The Opening of the Academy Awards: 1979 Oscars

[@MerkinMuffly]

John Williams, still going today, amazing.

[@44032]

My all-time favorite Oscar joke: "I see a lot of new faces out there, mostly on the old faces".

[@petergivenbless900]

I'm reminded of a variation on the same joke from another awards show, I can't remember which, which was something like, "Looking out at this star studded audience tonight, I am reminded of all the great work done this year... by plastic surgeons!"

[@TheAverageYoutubeConsumer]

@@petergivenbless900yes that joke was done be Ricky Gervais

[@mzscottishlass]

These were some of the best years of the Oscars/Academy Awards! Amazing conducting for opening number!

[@danalong1237]

That opening number in particular was conducted by composers/arrangers/conductors Allyn Ferguson and Jack Elliott, who are best known for composing the Charlie's Angels theme song, which was still airing on ABC at the time and was in its third season, which would ultimately be the final one for Kate Jackson, as she would be replaced for the fourth season by Shelley Hack and by Tanya Roberts for the final one.

[@citizen1163]

I was so impressed by the orchestra & conductor I had to research him. Allyn Ferguson.wow..prolific! Died 2010.

[@IanPunter]

I was just thinking the same thing. A great mix of the old guard from the classic decades with many new young talent who are still around now!

[@janetkozlowski3640]

I was a mere junior in high school but always watched all the awards shows then. These were the best years in entertainment.

[@susanpage8315]

I was a senior that year. I watched them, too.

[@rizmid]

Great overture presentation! A fan and an admirer of Oscars from Pakistan!!

[@misskitty4296]

Wow!!! So much fun to see all these film icons so young! I was only 24 when this aired. I didn’t realize until now just how young we all were!

[@oliviajohnjohnolivia8142]

We will always be young.

[@daisyluna9385]

Christopher Reeves 😍 and Margot kidder rip

[@misskitty4296]

Oh.....if only we could go back, even just one day!!!

[@sergeiatanasov1833]

Same here

[@OikPoinFive]

@@sergeiatanasov1833 agree

[@mr.throwback4875]

Same here! We need a time machine, quick!

[@janetkozlowski3640]

Yes!

[@bwayland1290]

When the Orchestra starts playing the theme from "Heaven Can Wait ; it took me back to how much I wanted WARREN BEATTY to win. He got 4 Nominations for it, 1st time since Orson Welles for "Citizen Kane." When he lost all 4 I was a wreck !

[@bluetickfreddy101]

The gosh darn Good old days

[@jl3322]

Natalie Wood as usual looked gorgeous

[@mca1218]

9:48- "two hours of sparkling entertainment...," etc. One of *the* greatest Carson punchlines in televised Oscar history.

[@mr.balloffur]

Jack Haley Jr was a genius! Oscars don't seem classy anymore.This was the first time an Oscar producer ever won an Emmy for producing and it was well deserved!

[@danalong1237]

RIP Jack Haley, Jr., son of the original Tin Man, Jack Haley, Sr.

[@martinpascoe5904]

the Oscars are crap nowadays, people stuffing up announcements, people slapping each other onstage etc etc

[@jandreidrn]

I love that the audience started applauding once The Boys from Brazil kicked in.

[@schonkable]

Boy, disco was pretty inescapable back in '79!

[@jeshkam]

My thoughts exactly. 😂😂

[@danalong1237]

This was the first of three Academy Awards telecasts to have two musical directors (Jack Elliott & Allyn Ferguson), the other two being the 72nd Academy Awards (Don Was & Burt Bacharach) and the 84th Academy Awards (Pharrell Williams and Hans Zimmer).

[@jillianferguson4202]

I shed a tear every time I see my father, Allyn Ferguson conducting this medley...I miss him like crazy...what an incredible man he was...thanks.

[@juanjose7313]

¿Podría darme los nombres de las canciones que integran el popurrí?

[@der22672]

Johnny Carson was absolutely brilliant.

[@bwayland1290]

der22672 Johnny had a hard act to follow after Bob Hope & he knew it ; &. he came out with flying colors.

