The "Obie" is the off-Broadway award, created by the Village Voice in 1956. "Obie" stands for "O.B.," or "Off-Broadway."


Wikipedia: Obie Award
The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards given by The Village Voice newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City. As the Tony Awards cover Broadway productions, the Obies cover Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway productions.

Background
The Obie Awards were initiated by Edwin (Ed) Fancher, publisher of The Village Voice, who handled the financing and business side of the project. They were first given in 1956 under the direction of theater critic Jerry Tallmer. Initially, only Off-Broadway productions were eligible; in 1964, Off-Off-Broadway productions were made eligible.

(Oxford English Dictionary)
Obie, n.
Etymology: < OB, initialism < off-Broadway adj. + -y suffix6, after Emmy n.
U.S. Theatre.
Any of several annual awards for (work on) off-Broadway theatre productions.
1956 Village Voice (N.Y.) 13 June 1/4 Shelly Winters, star of Broadway's ‘A Hatful of Rain’, will be the master of cermonies at the first annual Village Voice Off-Broadway (‘Obies’) Awards.
1967 National Observer (U.S.) 10 Apr. 20/1 Last year several ‘Obies’, the prize theater awards normally reserved for the stalwarts of Off-Broadway, were given to OOB [sc. off-off-Broadway] veterans, among them actor Kevin O'Connor and playwright Sam Shepard.

13 June 1956, Village Voice, pg. 1, cols. 3-5:
Recognition for Off-Broadway
Voice "Obie" Awards Monday;
Shelley Winters to be MC
(Col. 4 -- ed.)
Shelley Winters, star of Broadway's "A Hatful of Rain," will be the master of cermonies at the first annual Village Voice Off-Broadway ("Obies") Awards, which are to be given out at a cermony attended by many prominent state personalities, Monday afternoon at 3 at the Limelight Coffee House at Seventh Avenue South.

(Trademark)
Word Mark OBIE
Goods and Services IC 041. US 107. G & S: conducting awards ceremonies honoring outstanding achievement in off broadway and off-off broadway theater. FIRST USE: 19560620. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19560620
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 74464919
Filing Date December 2, 1993
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition May 28, 1996
Registration Number 1994330
Registration Date August 20, 1996
Owner (REGISTRANT) VV PUBLISHING CORPORATION CORPORATION NEW YORK 667 Madison Avenue New York NEW YORK 10021
(LAST LISTED OWNER) VOICE MEDIA GROUP, INC. CORPORATION COLORADO 969 BROADWAY DENVER COLORADO 80203
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record John L. Hay
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20060902.
Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20060902
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

(Trademark)
Word Mark THE VILLAGE VOICE OBIES
Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: conducting awards ceremonies honoring outstanding achievement in off Broadway and off-off Broadway theater. FIRST USE: 19590527. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19590527
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 261121
Serial Number 74469655
Filing Date December 14, 1993
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition April 30, 1996
Registration Number 1987845
Registration Date July 23, 1996
Owner (REGISTRANT) VV PUBLISHING CORPORATION CORPORATION NEW YORK 667 Madison Avenue New York NEW YORK 10021
(LAST LISTED OWNER) VILLAGE VOICE MEDICA, INC. CORPORATION BY ASSIGNMENT DELAWARE 36 COOPER SQUARE NEW YORK NEW YORK 10003
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record ELLEN A. RUBEL
Prior Registrations 0913683;1189256;1713637;1715689;1715708;1715709;AND OTHERS
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR).
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

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