What Is 19th Writers Guild of America Awards

Overview

The 19th Writers Guild of America Awards celebrated excellence in screenwriting during 1966, with the ceremony held in 1967. These awards recognized writers across film, television, and news media, highlighting the year's most impactful scripts and storytelling achievements.

Organized by the Writers Guild of America, the event underscored the growing influence of writers in shaping American entertainment. The awards were divided between the East and West branches, reflecting the geographic spread of the industry.

• 1967 marked the year the 19th Writers Guild of America Awards were presented for work completed in 1966.
• The ceremony honored writing in categories such as Best Original Screenplay and Best Drama Adaptation, reflecting diverse storytelling forms.
• Horton Foote won for Best Drama Adaptation for his work on the film The Chase, based on a novel by Horton Foote.
• Television writing was recognized in multiple genres, including Best Written Musical and Best Written Comedy Anthology.
• The WGA Awards continued to gain prestige, serving as a predictor for Academy Award nominations in screenwriting categories.

How It Works

The Writers Guild of America Awards are determined by peer voting among WGA members, ensuring recognition from fellow professional writers. Each category follows strict eligibility rules based on publication, broadcast, or release dates.

• Term: Works must have been first aired, published, or released between January 1 and December 31, 1966, to qualify. This ensured timely recognition of that year’s writing.
• Voting Process: Only active WGA members were eligible to vote, maintaining a high standard of professional judgment in selections.
• Category Eligibility: Scripts had to be credited to WGA members, emphasizing union-affiliated contributions to film and television.
• East vs. West: The WGA split voting between East and West branches, though winners were announced nationally for most categories.
• Genre Separation: Awards were divided by genre, including Best Written Western and Best Written News Story, to highlight niche excellence.
• Adapted vs. Original: The WGA distinguished between original works and adaptations, honoring both creative reinterpretation and fresh storytelling.

Comparison at a Glance

A comparison of key categories and winners from the 19th WGA Awards reveals trends in 1960s writing and genre preferences.

This table illustrates the dominance of literary adaptations and politically themed narratives in 1966. Writers like Robert Bolt and Horton Foote exemplified a trend toward serious, character-driven storytelling influenced by stage traditions. The inclusion of news writing underscored the WGA’s commitment to honoring all forms of impactful writing.

Why It Matters

The 19th Writers Guild of America Awards reflect a pivotal moment in the evolution of screenwriting as a respected craft. Recognizing writers publicly elevated their status beyond behind-the-scenes contributors to central figures in creative production.

• Industry Recognition: Winning a WGA Award significantly boosted a writer’s reputation and career opportunities in Hollywood and television.
• Academy Award Predictor: WGA winners often went on to win or be nominated for Oscars, making the awards a key indicator of broader acclaim.
• Union Advocacy: The ceremony highlighted the WGA’s role in protecting writers’ rights, including fair pay and proper credit.
• Genre Diversity: By honoring news, comedy, and drama separately, the WGA validated a wide spectrum of writing excellence.
• Historical Record: The awards provide insight into 1960s cultural themes, such as political drama and social change, through the lens of storytelling.
• Legacy Building: Writers like Horton Foote and Robert Bolt cemented their legacies through repeated WGA recognition over the years.

These awards not only celebrated individual achievement but also reinforced the importance of strong writing in shaping media and public discourse during a transformative decade.