[@billanthony7896]

F. Friedrich Kling- Dude, he wasn't forced out... Exactly. By 1992 he was burned out and ready to go. And although Jay Leno was no Carson, he kept the show afloat pretty decently. It was after Leno left that it REALLY nosedived. I think the problem is that Carson/Leno always aimed at middle America. Since Carson/Letterman/Leno have gone, late night has become a lovefest of left wingers pushing their agendas. That seems to be, in my opinion, where it all went south!

[@mrnocal]

Johnny, Bob Hope and Billy Crystal were the absolute best Oscar hosts!

[@hll1980]

I love this, thanks.

[@lourdesajramos6774]

Yul Brynner - my crush forever 💜💛❤💙💚😘😘😘😘😘😘

[@juanmonge8]

I believe this was John Wayne’s last public appearance.

[@jeremiahtubbs136]

Yes, it was

[@jimmichaud8487]

I love Carson's Christina Crawford remark.

[@richardmills1505]

Me too!

[@apoorvasolanki8124]

Why is MARGOT KIDDER not even nominated in any Academy Award she is such a Terrific Actress

[@MerkinMuffly]

They're not handing out any oscars for play Lois Lane, ever

[@edmund184]

Superman was a great movie. It's score was better than Midnight Express. There was probably some snobbery in ignoring a "peoples' favourite"

[@martinpascoe5904]

tdont be too sure. they gave someone one for playing The Joker@@MerkinMuffly

[@angelacarleton9575]

How true - the academy was more classy back then - today it's about whose wearing what and who is the best dressed? Funny - it shouldn't matter as long as they all look presentable for an affair like the academy award.

[@JunebugPresents]

Exactly, and presentation is more pretentious now in a way to convey the political woes of the day. Back then, it was really all about the nominees. Now they seem to be ashamed of the whole thing and it shows. And the music! The music, the Oscar melodies mostly from Bill Conti, gave the show magic, unlike any other award show. Now, it is any other award show. To think, it is only getting worse with their silly Oscar for the most popular film coming in the 2019 Oscars. It will only get worse until they stop trying to please everyone and stick to what made the Oscars special.

[@citizen1163]

Every year the so called fashion on the red carpet, gets worse.

[@janetkozlowski3640]

And yet people looked better back then.

[@juanmonge8]

Meryl Streep’s first nomination!

[@oliviajohnjohnolivia8142]

Olivia Newton John should have been nominated for best actress.

[@everythingclassic1705]

Wondering why the TV announcer covering the arrivals described Audrey Hepburn as "former Oscar winner." It's not as if she had relinquished her Oscar. She along with other winners of the previous years will always be Oscar winners. The obituaries got it right . (i.e "Oscar winning star Audrey Hepburn succumbs to cancer")

[@PakRT48]

Back when Gary Busey was still terrestrial

[@cassandraschmitz9627]

Meryl Streep, a first time nominee!

[@soapwonder2284]

Real stars!

[@suzyq4982]

Yul Brynner ❤ Chris Reeves ❤️ Natalie Wood ❤️

[@oliviajohnjohnolivia8142]

Elvis, The Village People,Donald Trump John Wayne.

[@danalong1237]

Hank Simms didn't announce the 51st Oscar telecast due to illness; The late John Harlan (RIP 1925-2017), who was announcing The $100,000 Name That Tune at the time, took Simms' place instead, although Simms would return the following year and continue to announce until 1988, when he retired.

[@seqaagenesis23]

Classy!

[@paytonmiller8515]

The best of the best!

[@nymet2454]

Raquel Welch was a perennial 1970's Oscar Presenter. That night she was accompanied by her then boyfriend Andrea Weinfeld.

[@LannieLord]

He was quite UGLY.

[@creates100]

Yul brynner AND telly savalas.

[@sendrakes4203]

OMG! This is Carson's funniest!

[@citizen1163]

His opening lines relevant to 2019

[@martinpascoe5904]

he mustnt have been very funny then as his jokes are all rehearsed, nothing ad-lib about it, hes Ok but hes out of his depth, and his jokes are very old and dated

[@richardyoung1053]

That must have been difficult for those musicians on the two revolves at the front of the stage. Whilst they could see the conductor for the opening number the Musical Director for the rest of the evening was high up at the back of the stage. I can only assume they had monitors so they could see what was going on?

