From Spoilers to Secrecy: The Evolution of Oscar Winner Announcements
The 1940 leak that changed how we watch Oscars forever.
In the early years of the Academy Awards, the process of announcing winners was quite different from today’s highly secretive and suspenseful reveals. The Academy had an agreement with newspapers to receive the list of winners in advance, with the understanding that these names would not be published until after 11 p.m., once the ceremony was over. This arrangement aimed to prevent leaks and preserve the excitement for viewers tuning in live.
However, this system was not foolproof. During the heated 1940 Oscar race, The Los Angeles Times broke this unwritten rule by publishing the winners’ names before the ceremony concluded.
The paper revealed that Gone With the Wind had taken home Best Picture before the awards were officially handed out on stage. This breach of protocol caused a scandal and led to a significant rule change within the Academy.
As a result, the Academy implemented strict measures to prevent future leaks, including tighter security and confidentiality agreements. Today, winners are kept under wraps until they are announced live during the broadcast, maintaining the suspense and excitement that audiences cherish.
