The first Tony Awards were presented in 1947. More formally called the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, the ceremony took place on April 6, 1947, in the Grand Ballroom of New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
The awards were created by the American Theatre Wing in memory of Antoinette Perry, an actress, director, producer, and Wing co-founder who died in 1946. Brock Pemberton helped organize the event and served as its host. The ceremony was broadcast on radio through WOR and the Mutual Network.
The nickname “Tony” came from Perry’s nickname. It reportedly became attached to the award during that first ceremony, when Pemberton used the name while presenting a prize. Early winners did not receive the familiar statuette: the prizes included scrolls, jewelry, compact cases, money clips, and cigarette lighters.
A common mix-up is confusing the founding year with the first televised Tony ceremony or with the year the modern award categories became standardized. The Tonys began in 1947, although their format and categories evolved considerably in later decades.