[@MULTILIAM92]

This was actually the 50th Anniversary of the Academy Awards

[@craigdavidson5613]

Actually it was the 51st. The 50th Anniversary occurred the year prior.

[@MULTILIAM92]

@@craigdavidson5613 Wrong! The 51st Annual Academy Awards marked the 50th Anniversary of the Academy Awards. The 1st Academy Awards was in 1929 and the 51st was in 1979 making it the 50th Anniversary. Any couple who married in 1929 celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1979. The Academy Awards is no different. In 1978, the Academy Awards was into its 50th year but was still 49 years old. Hope that was clear enough

[@plissken2156]

14:22 - Actor George Cheung. In 1985's Rambo: First Blood Part 2, Sylvester Stallone blew him up real good with one of his explosive arrows.

[@OikPoinFive]

😭

[@abitapj3897]

Que linda que estaba Meryl streep que jovencita cuando hizo la peli kramer & kramer

[@JunebugPresents]

Seeing Natalie Wood and Wagner made me feel a kinda way... 😡

[@RovingRoy]

Like you were to fall off a boat?

[@zangolli1963]

back then it wasn't about what you wore or how much jewelry you were swimming in

[@pauldudakadanielthomson8890]

Notice how good the Symphony was back then? Back then , we did not live in a Politburo Police State. So musicans did not have to have a background screening to get hired for this event. Today if someone has a ten year old DUI on their record , they can not get an extra job despite their great talents . Sometimes no job at all because of a DUI or a reported domestic argument with their parents etc..

[@mrnocal]

I love how the orchestra was on stage rather than in a pit like nowadays.

[@citizen1163]

That's harsh!

[@richardmills1505]

So fucking true! Hollywood and it's woke bullshit. Hollywood sucks ass now. I don't pay for their shitty films anymore. I just don't bother because it's just fodder for SJW assholes to cancel and pick apart. I can't stand actors anymore because they all feel they have the right to tell us how we're supposed to live. Like actors with $100 million+ net worths know anything about REALITY. FUCK them.

[@allenjones3130]

As per the announcer, a 100-member ensemble known simply as The Orchestra provided the music for this telecast, and they played superbly under the skilled direction of Maestro Allen Ferguson.

[@susanpage8315]

So many cultural references! Takes me back to that time.

[@billanthony7896]

Monologue starts at 9:12.

[@xmm103]

Johnny!!!

[@danielupsdell2697]

when the academy awards were worth watching

[@jerrygottlick4614]

My mom and I sat up in the stands watching the stars arrive, get interviewed, and pass down the red carpet. We had to get there early.

[@asgwarriorscricket]

Christopher Reeves ❤️ look at his presence 👌🏻

[@nowdid]

14:39 He said "Order number fourteen is ready"

[@eduardofagundes4793]

When Hollywood was Hollywood.

[@williamdunphy352]

John Harlan is the announcer.

[@bleepiestofbloops]

Johnny Carson talking about the new style of movies vs. Bob Hope doing the same is night and day.

[@oscarmalibu5215]

GREAT! :)

[@oobrocks]

Opening w scores: 👍

[@jshepard152]

9:48 Love this joke.

[@edmund184]

Back in the days when following movies was at least worth it

[@GringoLatino941]

