Oscar 2022: why are they called that

The 94th edition of the Oscars is just a few days away and with it the euphoria for the most important award in the seventh art in the world has generated great interest. However, many fans of the gala, which awards the best in dramatic art and which is transmitted throughout the world, are unaware of its origin and why it is known as The Oscar.

To know the origin we have to go back to 1929, when at first, the prize did not have its own name. At that time, the film industry in the US referred to the award as: The Academy statuette, The golden trophy or Statuette of merit.

There are many legends around creation that are present to this day; however, the version of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences, which is on its official website, points out that the main person responsible for emphasizing the awards that are being held today was the then librarian of The Academy, Margaret Herrick.

Margaret Herrick earned her librarian degree at the University of Washington, and in 1929 she became principal librarian at the Yakima Public Library. In 1931 she began offering her services as a volunteer librarian to The Academy after marrying Donald Gledhill, who was the assistant executive secretary.

Later, in 1945, she became executive director until 1971, some time after her assent, she was in charge of baptizing the prestigious statuette as Oscar, stating that “He looked like his uncle Oscar”.

Since then, the Academy began to refer to the award in that way informally, it was until 1934 that the name became popular, when the renowned columnist, Sidney Skolsky used it in his column to talk about the “Best Actress” Award that he had won, Katharine Hepburn. It wasn't until 1939 when the Academy officially used the term The Oscar.

The first medals were created by the art director of the Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), Cedric Gibbons, who designed a statuette of a knight standing on a film reel wielding the sword of a crusader. Later, the organizing committee turned to George Stanley's sculptor to make the three-dimensional design, which is maintained to this day.

The origin of the International Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; and its first official celebrations.

The Academy, as it is currently known, has its origin on May 16, 1929, when industry pioneers began to reward the quality of American cinematography. A couple of years earlier, in 1927, the International Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had been founded, under the initiative of MGM President Louis B. Mayer.

Two years later, in 1929, the first Academy Awards ceremony was held, at a gala in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. In that first edition, the winners were already known because they were announced three weeks in advance.

A year later, in 1930, the names were given at the time of the ceremony, although an advance list was leaked to the media for publication. That tradition had a fleeting fate when The Angeles Times published the names of the winners ahead of time.

Therefore, and following the current format of closed envelopes that has been used since 1940, the 94th installment of The Oscars from Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, USA, will be completed on Sunday, March 27, 2022.

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