OK, I didn’t actually go to the Academy Awards on Oscar night. Some Oscars to be presented to the winners were on display near the Kodak Theatre a few days before Oscar night. The advertisement said you could actually hold an Oscar in your own hands.
Like most people I’ve never seen an Oscar up close. Plus the opportunity to hold one – WOW!
Driving into Los Angeles is not one of my favorite things to do. Maybe for Julie Andrews. The thought of holding an Oscar in my hands can make a girl with a Hybrid head towards Hollywood.
So one Saturday morning around 9:50 I took off in my trusty Hybrid. The odometer sitting at 23219. Heading north on the I-5; merging onto the 101 N was a fairly easy trip for L. A. traffic. Exiting and turning left on Hollywood Blvd., I didn’t feel like a movie star. Just wondering where this place was displaying the Oscars.
Not in my comfort zone of knowing the area. Continuing down Hollywood for quite a few blocks I saw bleachers. Sitting right across from the El Capitan was the Kodak Theatre, this was the place. A couple of doors down is Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Turning left by Grauman’s, I was lucky to park on the street.
I call it lucky, as it was free parking – instead of the paid parking structure behind the El Capitan. Parking my car right across the street from Hollywood High School. The gymnasium has a painted Sheik – thoughts of Rudolph Valentino popped into my head. Walking back to the boulevard my thought were of two things. Why didn’t I bring my camera? I usually have it with me on any travels, this time I just didn’t think.
The other thought was how appropriate to hold the Oscars down the way from a landmark like Grauman’s. With so many stars hands and footprints from the golden era of Hollywood such as Cary Grant, Joan Crawford, Myrna Loy, and Humphrey Bogart. Along with more recent stars like Harrison Ford, Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep. Grauman’s was packed with tourists placing hands or footprints in various famous stars imprints. Walking past I continued to an archway, which will take me to the Kodak Theatre. The stars on Oscar night would walk down this way, then up a long stairway, which flares out at the bottom and narrows near the top.
On both sides towards the stairs are stores. It seems the Kodak Theatre is located inside a mall; it’s actually quite spectacular. And gives a pleasant feeling of strolling through the mall at a leisurely pace.
The actual display was not at the Kodak, but on the 3rd level of the mall. Heading towards the escalator - crossing over a bridge, which provided a wonderful view of that famous Hollywood sign.
Curving around to the right I came upon to large Oscar statues over six feet tall. There was a small line waiting outside with a guard to direct when each person could come into the area.
What a nice touch they had for us in line; we stood next to tall Oscars with ‘the red carpet’ under out feet. The wait was about 1 minute before being directed in.
It was a fairly small room. Along the walls were movies scenes, wardrobe sketches, music sheets and sets from past and present movies. A plaque next to each with a little description.
In display cases were Oscars in every stage of manufacturing. I can’t really remember exactly – I believe the statue is molded from iron, and then various layers are added until the gold is applied at the end. I believe the statues are made somewhere in the Mid-West.
It was interesting to see that famous form without the gleam of gold - just lying there in dull iron. Further down was a display of lots of golden Oscars proudly gleaming back while walking by.
Around to the other side was the entrance to hold the Oscar. This area was located right in the middle of the room.
The line was quite big as everyone wanted their moment, plus to have their picture taken. The exhibit missed out, as they should have had their own photographer - with photographs later for sell. Everyone had his or her own camera in order to have a memory of that moment of holding the golden statue.
During the ceremony on TV, the winners holding their Academy Award it’s often heard how heavy the Oscar feels. Well, it’s true. It is heavy! The golden statue weights in at 8 pounds.
Located just outside this area was a display. It had a current Oscar and an Oscar won by Clark Gable for It Happened One Night – his only Oscar. Back in 1934 the Oscars were not as tall as today’s statues.
An interesting note about Mr. Gable’s Oscar was also on display. I do remember a few years ago hearing that Clark Gables son was selling his Oscar. An unknown person bought his Oscar and later gave it to the Academy. It was Steven Spielberg.
The next stop was to the merchandise counter. All they really had were a couple of books and Academy Awards posters. I didn’t know each year they commissioned an artist to design an Academy poster for that year.
This year’s poster was actually two posters. Both showing a close-up of the Oscar with a man and woman holding their Oscar. The lady behind the counter said they were Julie Andrews and Cary Grant. Julie Andrews won of course for Mary Poppins; Cary Grant received a Honary Oscar, as he had never won for a role in a movie.
This is where I learned the Academy Awards are contacted for the Kodak Theatre until 2070. At least I think that’s what she said! Seems like a long time.
I purchased my posters and headed on out. While leaving I noticed next to the El Capitan; Disney had opened what looked like a malt shop. It’s called Disney’s Soda Fountain; of course, with a store included.
Heading back home I ran into a lot of traffic, taking me longer to get home than to arrive in Hollywood. By the time I reached home my odometer was at 23282.
This was a nice little trip; the price was certainly right – Free! To see up close and to hold an Oscar was an experience. Having not seen Hollywood for a number of years was another reason for making this a very nice trip.
I often wonder what Hollywood looked like during the 30’s and 40’s. Expect for a few new or rebuilt buildings, to bring the boulevard back to its glamour, the area is still a little run down.
This was the second year that the Oscars were on display. I missed the first. Are you interested in going to the third showing next year? They have one in New York City; then just a few weeks before Oscar night they come back to Los Angeles. Check out http://www.oscars.org/ next year for the dates.
It could be a nice little trip; lunch at Disney’s Soda Fountain, check out Graumans Chinese Theatre, view the Oscars and stroll through the mall.
Here are the posters for the Academy Awards 2006. 
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