when did the emmys start

The Emmy Awards started with their inaugural ceremony on January 25, 1949. They were established by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1946 and the first ceremony took place at the Hollywood Athletic Club in Los Angeles, initially honoring local television productions. The very first Emmy Award was given to Shirley Dinsdale, a ventriloquist known for her local show. The awards originally recognized excellence in Los Angeles television but eventually expanded into a national event in the 1950s.