After reading my usual blogs this morning it appears the order of the day is bash the Oscars as being superficial and self celebratory and I can only somewhat agree. Although I am more in tune with the Independent Spirit awards which are presented the day before the Oscars with less gilt, pomp and circumstance I do enjoy the yearly spectacle that is the Academy rewarding their own. I don't get out to movies that often, the Roommate tends to get hijacked to all the good ones without me so I usually wait till the DVD rolls out before I get to view the best of the best, so the special preview that the Oscars affords me is greatly appreciated, allowing me to pick the films I really want to see. This was the rare year when I actually did manage to see quite a few of the nominated, so that was an added bonus.
So by now you already realize I did in fact watch the majority of the presentation but I did not do so at home sitting on my ass and eating a lot of cheese. This year I volunteered to work a benefit put on to finance the restoration of a fine Portland landmark. Film Action Oregon put on Oscar Night America as a benefit to promote it's organization and to help rejuvenating the grand old theater and I assisted by helping out my friend Pat who catered the event as well as provided the cosmos. So that was fun, I got to help out a friend, a theater and watch the show at the same time. Good times, good times. My only regret is that I didn't wear sensible shoes.
Here are some shots of the historic Hollywood Theater, built before movies had sound*!
The theater, getting ready for opening day.
*No, I wasn't born yet.