Special Report
Why the ‘Oscars’ and Other Little Known Fun Facts About the Academy Awards
April 25, 2021 11:00 am
Source: Kristian Dowling / Getty Images
11. Oscar for sale-not
Oscar winners are technically allowed to sell their trophies — with only one catch. They must first offer it to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for just $1, per academy rules.
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
12. In glorious technicolor
The first color film to win best picture was “Gone With the Wind” in 1940. At 234 minutes, it’s also the longest film to win the much coveted award.
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
13. Pathfinder
Hattie McDaniel, the daughter of freed slaves, won the Oscar in 1940 for best supporting actress, the first Academy Award won by an African-American actor.
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
14. Breaking news
The Oscar winners’ names used to be given to the press ahead of the ceremony, with the understanding that they wouldn’t publish the winners until after the ceremony. This changed in 1940, when the “Los Angeles Times” published the winners in its evening edition — before the ceremony had even begun.
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
15. Scott’s principled rejection
In 1971, George C. Scott refused to accept his award for best actor in “Patton.” The actor cited his disagreement with the academy’s voting process and the reduction of acting to a competition.
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