- Oscars 2022 Live Updates: The Red Carpet is back this year
- Oscars 2022: Time, where to watch and everything you need to know
Who hasn't wondered where the famous Oscar statuette gets its name? Everyone knows it's the most prestigious award in film, but why Oscar? The origin of the statuette's name is unknown and has never been clarified, even by the Academy. However, some theories have circulated that may explain it.
The myth behind the name Oscar
One of the most widely circulated stories in the film industry is that when Margaret Herrick, executive secretary of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, saw the award, it reminded her of her uncle Oscar, and the comment spread through columnist Sidney Skolsky, who was present at the time and used that reference for his society articles. Although the Academy did not officially adopt the moniker until 1939, Skolsky used it in a piece referring to Katherine Hepburn's first Best Actress win in 1934.
Another story that goes around is the one told in the biography of actress Bette Davis. In it, she stated that the statuette was named after her first husband, Oscar Nelson. But first, let's go back to the beginnings of the world's most famous statuette to find out.
The story behind the Oscar
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences held a dinner in the Crystal Ballroom of the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles shortly after its formation in 1927 to establish its goals. Among the topics discussed that night was how to best recognize and encourage excellence in all aspects of film production by honoring outstanding achievements in filmmaking.
When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences agreed to establish an annual award in 1927, they set about designing a trophy that captured the magnificence they wanted to portray. This is after all, Hollywood's biggest trophy.
Cedric Gibbons, art director at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, created a statuette of a knight standing on a film reel holding a crusader's sword. The Academy commissioned Los Angeles sculptor George Stanley to create the three-dimensional design. As a result, the world-famous statuette was born.
Nearly a century after that auspicious meeting in Hollywood, the Oscar's success as a symbol of cinematic achievement will likely surprise dinner attendees, as will its designer, Cedric Gibbons.
Where did it get the name Oscar?
The award had no name at first, it was simply dubbed "The Academy statuette," "The golden trophy," or "The statuette of merit" by the press and industry. The origin of the name of these awards is shrouded in legend.
However, it's largely accepted that Cedric Gibbons' collaborator, sculptor George Stanley reportedly modeled the statue after a Mexican model and actor Emilio "El Indio" Fernández.
Sidney Skolsky, a writer from Los Angeles, also claimed to be the creator of the well-known moniker. Skolsky, a contemporary of gossip columnists Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, helped Marilyn Monroe find her footing in her career, fueled the legend that Lana Turner was discovered at Schwab's Drugstore, and wrote an annual Oscar Predictions column until his death.
Sklosky's nickname for Oscar was much more deprecating, according to Sklosky, than Herrick's. Feeling the pomposity and grandiosity of the 1934 Academy Awards, he mocked them and attempted to deflate their pomposity and grandiosity. In this version, "Oscar" refers to Oscar Hammerstein Sr.
As a Broadway theater owner, the senior Hammerstein would occasionally be the brunt of a vaudeville comedian's joke, with the punchline always being: "Will you have a cigar, Oscar?" Skolsky was able to incorporate the reference into his reporting.
It seems appropriate that there isn't just one story for naming Hollywood's most prestigious award. Regardless of which version of the story you believe, Oscar has become a part of Hollywood history and the industry standard for quality. In a town rife with rivalries, competitions, and animosity, Oscar remains one of the most well-known and well-liked names in show business.