The Academy Awards ceremony, or the Oscars — these terms can be used interchangeably. But this was not always the case — at least, not officially. Here’s how the Academy Awards came to be called the Oscars and how Oscar himself earned his special nickname.
The show is changing (only the name)
The Academy Awards ceremony has been officially called the Oscars since 2013. That’s when the producers rebranded the broadcast with a shorter name, which is a nod to the iconic golden statuette, to move away from the longer name. Previously, live broadcasts were named according to the year, for example, the 85th, 89th or 92nd annual Oscar awards ceremony, which, according to showrunner Neil Moran, “made it seem a bit stale.” In the shorter, more concise name, the coveted golden Oscar statuette is in the foreground and centre stage. After all, it is the quintessence of the highest achievements in cinema, as determined by the members of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. We present to you the most memorable moments in the history of the Oscars.
Why are the awards called “Oscars”?
The awards were created to “encourage excellence in all aspects of film production” back in 1929, when the Academy had only been in existence for a few years. The official name of the award is the Academy Award of Merit, but it is much better known simply as the Oscar. The award has the same name as the golden statuette, which is also called an Oscar.
No one knows for sure how this name came about, but it became the official name of the statuette by 1939. According to one popular story, the Academy’s librarian looked at the golden statuette and said it looked just like her uncle Oscar, who was supposedly bald and had Art Deco cheekbones. The name stuck. The woman who reportedly coined the term, Margaret Herrick, later became the Academy’s executive director. The Academy’s website also notes that columnist Sidney Skolsky, who claims to have coined the term, used it in print in 1934. And Walt Disney reportedly called the award his “little Oscar” during a speech in 1934.
Why is the Oscar represented by a golden statuette?
The design of the statuette was intended to reflect the grandeur of the award. The first version depicted a knight with a sword in his hand standing on a film reel. Sculptor George Stanley created the three-dimensional, iconic and instantly recognisable figure that you see today. The elegant design depicts a masculine figure, unquestionably muscular, holding a sword with its tip pointing downwards. The film reel was replaced with a black base, and the design originally had five sides to represent the branches of the Academy (actors, directors, producers, technical staff and screenwriters). The statuette looks like liquid gold, but its coating is 24-carat plate, not solid gold. It is bronze underneath and was apparently made of plaster during World War II due to the shortage of metal during the war.
When was the first Oscar ceremony held?
The Academy Awards were established back in 1929, and the first ceremony laid the foundation for a night filled with glamour and glitz. It was held in the Blossom Room at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, and the winners were announced in advance, unlike the secret ballot that now takes place live on television. There were only two nominees for Best Actor, both of whom were nominated for two films. There were also three nominees in the Best Actress category, but the winner, Janet Gaynor, was nominated for roles in three different films. The most coveted award, Best Picture, was called Outstanding Film in 1929, then underwent numerous changes before officially becoming Best Picture in 1962. The first award went to the silent film Wings, a big-budget epic set during the First World War.
Who is the “Film Academy”?
When winners receive their statuettes, they usually begin their speeches with the words, “I would like to thank the Academy.” But who exactly are they thanking? The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is made up of people who work in the Hollywood film industry. The exact number of Academy members is a secret, but there could be as many as 9,000 if all those invited participate in the competition.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, as of 2019, 32 per cent of Academy members are women and 16 per cent are people of colour. Each year, the Academy invites outstanding professionals from five industry categories, and in recent years it has actively sought to add diversity to its ranks. There are strict rules for receiving an invitation, including having multiple credits and years of work in technical categories. You are also automatically invited if you are lucky enough to win or be nominated. After all, being nominated is a great honour!
