A.
The Academy Awards, especially known as the Oscars, are the oldest, best known, and most famous of film awards. They have been presented every year (the first in May of 1929) by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences(AMPAS) based in Beverly Hills, California, and founded in 1927. Price water house (now Price water house Coopers) has managed the Academy Awards voting process (评审程序) since 1935---all but the first six years of the Oscars. Ever since 1941, when their now-famous secret envelope system was introduced, marking the first year of complete secrecy, "the Envelope Phrase" has become a familiar phrase that evokes the thought of the Academy Awards ceremony (典礼).
B.
Except for the early years of the institution, the awards honored films made during the past year. Until 1954, the Oscars were presented mostly on a Thursday evening. From 1955 to 1958, they were presented on a Wednesday. From 1959 until 1998 the Oscars were, with a few exceptions (例外), presented on a Monday night. Only since 1999 has the Awards ceremony taken place on a Sunday (usually in March). In 2004, the ceremony was moved even earlier to improve ratings (收视率) and to be more connected with the awards "season".
C.
The founding of the Academy (and its awards system) has had a major effect upon the film industry, due to a nomination (提名) or award (for a film or actor) to give to a studio or a performer.