HistoryData
general1966

38th Academy Awards — award ceremony presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for achievement in filmmaking in 1965

April 18, 1966

The 38th Academy Awards were the first Oscars broadcast live in color, with The Sound of Music and Doctor Zhivago each earning five wins.

Quick Facts

Year
1966
Category
general

Key Facts

Date
April 18, 1966
Venue
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
Host
Bob Hope
Best Picture
The Sound of Music
Top nominations (tied)
The Sound of Music & Doctor Zhivago, 10 each
William Wyler Director noms
12 (record)

By the Numbers

181,966
Date
10
Top nominations (tied)
12
William Wyler Director noms

Location

Map of Santa Monica, United StatesMap of Santa Monica, United StatesSanta Monica, United States

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Each year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences convenes to honor outstanding achievement in film from the preceding year. The 1965 film calendar was dominated by large-scale productions, most notably The Sound of Music and Doctor Zhivago, both of which achieved exceptional commercial and critical success and drove the year's nominations.

Event

The 38th Academy Awards ceremony was held on April 18, 1966, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, hosted by Bob Hope. Marking a broadcast milestone, it was the first Oscars ceremony transmitted live in color. The Sound of Music won Best Picture along with four other awards, tying Doctor Zhivago's five wins from the same ten nominations each film received.

Consequence

The Sound of Music became the first Best Picture winner without a screenwriting nomination since Hamlet, a distinction that would stand until Titanic at the 70th ceremony. Both winning films entered the American Film Institute's list of the greatest American films of the twentieth century and remain among the highest-grossing films of all time when adjusted for inflation.

Timeline Context

Timeline around 196619661963196419651967196819691966 battle in the Vietnam WarCivil unrest in 1966/7 in West Hollywood, California, USA1966 Asian Games — fifth edition of the Asian GamesJapanese civil conflict over the construction of Narita Airport (1966-present)1966 European Athletics Championships — 1966 edition of the European Athletics ChampionshipsWorld Chess Championship 1966 — Game1966–67 European Cup — 12th season of the UEFA club football tournament1966 Formula One season — sports season38th-academy-awards-award-ceremony-presented-by-the-academ-1966