Chapter 1
Oscars go to war
Chapter 2
Masterpieces and legendary upsets
Chapter 3
Family feuds and acting triumphs
Chapter 4
Rules, tech, and global expansion
YOUR GOAL
Master of Oscars of the 1940s
Ch 1 · Oscars go to war
schopenhauer The Plaster Oscars
Only painted plaster, only painted plaster, when gold went to the war.
schopenhauer Serving military personnel played prominent roles in the wartime Oscar ceremonies, both as presenters and winners.
schopenhauer The Academy implemented a strict, informal dress code during the war years to reflect nationwide conservation efforts.
BETA
schopenhauer Decode 1940s ceremony trivia to discover how legendary actors won their Oscar victories.
Fun Fact
Plaster Oscars: Because of metal shortages during World War II, Oscar statuettes were made of painted plaster for three years.
Glossary
plaster (noun)
A soft mixture of lime, sand, and water that hardens as it dries, used for coating walls or making casts. During World War II, Oscar statuettes were made of this material to support wartime metal rationing.
A soft mixture of lime, sand, and water that hardens as it dries, used for coating walls or making casts. During World War II, Oscar statuettes were made of this material to support wartime metal rationing.
Quiz
Which actor co-hosted the 15th Academy Awards in 1943 while serving as a Private in the U.S. Marine Corps?
Quiz
Which actress set a record with a nearly six-minute acceptance speech for 'Mrs. Miniver' in 1943?
Quiz
What did the Academy do with the plaster Oscar statuettes after World War II ended?
Quiz
Which military rank did director John Ford hold when he won an Oscar for 'The Battle of Midway' in 1943?
Quiz
What material was used to make Oscar statuettes from 1943 to 1945 due to WWII metal shortages?
Quiz
Which 1942 Best Picture winner about a British family surviving the Blitz was praised by Winston Churchill?
Quiz
What major change was made to the 1942 Oscar ceremony's dress code to reflect wartime conservation?
Quiz
In what year during the 1940s did the Academy first eliminate the traditional banquet dinner to simplify the ceremony?