The time the Oscars were held under the sea

The 1991 Oscars was as glamorous as ever.

In the audience, Kevin Costner chatted excitedly with Anjelica Houston, Whoopi Goldberg laughed with Andy Garcia, and in the front row – resplendent in black ray bans – sat Jack Nicholson beaming a huge grin.

The band stuck up a strident theme and the audience quiets.

Host Billy Crystal appeared onstage, but in a break with tradition, he didn’t walk onto the stage, he swam, because the 1991 Oscars were the first in the Academy’s history to be held entirely under the sea.

“You’ve got to remember, the Oscars was still reeling from the disastrous 1989 ceremony where Rob Lowe danced with Snow White for some reason,” said Jeff Margolis in a 1997 Wogan interview.

“We needed to just make sure that we were as far away from that cheesy, gimmicky feel as possible.

“Which is why we set our Oscars under the sea.”

The ceremony took place just off the quiet Bolsa Chica state beach. The band were enclosed in a submarine with lighting technicians and director.

The guests were all provided with a complimentary diving suit that would keep them warm and provide 7-8 hours of oxygen.

“Logistically, it was tricky,” continued Margolis.

“I guess our biggest fear was some sort of shipwreck, because there was some of the brightest stars in the world under the sea that day, and if they got trapped beneath a yacht or fishing boat then it would be an insurance nightmare.”

So, a small lighthouse was built that served as a method of warning ships away, and a reception for attendees to have a glass of champagne and change into their diving suits.

The show was considered a hit with Variety describing Crystal’s opening monologue, which riffed heavily on Jaws, as ‘hilarious.’

Some of the speeches were muffled by the diving suits, but the fact that everyone was 100 feet under the sea meant that no one went on too long.

Many people thought that the Best Picture going to Dances with Wolves rather than Goodfellas was a mistake, but the aquatic nature of proceedings could hardly be blamed for that.

The show ended up with the highest ratings in ten years.

“I guess people just like seeing glamorous people under the sea getting awards,” laughed Margolis.

“Hell, I’m still proud of it.”

Sadly, the success of the ceremony would lead to the disastrous decision to hold the 1992 Oscars on the wing of a Boeing 747 as it flew across America, leading to many, many fatalities.