All Over Albany

See an Oscar up close in Troy

We're heading into Oscars weekend, when actors, directors, screenwriters and other people in the film industry are having visions of holding a golden statuette, thanking the Academy, and timing their speeches in hopes they don't get played off.

But let's face it -- most people don't get an opportunity to see Oscar up close.

You can see one right now, though, at the Rensselaer County Historical Society in Troy.

The RCHS is currently displaying the Oscar won by Troy native Maureen Stapleton. It's part of an exhibit about Stapleton's life and work. She won the Oscar in 1981 for her supporting role as Emma Goldman in Warren Beatty's film Reds. When she accepted the award she said: "I want to thank Troy, New York, and my children, my family, my friends, and everybody I ever met in my entire life."

In addition to the Oscar, you can see Stapleton's Tony and Golden Globe awards, some interesting pictures of old Troy movie houses, a copy of a risqué invite to a party thrown for Stapleton by Liz Taylor, letters from Grace Kelly and Lillian Hellman, and a note (signed "Larry") from Sir Lawrence Olivier.

You can check out the exhibit, free, from noon to 5pm Thursdays-Saturdays through July 27.

RCHS is also hosting a pre-Oscar party on Sunday, which will include a talk by Phillip Caruso -- a Rensselaer County resident and professional still photographer for Hollywood feature films -- about his work on The Age of Innocence. The film was shot, in part, on Second Street in Troy. The party is from 4:30-7 pm at the RCHS and includes the talk, food, the exhibit, and prizes. It's $20.