Absolute Oscar
by Constance Droganes
Oscar’s milestone numbers and fascinating facts add up to 80 years of memorable movie history.
Oscar diehards may claim to know everything imaginable about the Academy Awards. But for every fact Oscar aficionados have committed to memory, we’ve unearthed 30 more to push their award show intelligence quotient to a new golden standard. From global viewership to that coveted Oscar’s height, entertainment buffs will love this numbers game.
80 Years of Oscar
2,658
Number of Oscar statuettes presented since the first Academy Awards (not including the 80th Awards).
45
The suggested number of seconds for Oscar acceptance speeches.
8½
Weight of the Oscar statuette in pounds.
102
Number of photographers on the red carpet (as of 79th Academy Awards).
19
Number of appearances made by Bob Hope, the person who has hosted the most Academy Award shows.
1
Number of times there has not been a Governors Ball.
1 hour, 40 minutes
Length of 1959’s 31st Academy Awards, the shortest televised show.
50
Number of Oscar statuettes created for the 79th Academy Awards.
3,000
Total number of press credentials requested.
25
Number of Oscar shows at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the venue that has hosted the most Academy Awards presentations.
1,896
Total number of press credentials issued, including technical personnel (as of 79th Academy Awards).
36
Number of Oscar statuettes given out at the 79th Academy Awards (including statuettes given out at the Scientific and Technical Awards).
306
Number of eligible pictures for 2008.
26/3/58
Date of the first Governors Ball following the 30th Academy Awards presentation in the Beverly Hilton Hotel’s Grand Ballroom.
63
Number of countries submitting foreign language films in 2008.
106
Number of international broadcasters airing the 79th Oscar telecast.
2
This year marks the second time Jon Stewart will host the Academy Awards show.
286
Number of TV press on the red carpet, including camera operators, audio technicians and other crew (as of 79th Academy Awards).
50
Number of Governors Balls, including the 80th Academy Awards.
4 hours, 23 minutes
Length of 2002’s 74th Academy Awards, the longest televised show.
101
Number of print reporters on the red carpet (as of 79th Academy Awards).
7
Number of Oscar shows hosted at the Kodak Theatre, including the 80th Academy Awards.
350
Number of crew members working during the 2008 Oscar telecast.
5,829
Number of voting members in 2008.
13½
Height of the Oscar statuette in inches.
130
Number of crew members working during the 2008 red carpet arrivals.
2
Number of LED screens temporarily attached to the Hollywood & Highland Center for the show.
146
Number of Honorary Oscars presented since the first Academy Awards.
40
Number of ushers / ticket takers inside the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®.
Several hundred million
The estimated global viewership for the 79th Academy Awards show
