Music played a significant role in making the 1972 Oscars unforgettable.
Isaac Hayes made history as the first African American to win an Oscar for Best Original Song for his hit “Theme from Shaft,” bringing soul music to the Oscars in a way that had never been done before.
The show reached its peak when Hayes disappeared beneath the stage in a cloud of smoke, leaving the audience in awe. It was a moment that truly defined Oscar magic!
Betty Grable’s farewell
One of the evening’s standout moments came when the legendary actress Betty Grable graced the gala, making one of her final public appearances.
Betty Grable was — and remains — one of Hollywood’s giants. Her iconic bathing-suit poster, created in 1943, catapulted her to fame as the top pin-up girl of World War II. But Grable was more than just a pretty face; she was a highly successful actress, with her 42 films during the 1930s and 1940s grossing over $100 million.
In the mid-1940s, she was the highest-paid woman in America, famously insuring her legs for for $1 million. Reflecting on her incredible journey in film, Grable once said, ”I became a star for two reasons, and I’m standing on them.”
Betty Grable arrived in a striking turquoise gown, beautifully accented with silver spangles and featuring an elegant décolleté.
Sadly, the 1972 Oscars marked one of her final public appearances, a bittersweet moment for the fans who adored her. Tragically, she passed away just a year later from lung cancer at the age of 56.
A frail, white-haired pioneer
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