Because metal was scarce; the Oscars given out during World War II were made of plaster.
WWII Oscars Were Made of Plaster Due to Metal Shortages
Between 1942 and 1945, Hollywood's most prestigious prize got a wartime makeover. The iconic Oscar statuette—normally cast in bronze and plated with 24-karat gold—was temporarily made of painted plaster. The reason? Metal was desperately needed for the war effort.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences wasn't about to cancel the ceremony entirely, but they couldn't justify using strategic materials for trophies while tanks and planes were being built. So they improvised. For three consecutive years, winners received statuettes cast in plaster and sprayed with bronze lacquer to mimic the real thing.
When Fake Oscars Were Given Out
The plaster Oscars were awarded at ceremonies in 1943, 1944, and 1945—honoring the best films and performances from 1942, 1943, and 1944 respectively. Recipients during this period included some of Hollywood's biggest names: Ingrid Bergman won Best Actress for Gaslight, Bing Crosby took home Best Actor for Going My Way, and Ethel Barrymore won Best Supporting Actress.
According to The New York Times in March 1945, "Oscar is now being cast in plaster and sprayed with deceptive bronze lacquer." The paint job was convincing enough in photographs, but the weight gave it away—these wartime Oscars were significantly lighter than their metal counterparts.
The Great Oscar Exchange
Winners weren't stuck with fake trophies forever. After the war ended, the Academy sent out invitations to all plaster Oscar recipients, offering to exchange their temporary statuettes for proper gold-plated bronze versions. Some winners made the swap; others kept their plaster originals as unique pieces of Hollywood history.
Barry Fitzgerald never had the option. The Irish actor famously accidentally beheaded his plaster Oscar while practicing his golf swing at home. Whether he eventually received a replacement is lost to history, but the incident became one of Hollywood's favorite Oscar anecdotes.
A Symbol of Sacrifice
The plaster Oscars represent more than just a wartime workaround—they're a reminder of how even glamorous Hollywood contributed to the war effort. While stars sold war bonds and performed for troops, the Academy made do with painted plaster.
Today, the wartime Oscars are extremely rare. Most were exchanged for metal versions, making the surviving plaster statuettes valuable collector's items. One sold at auction for over $20,000, proving that sometimes the fake version becomes more valuable than the real thing.