March 26, 1958:
The 30th Academy Awards were big for David Lean and “Bridge on the River Kwai” and for an actress named Joanne Woodward who toted home a statue for her performance in “The Three Faces of Eve”. On her big night out Miss Woodward wore an evening gown of her own making after she had spent the day at Paramount having her hair dyed and styled. After the awards she and her husband, Paul Newman, stopped at a grocery store to pick up some celebratory beer on their way to the Governors Ball… Or, so the story goes.
These days hair and makeup come to your home. A limo arrives at three in the afternoon to take you to the Dolby Theater on Hollywood Blvd. which has been closed to through traffic. The limo has a fully stocked bar. Once you reach Hollywood Blvd. you might have had a glass or two of champagne, which makes the traffic jam of Town Cars jockeying for position fascinating. Walking down the red carpet, if you are in the wake of a star, you will see cameras, and handlers, and press in a tightly orchestrated blitz of high glamour PR. If you’ve been nominated you are riding an adrenaline wave – and everything looks sparkling new…
Let’s walk inside. The Dolby Theater (formally the Kodak) was built for the express purpose of hosting the awards. It is state of the art. Seating arrangements vary, but usually you are seated with fellow nominees in your category. If your name is called you have three minutes to get from your seat to the stage and deliver your speech. It goes by in one explosive heartbeat.
Afterwards there’s dinner and dancing at the Governors ball, and if you’re carry a golden statue that’s all the invitation you need for the after parties. You’ll probably glide into bed between two and three in the morning, exhausted, elated, and probably harboring a cold.
Sweet dreams, mes amies!
Joanne Woodward made her own dress?! That is pretty cool.
I really liked this snapshot of the 1958 awards ceremony.
It was emerald green! You’ll see later in the day
Oh that was Great! I feel like I just went to the Awards with you and Mr. Lester. Let’s do it again next year!
The Governors Ball is when it really gets fun — and the after parties. Oh, and when it’s all over and you finally take off your Spanx
Tomorrow my friend Jan has written an “in the know” opinion piece which will be up while I’m off dillydallying.
xoxoxox!!!
V
I shall read it from Lane’s couch as we watch the Red Carpet Show on E! Going over at 2pm…in my jeans and diamonds.
If I were at home I’d be in my flannel pj’s – it’s cold down here (!) – and eating pizza.
I just love finding new places to wear diamonds! It is cold here too! Going to the Chinatown Chinese New Years Parade tonight!!
I watched it in bed with my daughter, Lily — lots of fun and such gorgeous dresses.
I hate that the one producer of Argo, took it upon himself to accept the award first, taking all of Ben Affleck’s time – the director for pete sake! Having a string of producers accepting awards for best picture or Play (they now do this in the theater world, too) is such a grabby, needy, look at me moment. Lately, I’ll confess, I’ve been soured on much of the hoopla. It’s refreshing to see it all through your eyes, V. You’ve made it a little more exciting for me this year.
Maybe one day we’ll be on the red carpet together? Now that would be rich.
Thanks for re-creating the experience – right down to the Spanx!
Do get some rest. xoxo
Lisa
My eyes are open, but I feel like my head is stuffed with “cotton, hay, and rags”. I loved what Mr. Affleck had to say (wonderful and heartfelt), Daniel Day Lewis (eloquent), Rick Carter (who won for Production Design), and Ang Lee (gratitude and dignity) – the uniting element was they all told a story, a lovely anecdote… Nicely, nicely, done.
Now, if we marched down the red carpet for your tell all memoir and my roman à clef that would be something. I’ll dream on that tonight.
xoxoxox
V