Receiving a wooden figurine while other artists receive the same gold figurine may seem strange, but there is a creative reason behind it. In 1937, the Oscars decided to innovate and award an award that had everything to do with the nominee’s work. He was Edgar Bergen, a ventriloquist who had a career in theater, radio and film.
The ventriloquist’s Oscar
The 1937 wooden honorary Oscar with movable mouth was a tribute to the work of ventriloquist and comedian Edgar Bergen. His creation, the Charlie McCarthy doll, was cheeky and had a wry sense of humor. With him Bergen built his fame, passing through radio, television and cinema.
The artist made 14 films together with McCarthy, who always insulted him in a funny way. Between them, You can’t cheat an honest man , WC camps AND Charlie McCarthy, detective. Oscar’s way of celebrating “his extraordinary comic creation” was through the unique wooden object.
The statuette is currently present Museum of Radio and Television Communications, in Chicago (United States). Also on display are movie posters, toys and other items representing the careers of Edgar Bergen and his partner Charlie McCarthy.
About Edgar Bergen
Edgar Bergen was the son of Swedish immigrants and was born on February 16, 1903 in Chicago. After his father’s death, he began doing small jobs to help the family. He taught himself ventriloquism and, at the age of 15, impressed an artist. vaudeville – genre of entertainment –, which gave him three months of free lessons.
In 1922, Bergen hired a carver to create his famous Charlie McCarthy doll, which would become his inseparable companion. Skilled at both ventriloquism and comedy, he rose to fame on the Chautauqua vaudeville circuit and then conquered radio. In 1937, the two were given their own show, The Chase and Sanborn Hour, which was a national hit.
Bergen maintained his presence on stage and television for decades and died in 1978, just days after announcing his retirement, during a show at a Las Vegas casino.
The wooden Oscar wasn’t the only different award
The Academy has thought outside the box on other occasions. One of them was at the Walt Disney Awards, where he also worked with Bergen Free fun and imagination (How nice it is to have fun, in the Portuguese version). In 1938, the founder of Disney received seven small figurines as an honorary award for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. In 1934, Shirley Temple, a child artist of enormous fame at the time, also won a mini Oscar for her great popularity.
The post-Oscar period has already rewarded the artist with a wooden statuette; find out why it first appeared on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
