The Academy Awards have become something more than a mere symbol of annual, cinematic triumph. To an actor or actress, the award can mean the validation of a career. To a film, it is entrance to the pantheon of immortality. The Oscars no longer simply acknowledge history -- they make it. This series tracks the evolution of the award and the effect it has had on the motion picture industry. In this episode, Birth of an Icon, viewers get a glimpse at the first Academy Awards presentation in 1927. Clips of films from the era are included, with a segment focusing on The Jazz Singer, the first talkie. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide