An Oscar statue appears outside the Dolby Theatre ahead of the 2015 ceremony. But who is he really?
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
hide caption
toggle caption
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
The anticipation of the 98th Academy Awards is building, as Hollywood’s finest prepare to walk the red carpet. The glamorous night is filled with both joy and disappointment, and the iconic gold-plated statuettes, known as “the Oscars,” take center stage.
The famed Oscar statuette, which winners proudly receive in various categories, owes its design to Cedric Gibbons, the art director at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He crafted the concept for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ inaugural awards in 1929.
The knight depicted on the Oscar, possibly inspired by a Mexican actor of that era, stands on a film reel with a crusader’s sword, symbolizing the defense of the industry. Los Angeles sculptor George Stanley brought this vision to life, with the statue standing 13 1/2 inches tall and weighing 8 1/2 pounds.
Officially named the “Academy Award of Merit,” the nickname “Oscar” was adopted by the Academy in 1939. The origin of this moniker, however, remains a subject of intrigue.
Former Academy executive director Bruce Davis often faced questions about the nickname during his 20-year tenure, which concluded in 2011. “And what astonished me was that when I would ask around the building, everybody would say, ‘Well, we don’t exactly know,'” Davis told NPR.
In retirement, Davis tackled this mystery in his book, The Academy and the Award, published in 2022. He explored various myths about the Oscar nickname.
The debunked claims
The term “Oscar” made its first appearance in a 1934 newspaper column by Sidney Skolsky. Skolsky, against a deadline, opted for “Oscar” over “statuette” to avoid sounding snobbish and because he was unsure how to spell it.
Davis notes that the term appeared in industry publications before Skolsky’s use, but Skolsky is still credited with popularizing the term “beefcake.”
Another tale involves actress Bette Davis, who once claimed she named the statuette after her husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson Jr., because its hindquarters reminded her of him. However, she later retracted this story, calling it “a sillier controversy never existed.”
The more-likely suspects
Another potential origin of the nickname comes from Margaret Herrick, the Academy’s librarian who became executive director. She reportedly referred to the statue as “Oscar” because it resembled her uncle.
Despite Herrick’s claim, Davis suggests the likely originator is Eleanore Lilleberg, an early Academy staff member responsible for the statuettes. Her brother, Einar Lilleberg, credited her with the name, inspired by a Norwegian veteran known for standing tall.
Davis discovered this connection at the Einar Lilleberg Museum, where he found writings that linked Eleanore to the nickname “Oscar.”
The lingering mystery
The Oscar statuettes, initially called “Academy Awards of Merit,” have a mysterious nickname origin. Davis, content with his findings, acknowledges the name’s enduring tradition and its influence on other awards like the Emmy and Tony.
Hollywood’s Oscars, now a template for global awards, continue to capture the public’s imagination, regardless of who they’re named after. “You feel closer to an award if you’re on a first-name basis with it, I guess,” Davis mused.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
