There’s something almost haunting about those images — they evoke memories of a different era, a different America, when the Academy Awards truly felt worth watching. Back then, our celebrities exuded class, glamour, beauty, and elegance.

It’s shocking to see so many incredible stars who are no longer with us, reminding us just how fleeting life can be. I used to know every nominee, every film, and every song. Nowadays, I struggle to keep up.

Someone once said that the 1975 ceremony was “back when actors and actresses had class and no political agenda,” and while that may not be entirely true, it certainly feels like we’ve lost something important.