The 13 Retired Oscars Categories by The Academy and the Ones That Deserve a Comeback

The 97th Academy Awards: Exploring Forgotten Categories

The highly anticipated 97th Academy Awards is set to celebrate exceptional cinematic achievements from 2024 across 23 categories. However, the landscape of the Oscars is ever-evolving, as highlighted by recent shifts in predictions influenced by significant wins at the Golden Globes. As the journey toward the 2025 Oscars unfolds, competition is heating up, particularly for the coveted Best Picture award. Notably, the emergence of AI in films like The Brutalist has sparked discussions about the potential reevaluation of existing Academy rules and categories.

As nominations for the 2025 Academy Awards draw near, the anticipation around potential winners is bubbling. The spotlight is once again trained on previous ceremonies and the various awards that have been conferred throughout the Oscars’ storied past. While traditional categories such as Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Picture have remained consistent over the years, some intriguing forgotten categories deserve a revisitation. Although the reasons for their discontinuation vary, many could be revived considering their relevance to the notable films of 2024.

1. Academy Juvenile Award

Awarded from 1934 to 1960

The Academy Juvenile Award is one of the most recognized abolished categories, honoring some of the film industry’s earliest child stars. Notably, Shirley Temple was the first recipient at the tender age of six during the 7th Oscars in 1935, a record that still stands. Other prominent child actors such as Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland also received this accolade. The 33rd Academy Awards in 1961 marked the category’s farewell when Hayley Mills was awarded for her performance in Pollyanna.

This category was phased out due to its honorary nature; nominations were infrequent, and many notable child actors were celebrated through standard categories. Interestingly, despite awarding only 12 juvenile Oscars over 26 years, the concept of a dedicated category for young talent might resonate again in today’s cinematic landscape.

2. Best Assistant Director

Awarded from 1933 to 1937

Oscars 2024 ceremony image — Image by Debanjana Chowdhury

The Best Assistant Director category had a brief existence, awarded from 1933 to 1937. Interestingly, in its inaugural year, the award honored one individual from each major studio, resulting in seven winners. In the subsequent years, the award was streamlined to fewer nominees directly tied to specific films, making it easier to track.

While directors and actors often receive the lion’s share of attention during awards season, the hard work of assistant directors is equally crucial in film production. The reason for its removal remains unclear, but reviving the Best Assistant Director award could spotlight these vital contributors, reaffirming their significance within the film industry.

3. Best Dance Direction

Presented in 1935, 1936, and 1937

The Best Dance Direction category delighted audiences for just three years, showcasing exceptional choreography for particular songs. Winners included talented choreographers like Dave Gould and Hermes Pan. Unfortunately, the category faced scrutiny and was eliminated, primarily due to concerns from the Directors Guild of America about overshadowing broader directing contributions.

Although the prominence of dance in major films has diminished since the 1930s, the foundation for a Best Choreography category could still be laid, paying homage to the art form’s contributions to the cinematic experience.

4. Best Title Writing

Retired after the inaugural Oscars

Three Oscar statuettes — Image by Debanjana Chowdhury

Featured exclusively in the inaugural Academy Awards in 1929, the Best Title Writing category recognized contributions from scripts requiring title cards, a necessity for silent films at the time. The award was won by Joseph Farmham, a founding member of the Academy, but it quickly became obsolete with the advent of sound in film.

The decline of silent films rendered the Best Title Writing category impractical, as the need for title cards waned dramatically, marking an important evolution in cinematic storytelling.

5. Best Engineering Effects

Awarded to Roy Pomeroy in 1929

Best Engineering Effects, another early category from the 1929 Oscars, recognized Roy Pomeroy’s groundbreaking work in Wings. While this specific award was short-lived, its transformation into a later category marked the Academy’s ongoing acknowledgment of technical prowess in filmmaking.

By the 1939 Academy Awards, a distinct category for Best Visual Effects emerged, which continues today. As films evolve, including major contenders like Dune: Part Two and Gladiator II, the evolution of this category showcases the importance of technical innovation in cinema.

6. Best Original Musical or Comedy Score

Divided Score Award from 1995 to 1998

The Academy tested a division in the Best Original Score category during the mid-90s, creating distinctions for musical, comedy, and drama scores. This allowed films like Emma and The English Patient to be recognized for their musical contributions. Although ultimately combined again, the separate category showcased the importance of musical scores in varied genres.

7. Best Unique and Artistic Picture

Awarded exclusively at the first ceremony

Oscar statuette — Image by Debanjana Chowdhury

Only presented at the first Oscars, the Best Unique and Artistic Picture honored Sunrise, a film celebrated for its artistic value and cultural impact. The concept was swiftly retired in favor of the existing Outstanding Picture category, which laid the foundation for today’s Best Picture.

8. Best Short Subject – Novelty

Active from 1932 to 1935

The Best Short Subject — Novelty category emerged in 1932, encompassing various short film genres. This category existed for just four years, showcasing the Academy’s desire to recognize diverse cinematic expressions. However, the term ‘novelty’ became an awkward fit as narrative and documentary formats competed for awards.

9. Best Short Subject – Comedy

Coexisted with its Novelty Counterpart

Comedy Oscars — Image by Debanjana Chowdhury

Initially, the Oscars debuted both the Best Short Subject — Comedy and Novelty categories in 1932. Each award sought to honor unique aspects of short films, yet both categories were short-lived as merged definitions led to the modern Best Short Film category we see today.

10. Best Short Subject – Live Action 2 Reels

Distinguished film lengths for 20 years

After the removal of the Comedy and Novelty categories, the Academy Awards began distinguishing between one-reel and two-reel short films in 1936. This classification lasted two decades until influences in filmmaking rendered it unnecessary. Today’s structure for short film awards allows any film under 40 minutes to contend if deserving.

11. Best Short Subject – Color

Only 1936 and 1937

The Best Short Subject — Color category was introduced for just two years to reflect the burgeoning use of color in filmmaking. With the rapid increase in color films, there was no longer a need for this separation, leading to its phasing out by 1938.

12. Best Director – Comedy

A short-lived category

In 1929, the first Oscars recognized a distinct Best Director – Comedy category. Lewis Milestone secured the award for Two Arabian Knights, but this specialized recognition disappeared by 1930, reaffirming the notion that comedy could coexist within the broader Best Director category.

13. Best Scoring of Music – Adaptation or Treatment

Acknowledged adapted scores from 1962 to 1967

From 1962 to 1967, the Best Scoring of Music – Adaptation or Treatment category distinguished between original and adapted scores, akin to today’s split between original and adapted screenplays. This setup provided recognition to productions like My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music, showcasing the relevance of adapted musical scores. Reinstating this category might allow future films like Wicked an opportunity for greater acknowledgment.

While not every historical category suits modernization at the Academy Awards, some could rekindle excitement and appreciation for unique aspects of filmmaking.

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