Jury Blocks Sale of Oscars
Heirs of Beverly Rogers, the wife of Pickford’s third husband, band leader and actor Buddy Rogers, had intended to sell the Oscar she won in 1930 for her performance in the silent film “Coquette” and donate the proceeds to charity, but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences intervened to stop them.
Since 1951, AMPAS has required Oscar winners to sign an agreement providing that if the winner decides to sell the Oscar, AMPAS has first rights to buy it for $10.00. While Pickford did not sign the agreement when she won her first Oscar in 1930, she did sign it when she was bestowed with a honorary Oscar in 1976.
The heirs argued that they were not bound by the agreement for a number of reasons. First, as the 1930 Oscar was won prior to 1951, the agreement did not apply it. Second, given the chain of succession (the Oscars were inherited by Pickford’s husband, then inherited on his death by Beverly Rogers), Rogers’ estate was not bound by the agreement. Finally, they argued that the signature on the agreement could not have been Pickford because at the time she would have been too ill to sign it.
AMPAS argued that because Pickford signed the agreement in 1976 and because she was a founder of the academy and remained a member until her death, the 1930 Oscar was grandfathered into the rule providing them with right of first refusal.
The jury took only one hour to reach its verdict. However, the dispute looks as though it will continue. The heirs’ lawyers will be back before a judge on equitable and legal issues not heard by the jury and are expected to argue the agreement is unenforceable.
Have a great weekend!
Megan F. Connolly
