Facts About the Oscars

Fact #1:  How the golden statue became known as Oscar:

The famous golden statue that represents the Academy Awards is formally known as the Academy Award of Merit, but that name didn't fit well for some people so they started giving it nicknames. Some of those nicknames included the golden trophy," "the statue of merit," and "the iron man." However, it was the nickname "Oscar" that won everyone over. The nickname Oscar came about after Academy librarian Margaret Herrick said that the statue resembled her Uncle Oscar.

Fact #2  Oscar Grand Slam:
There have been only three movies in the history of the Academy Awards to win an Oscar in all categories, an honor known as an Oscar Grand Slam or the Big Five. Those movies are:
1. It Happened One Night
2. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
3. The Silence of the Lambs

Fact #3  An Oscar Can't be Sold:
The recipient of an Oscar must sign a winners agreement stating that they will not sell the statue without first offering to sell it back to the Academy for $1. The Academy made this rule to ensure that the trophies do not end up in the hands of private collectors. Should a winner refuse to sign the agreement, the Academy will keep the trophy.

Fact #4  Three films hold the record for winning most number of Oscars:

“Ben-Hur” in 1959, 
“Titanic” in 1997 
“The Return of the King” in 2003.


Fact #5  First women to win Oscar:
Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Oscar for best director (The Hurt Locker) in 2010

Fact #6  The golden statue isn't golden:

The golden statue is actually made up of 93% tin, 5% antimony and 2% copper and is gold plated.