Kodak Theater and Oscars

While in Hollywood, Sarah and I toured the Kodak Theater, which was right next to our hotel. All in all, it was a pretty boring tour. However, there were a few things I learned about the Academy Awards that I thought were interesting enough to share.

First of all, when the camera pans to "back stage" at the Kodak theater, they are really at the hotel we stayed in, the Renaissance. No photography is allowed within the Kodak theater. I know, it is a bit ironic that no pictures can be taken in a theater named after a film company.

Also, I learned that the Academy Awards has a $30 million dollar budget. They sell the t.v. rights for $100 million, but still charge everyone who attends, including those presenting and winning awards, $375 for each ticket.

I thought this bit of information to be funny. When the red carpet is first opened, inside the theatre, all the bars are open bars in an attempt to lure stars off the red carpet into the theatre. However, once the show starts, all the bars become cash bars to get the stars to leave the bars and go sit in their seats inside the theatre. You would think that big Hollywood stars would have no problem paying for their drinks, but it seems they like free stuff the same as everyone else.

Another funny fact is that many of the stars stay in the Renaissance Hotel, which is just steps away from the Kodak Theatre, but still get in a limousine, drive around the corner, then get out on the red carpet.

The Kodak Theatre, by itself, is pretty boring. However, learning about the Academy Awards can be interesting and a little funny.