century Theatre (New York): In the 1950s the Oscars became a bicoastal event broadcasting from both Los Angeles and New York. New York's hubs were the NBC International Theatre and then the NBC Century Theatre. Big names like Audrey Hepburn and Eva Marie Saint accepted their awards from the NBC Century Theatre in NYC!
  9. Santa Monica Civic Auditorium: The Academy Awards moved west to Santa Monica in 1961 and stayed at the Civic Auditorium until 1968. The first color broadcast of the Oscars happened here in 1966.
  10. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion: Before the Dolby the longest-serving modern home for the Oscars was the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. It hosted the ceremony every year from 1969 to 1987 and then alternated with the Shrine until 2001. The first international broadcast of the Oscars was from the Dorothy Chandler in 1969.
  11. Union Station: For the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic the Oscars used both the Dolby Theatre and the beautiful Union Station in Los Angeles to allow for social distancing. Union Station's Art Deco style created a unique and glamorous backdrop.

Mark Your Calendars: Oscars 2025 is Back at the Dolby Theatre!

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So where will the 97th Academy Awards be held? You guessed it The Dolby Theatre is rolling out the red carpet once again! The date to remember is Sunday March 2 2025 . Comedian Conan O'Brien is taking over hosting duties this year so expect some laughs. The ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC starting at 7pm EST/4pm PST and you can also stream it on Hulu and the ABC app. Make sure to tune in to see who wins big at this year's Oscars from the Dolby Theatre the long-time home of Hollywood's biggest night!