I was in the stands/bleachers this year in 1979, on vacation for one month, but don't know where I was sitting. I met steve martin twice, and met robin Williams, Raquel welch at lax, jon voight 4 times (JFK twice, at huntington townhouse NY, and at Oscars 1986), met jane fonda at lax, and dom deluise at book store in Huntington NY, george burns at lax, rick Schroeder at GOP victory party 1988, Gregory peck at JFK in 1983, You see a white light at the very back , against the wall, up in the top tier, in the balcony, very last row? That's where I sat for 20 minutes in 1986. Stage was very tiny, could not see anyone clearly. BUT most of the show, I was walking around, in "basement" near bar at bathrooms, was able to hold an Oscar on one floor when the 5 guys who won for special effects passed me (asked if could hold), there was a portable bar on each floor in the Dorothy chandler pavilion. See where Letterman is standing? (*I met him in 1983 at JFK airport, when worked for airline; I got his dog BOB for him). At end of 1986 Oscar ceremony, after the show and everybody left to go to parties, and hardly anyone remaining inside, I stood where letterman is standing after the show: William hurt and angelica Huston were at bottom of the stage, conversing with friends after they both had won, and I listened. they left; I stood on stage, looking up. As I left to go down the stairs at the left, towards the exit doors, man ran by me up the stairs with another man following him, saw whom it was, turned around, caught him in the middle of the stage; I said to him, "I AM A BIG FAN, PLEASE KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK, MR SPIELBERG", WE SHOOK HANDS, and departed. Richard Dreyfus was an ahole. during the night, standing next to me at urinal, was Hickey (from PRIZZIS HONOR), and we talked afterwards when done! Mel Brooks was at downstairs bar. Said hi twice that night to Anne Bancroft. Sydney Pollack came out one door when I was going into auditorium. Donald OConnor was behind me, when standing on side near exit doors, asked him if he wanted to stand in front of me, since I am tall, and he did. WHAT A NIGHT! *one thing, I will never be able to do this again: I was able to sneak in; usher was busy taking tickets when I came into front entrance, got in free. Have program and napkins to prove it. BUT abc program , you can see me go behind whoopi Goldberg and Michael j fox, when looking for my photos I dropped on red carpet - which were for Jon Voight. And behind Ally Sheedy when coming back the other way. In 1987, walked red carpet again but did not go inside, my parents were on the bleachers. I walked with held my 5-month old son on the red carpet; he was in a tuxedo; australian camera crew interviewed me. i stopped in front of Goldie hawn and kurt Russell with my son and we all laughed, no words exchanged. I heard I was on Entertainment tonight, March 1987, which I missed, but my parents were videotaping it. I have always said I have had a Forrest Gump life.Read more Show less

[@citizen1163]

You had good times! Hope you're still having them👍

[@antonella_1001]

Lol , incredible 👍

[@GringoLatino941]

@@antonella_1001 THANK YOU!

[@GringoLatino941]

@@citizen1163 thank you! I wish!, but, not really having the fun anymore; that was the last century; times have changed, times are different now, and it is a new century. BUT thanks!

[@LannieLord]

Are you from Long Island ? The Huntington Towhouse used to be "the classy place" to have a reception . It's been gone for 30 years plus. It's now a Target .

[@ricardomoncayo7345]

Que lastima que este filmada solo la apertura y no la entrega completa.

[@katerinazeriti7702]

Ah, those were the days... I was 4 years old then, but I still like to see these Oscars vs the last ten years when the Oscars' night lost its dazzle and became a total and utterly crap 😢

[@susanpage8315]

If you took a drink for every celebrity who has passed, you’d be very drunk.

[@johngoldenbritt5112]

Damn! No Wonder Dolemite made his own flicks! Whiter than a bowl of grits in there.

[@vikkorheel9966]

Drumroll please

[@JavierU.S66]

🤔🤔It feels weird dude.!!! That almost all the actors/actress from the 51 Oscars 1979 Are death/going 🙏🙏 now on 2023. Lire is too short 🥺😳🥺 Even if you are a Rich and Famous. Rip to all the deceased Hollywood Stars.🥺🙏🥺🙏😳😳♥️🙏♥️🙏

[@oliviajohnjohnolivia8142]

Jane Fonda can come to my home anytime.

[@oliviajohnjohnolivia8142]

Imagine Jane Fonda on the face.

[@oobrocks]

Listing the stars before any show sucks

[@Cunninghamily]

11:01

[@jaimonjohn2516]

there is aleast one marlon brando joke in Every 70s oscars!!

[@oobrocks]

Stupid to have a person introduce the host!

[@gmoney8585]

Robert wagner natalie wood🤬

[@raynash4117]

Carson is not funny at all !!