“Hattie McDaniel,” “Buddy Holly’s Lost Eyeglasses,” and “Lord of the Ring’s 11 Oscars” - This Day in History – Feb 29th

Hattie McDaniel becomes first African American to win an Oscar

Back in 1940, not a single African American had ever won an Oscar- that is until actress Hattie McDaniel.  She won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of “Mammy” in the classic movie, “Gone With The Wind.” 

History.com stated that, “In American movies at the time, African American actors and actresses were generally limited to house servant roles, and McDaniel apparently embraced this stereotype, playing the role of maid or cook in nearly 40 films in the 1930s.

Responding to criticism by groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) that she was perpetuating stereotypes, McDaniel responded that she would rather play a maid on the screen than be one in real life. Furthermore, she often subverted the stereotype by turning her maids into sassy, independent-minded characters who sometimes made white audiences shift uncomfortably in their seats.” 

Ms. Daniels’ award did not upgrade her status as an actress in Hollywood; she no longer acted in films and returned to radio as a star of, “The Beulah Show.” History.com acknowledged that, “In the program, she again portrayed an effervescent Southern maid but in a markedly un-stereotypical manner that won praise from the NAACP.”  The show was so popular that it was now being developed into a television version of her character. 

Sadly, Hattie Daniels never finished filming the first season of her popular show, in 1951, she suffered a heart attack.  She returned to her radio show in 1952, but would pass away due to complications of breast cancer at the age of 57.

The Late Buddy Holly’s eyeglasses found 21 years after his death

 Back in 1959, “The Day The Music Died,” when three musicians: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash outside Clear Lake, Iowa.  The investigator had obtained all of the affects from the plane’s wreckage however, Buddy Holly’s famous thick-rimmed eyeglasses were not found – that is until 1980.  

History.com stated that, “The glasses in question had the appearance of something government issued, but they were, in fact, carefully chosen as part of Holly's image—not by Holly himself, but by his Lubbock, Texas, optometrist, Dr. J. Davis Armistead. "Buddy was trying to wear the least conspicuous frames he could find," wrote Dr. Armistead nearly 40 years after writing Holly's last prescription. "Personally, I was not happy with the frame styles we had been using. I did not think they contributed anything to a distinct personality that a performer needs." It was while on vacation in Mexico City that Armistead found exactly the frames that he felt Holly needed. He brought back two pair of the heavy plastic Faiosa frames. "Those heavy black frames achieve exactly what we wanted—they became a distinct part of him." In fact, they became a part of the basic iconography and spirit of rock and roll. Before Buddy Holly, it would have been impossible to imagine a skinny, knock-need kid in an Ivy League suit and thick, heavy glasses being considered "cool." After Buddy Holly, the look and attitude that would later be called "geek chic" became a completely accepted alternative style for an aspiring rock star to embrace.” 

The eyeglasses re-emerged along with Big Bopper’s watch in the spring after this plane crash after the snow melt.  They were given promptly to a Cerro Gordo County Sherriff's office in a sealed envelope, labeled, “rec’d April 7, 1959.” 

According to history.com, “That envelope was opened by Sheriff Jerry Allen on this day in 1980. The glasses were eventually returned to Holly's widow, and can now be seen in the exhibit at the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, Texas.”

Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King wins 11 Oscars

Back in 2004, Director, Peter Jackson’s movie “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” tied with two other movies for most Academy Award wins at 11, “Ben Hur,” and “Titanic.” 

History.com stated that, “Perhaps the most attention-grabbing, trailblazing performer in film in 2003 did not receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor--but he was honored nonetheless. The eerily lifelike quality of Gollum, the computer-generated (CG) creature who simpered and schemed his way through The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, remained one of the most awe-inspiring aspects of the trilogy’s final installment, The Return of the King. At the 76th Academy Awards ceremony, held on this day in 2004, the film won a record-tying 11 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director (Peter Jackson) and Best Visual Effects.” 

According to boxofficemojo, this movie is the 5^th Grossing movie of all time. 

To see the worldwide box-office figure for this film click here.

All History facts provided from the link below:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/buddy-holly39s-glasses-lost-since-his-death-in-1959-are-found-in-mason-city-iowa?catId=13