The name “Immys” was too masculine for such a prestigious ceremony; so a little feminine spice was added to what the world knows today as the Emmys. The Emmy Awards are an award ceremony for television and is equivalent to the Grammys for music. An Emmy win can make an actor’s career and prevent a show from being cancelled.

On this day, January 25, in 1949, the Hollywood Athletic Club in Los Angeles holds the first Emmy Awards ceremony for television arts. The first person to win the Emmy Award for “Most Outstanding Television Personality” was Shirley Dinsdale and her puppet Judy, a ventriloquist for the children’s show Judy Splinters.

The success of the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles led to the development of East Coast Television in New York City. Both cities’ collaborative efforts established The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. During the 70’s, the Emmy Awards were held interchangeably between states, but later became permanent in Hollywood. Today the Emmy Awards are one of the most watched ceremonies in the United States.