Cimarron was the first Western to win Best Picture, and would remain the only to do so until Dances with Wolves won in 1990.
Cimarron received a then-record seven nominations, and was the first film to win more than two awards; it and A Free Soul were the first films to receive multiple acting nominations.
Nine-year-old Jackie Cooper was the first child actor to receive a nomination and was the youngest nominee until Tatum O'Neal received a nomination for her performance in 1973's Paper Moon.
Vice President Charles Curtis came in from Washington to address the 1,800 guests, making the ceremony a national event.
[1] Best Actor winner Lionel Barrymore became the first person to have received nominations in multiple categories, having been nominated for Best Director for Madame X at the 2nd Academy Awards, as well as the only Best Actor winner born in the 1870s.