Statement from the Members of the Board
It all started in 1934. . .
Although the creators of the Hot Toasty Rag Awards were not yet born, once we became old movie buffs, we looked up who won for such and such a movie. We were appalled that Bette Davis, although qualified by the initial voting process, was not officially nominated in 1934 for her role as Mildred in Of Human Bondage, and we were equally appalled that It Happened One Night swept the top five Oscars. Although a cute movie, we felt it shouldn’t have been singled out for any award - let alone won. So therefore, it all started in 1934.
We have said a thousand times that had “we” chosen the Oscar winners, at least one-third of the entrees would be changed. Some recipients were nominated for the “wrong” role or movie. Others shouldn’t have been nominated in the first place. And several, in our opinion, should never have been nominated in their entire movie career.
So at long last, we created our own awards, starting in 1932, since we had not watched enough movies prior to that time to make us feel qualified. As this anthology unfolds, you will read authors’ notes at the bottom of the awards page. This is our chance to get things “off our chests” and explain what led to our decisions, inclusions, and omissions.
We decided to give awards in the categories of acting, directing, overall picture, screenplay, musical score, and original song. Not only are these the major awards in which we disagreed with the Academy Awards, but the Members of the Board feel qualified in these areas, having acted, directed, written, studied music, and composed.
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, and one man’s meat may be another man’s poison. However - we are not doing this to win any popularity contests. This is a tribute in retrospect to at long last honor whom we feel deserve to be honored. We hope there are champagne corks popping in Hollywood Heaven. We know we righted some dreadful and tragic “wrongs” and our souls are happier for it.
- The Members of the Board, subsequently referred to as M.E.
Although the creators of the Hot Toasty Rag Awards were not yet born, once we became old movie buffs, we looked up who won for such and such a movie. We were appalled that Bette Davis, although qualified by the initial voting process, was not officially nominated in 1934 for her role as Mildred in Of Human Bondage, and we were equally appalled that It Happened One Night swept the top five Oscars. Although a cute movie, we felt it shouldn’t have been singled out for any award - let alone won. So therefore, it all started in 1934.
We have said a thousand times that had “we” chosen the Oscar winners, at least one-third of the entrees would be changed. Some recipients were nominated for the “wrong” role or movie. Others shouldn’t have been nominated in the first place. And several, in our opinion, should never have been nominated in their entire movie career.
So at long last, we created our own awards, starting in 1932, since we had not watched enough movies prior to that time to make us feel qualified. As this anthology unfolds, you will read authors’ notes at the bottom of the awards page. This is our chance to get things “off our chests” and explain what led to our decisions, inclusions, and omissions.
We decided to give awards in the categories of acting, directing, overall picture, screenplay, musical score, and original song. Not only are these the major awards in which we disagreed with the Academy Awards, but the Members of the Board feel qualified in these areas, having acted, directed, written, studied music, and composed.
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, and one man’s meat may be another man’s poison. However - we are not doing this to win any popularity contests. This is a tribute in retrospect to at long last honor whom we feel deserve to be honored. We hope there are champagne corks popping in Hollywood Heaven. We know we righted some dreadful and tragic “wrongs” and our souls are happier for it.
- The Members of the Board, subsequently referred to as M.E.