1947: At the first Tony ceremony, Arthur Miller was named "Best Playwright" for his first major play about a family denying horrible truths after World War II. Acting awards went to Ingrid Bergman (Joan of Lorranie), Helen Hayes (Happy Birthday), Jose Ferrer (Cyrano), Fredric March (Years Ago), and Patricia Neal (Another Part of the Forest).

1949: Arthur Miller's masterpiece about the Lomans was recognized this year. The great Lee J. Cobb's Willy and Mildred Dunnock's Linda are on DVD in a 1966 TV broadcast. Acting awards, now grouped from lead actor to featured actress: Rex Harrison (Anne of the Thousand Days), Martita Hunt (Madwoman of Chaillot), Arthur Kennedy's Biff (...Salesman), Shirley Booth (Goodbye, My Fancy).

1951: Amazingly, Tennessee Williams' only Tony went to this fairly gentle comedy-drama about an Italian widow who learns to love again. It did provide a great showcase for featured acting winners Maureen Stapleton and Eli Wallach, and Oscar winner Anna Magnani on film. Lead acting awards: Claude Rains (Darkness at Noon), Uta Hagen (The Country Girl).

1953: Arthur Miller's Salem-set McCarthy allegory was awarded, though it took time for it to be truly appreciated for its quality. Actors: Tom Ewell (The Seven-Year Itch), Shirley Booth (The Time of the Cuckoo), John Williams (Dial M for Murder), Beatrice Straight (The Crucible).

1955: Joseph Hayes' adaptation of his thriller novel featured Karl Malden, Paul Newman and George Grizzard. Actors: Alfred Lunt (Quadrille), Nancy Kelly (The Bad Seed), Frencis L. Sullivan and Patricia Jessel (Witness for the Prosecution).

1957: Eugene O'Neill's dysfunctional-family masterpiece was produced posthumously but instantly became a classic. Actors: Fredric March (Long Day's...), Margaret Leighton (Seperate Tables), Frank Conroy (The Potting Shed), Peggy Cass (Auntie Mame).

1961: Archibald MacLeish's fanciful update of the Bible's Job story starred Pat Hingle, Raymond Massey and young Christopher Plummer. Actors: Jason Robards (The Disenchanted), Gertrude Berg (A Majority of One), Charles Ruggles (The Pleasure of His Company), Julie Newmar (The Marriage Go-Round).

1961:Before Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole's immortal screen pairing as archbishop and king (Henry II), Anthony Quinn and Laurence Olivier had the honors on Broadway, even switching roles at one point. Actors: Zero Mostel (Rhinoceros), Joan Plowright (A Taste of Honey), Martin Gabel (Big Fish, Little Fish), Colleen Dewhurst (All the Way Home).

1963: Edward Albee's ferocious look at a turbulent marriage gave leading winners Arthur Hill and Uta Hagen their greatest roles as George and Martha, and many a brave pair of actors an exciting challenge ever since. Other actors: Alan Arkin (Enter Laughing), Sandy Dennis (A Thousand Clowns).

1965: This was the crazy year in which this bitter family drama won Best Play, Neil Simon won Best Playwright for The Odd Couple, and the producer of the dark marriage comedy Luv won for Best Producer! Actors: Walter Matthau (Odd Couple), Irene Worth (Tiny Alice), Jack Albertson (...Roses), Alice Ghostley (...Sidney Brustein's Window).

1967: After The Caretaker lost to A Man for All Seasons, Harold Pinter beat A Delicate Balance, Black Comedy and The Killing of Sister George with this tale of how one family's men viciously use its new female member. Actors: Paul Rogers and Ian Holm (Homecoming), Beryl Reid (...Sister George), Marian Seldes (A Delicate Balance).

1969: Howard Sackler's fictionalized treatment of black boxer Jack Johnson made instant stars of Best Actor James Earl Jones and Featured Actress Jane Alexander. Other actors: Julie Harris (Forty Carats), Al Pacino (Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?).

1971: Future two-time winner Peter Schaffer's twin brother Anthony won for this enjoyably gruesome work of dangerous gamesmanship between an author and his wife's lover. Actors: Brian Bedford (School for Wives), Maureen Stapleton (The Gingerbread Lady), Paul Sand (Story Theatre), Rae Allen (And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little).

1973: Before The Exorcist, Jason Miller was a Tony-winning playwright for this tale of a high school football team and coach's sobering reunion. Actors: Alan Bates (Butley), Julie Harris and Leora Dana (The Last of Mrs. Lincoln), John Lithgow (The Changing Room).

1975: Peter Schaffer's tale of a boy, horses, psychiatry, and onstage nudity took Broadway by storm. Actors: John Kani and Winston Ntshona (Sizwe Banzi/The Island), Ellen Burstyn (Same Time Next Year), Frank Langella (Seascape), Rita Moreno (The Ritz).

1977: Michael Cristofer's look at three dying people was later directed by Paul Newman for TV. Actors: Al Pacino (The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel), Julie Harris (Belle of Amherst), Jonathan Pryce (Comedians), Trezana Beverly (for colored girls...).

1979: All the lead acting awards this season went to plays relating to physical infirmities. The top winner explored the humanity of former carnival freak attraction John Merrick. Actors: Tom Conti (Whose Life Is It Anyway?), Constance Cummings (Wings) and Carole Shelley (Elephant Man) (tie), Michael Gough and Joan Hickson (Bedroom Farce).

1981: Peter Schaffer's next Tony winner starred Best Actor Ian McKellan as Salieri, insanely jealous of his bratty genius of a rival, Mozart (Tim Curry). Other actors: Jane Laoptaire (Piaf), Brian Backer (The Floating Light Bulb), Swoosie Kurtz (Fifth of July).

1983: Downtown regular Harvey Fierstein took Best Play and Best Actor awards for his Broadway debut, three one-acts about the love life of drag queen Arnold. Other actors: Jessica Tandy (Foxfire), Matthew Broderick (Brighton Beach Memoirs), Judith Ivey (Steaming).

1985: After Neil Simon's first autobiographical play, Brighton Beach Memoirs, didn't get a nomination, he won Best Play for this "sequel" based on his years in the Army. Actors: Derek Jacobi (Much Ado...), Stockard Channing (...Joe Egg), Barry Miller (Biloxi Blues), Judith Ivey (Hurlyburly).