The familiar gold statuette handed out at the Academy Awards ceremony is seldom seen on public view, but there will be a rare chance to get up close to Oscar during a one-month exhibition beginning February 2 at the Valley Center History Museum.  The show is called “And the Oscar Goes to…”.

     The Oscar on display was awarded in 1932 to Gordon Wiles, art director at Fox Films, for his work on the film “Transatlantic”  It is on loan from his daughter, a Valley Center resident.  The museum has a copy of the vintage film and will screen the movie continuously during the exhibition.  Also on exhibit will  be profiles of eight celebrities who lived in Valley Center or Pauma Valley who where were nominated or won a total of 16 Academy Awards. They include actors Fred Astaire, John Wayne and Gary Cooper, and producer Sam Zimbalist.

     The statuette weighs 8.5 pounds, stands 13.5 inches tall, and is made of Britannia metal covered with 24-karat gold plating.  Oscar will remain on exhibit through February 27, one day before the awards ceremony in Hollywood.

     The museum is located at 29200 Cole Grade Road in Valley Center.  Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 12 noon to 4p.m.  Admission is free.  For more information, visit vchistory.org or call (760) 749-2993.