And the Oscar goes to…
Over the years, some very well known and glamorous people have leapt to their feet and taken the stage when hearing this familiar phrase. Though most of us will never be in their situation, we can all identify with the excitement of being acknowledged for a job well done. In the film industry, Oscar is the icon synonymous with excellence.
There are many stories floating around as to how Oscar got his name but one legend has it that Eleanor Lilleberg, a Norwegian-American, who was the Executive Secretary to Louis B. Mayer exclaimed when viewing the statuette, “It looks like King Oscar II!” Before leaving for the day, she asked, “What should we do with Oscar? Put him in the vault?” and the name stuck.
Oscar, today, is made of gold-plated britannium on a black metal base. During World War II, with a desire to support the War effort, the statuettes were made of plaster, and later, traded in for gold ones when the War ended. Oscar is 13½ inches tall and weighs 8½ pounds. He is actually a knight designed in the art deco style, holding a crusader’s sword, while standing on a reel of film with five spokes. Each of these spokes represents a branch of the Academy: Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers, and Technicians.
America is in love with this, her favorite award show. We love to see the clothes, we love to hear the interviews, and we love to speculate on who the winners will be, most certainly, “Best Actress”, “Best Actor” and “Best Picture”.
