The Internet is abuzz today with news of the latest nominees for the Emmys, the pop culture juggernaut that draws together the biggest and brightest T.V. stars for a night of nationally broadcasted schmoozing and mutual back-patting that only the City of Angels could host.
If you're planning a shindig for the event, here's a, "you don't say!" fascinating little factoid for your boob-tube party-goers: the very first Emmy nominee was a 20-year-old female ventriloquist. (Who knew?)
On January 25—more than 65 years ago—the fledgling Academy of Arts & Television Sciences held its first ever awards ceremony in L.A., in an effort to boost its profile to the entertainment community. The show—which at the time, solely honored programming broadcasted in L.A.—was dubbed the "Emmys" (a take on "Immy") a term coined for the image orthicon tube used in early cameras, which was feminized to match a female statuette that would be handed out to honorees.
The first person to walk across the stage and accept the golden statue was Shirley Dinsdale, for her show Judy Splinters, in the category of "Outstanding Television Personality."
Dinsdale's journey to the podium began several years prior however. As a child, a hot water kettle spilled over her and Dinsdale was severely burned. To keep her company during her year-long stint in hospital recovery, her father—an artist—crafted her a puppet named "Judy Splinters." Soon after, she took ventriloquist lessons, and by the age of 14, she had her own radio show in San Francisco with Judy by her side. By 17, she had moved to television with a program on NBC. The show featured Dinsdale and Judy in matching cowgirl outfits performing skits; this seemingly odd act obviously captured America's imagination (it was the days of Howdy Doody after all) and her act eventually earned her the much-coveted honor of first-ever Emmy winner.
Just a few years after winning the inaugural Emmy, Dinsdale (sadly) gave up show-biz, got hitched and had two kids. But her story didn't end there. At age 40, she entered Stony Brook University, which she graduated from to become a cardiopulmonary therapist, helping patients afflicted with heart and lung disease. She passed away in 1999, at age 71.
While Dinsdale's legacy has largely been lost in the dust bins of history, she will always have the illustrious first Emmy distinction—Hollywood glitterati, bow down before the fringe.
Image: ThinkStock
