The Enigma of Oscar’s Origin
Introduction
The Academy Award, bestowed upon cinematic excellence, holds an enigmatic name: Oscar. While the golden statuette has been officially dubbed the Academy Award of Merit, it’s universally known as Oscar, a moniker shrouded in uncertainty as to its genesis.
The Knight’s Creation
The trophy’s origins can be traced to MGM art director Cedric Gibbons, who conceived the figure of a muscular knight in 1929 for the inaugural Academy Awards. The design, not based on a human model, symbolized a cinematic crusader.
The Nickname’s Enigmatic Roots
The Academy didn’t adopt the nickname "Oscar" until 1939, but its origins remain unclear. Rumors and half-truths have plagued Oscarologists, leaving the true story behind the name a mystery.
Bette Davis’s Contested Claim
In her 1962 autobiography, "The Lonely Life," Bette Davis claimed to have dubbed the statuette "Oscar" after recognizing her husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson Jr., in its backside. However, Davis later renounced her claim, acknowledging that the nickname had appeared in newspapers years prior to her acceptance speech in 1936.
Sidney Skolsky’s Assertive Narrative
Hollywood columnist Sidney Skolsky vehemently asserted his role in christening Oscar in his 1975 memoir, "Don’t Get Me Wrong − I Love Hollywood." He claimed to have coined the name during the sixth awards presentation in 1934, using it as a placeholder for the difficult-to-spell "statuette."
Scrutinizing the Claims
Historians, including Bruce Davis, raise doubts about Skolsky’s account. The term "Oscar" appeared in a Los Angeles Post-Record entertainment column six weeks before Skolsky’s alleged inspiration.
Margaret Herrick’s Family Connection
A popular but flawed theory attributes the inspiration to Academy librarian Margaret Herrick, who supposedly likened the statuette to her "dear Uncle Oscar." However, no record of a family member by that name has been found.
Terry Ramsaye’s Wheat Farmer Story
Film historian Terry Ramsaye cited Herrick’s mother’s cousin, Oscar Pierce, as the inspiration in his 1948 "International Motion Picture Almanac." However, no photographic evidence of Uncle Oscar Pierce exists.
Leonard Maltin’s Assessment
Leonard Maltin, a renowned film historian, finds Herrick’s case the most plausible despite its flaws. He notes the irony that in a town built on exaggeration, the true origin of Oscar’s name remains a tantalizing mystery.
Conclusion
The identity of the individual who bestowed the name "Oscar" upon the Academy Award remains shrouded in uncertainty. Rumored accounts and contested claims have intertwined with the passage of time, leaving behind an enigmatic tale that continues to fascinate Oscarologists and cinema enthusiasts alike.
