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Los Angeles, CA — We love the movies—the popcorn, the butter, and the story-telling. Each year, we look forward to new movies that bring incredible performances and stories which help us feel more connected to each other.
To celebrate the best of the year in film, Hollywood rolls out a red carpet for the nominated actors, actresses, directors, and others. But what's the story behind the rolling out of the red carpet tradition? And why red?
Read on for a very short history of the red carpet—a history that dates all the back to the Greeks.
Scroll further to find out our Res Ipsa picks for the major category winners for the 96th Academy Awards. Layer up that buttery popcorn and enjoy the Oscars with us!
Brief History of the Red Carpet
Greeks..or the East?
The first known reference to the red carpet comes from a line in Agamemnon, the 458 B.C. play by Greek writer Aeschylus:
“Now my beloved, step down from your chariot, and let not your foot, my lord, touch the Earth,” the play reads. “Servants, let there be spread before the house he never expected to see … a crimson path.”
However, some scholars believe the idea of a red carpet was introduced to Aeschylus from the East.
Why Red?
At the time of Aeschylus, the crimson color was reserved for non-mortal men: Gods and Goddesses. The color has always been associated with royalty. But why?
Religion was one major reason. In the 13th century, the Pope decreed only cardinals could don the color red.
The economics behind red dye was another major reason pre-Industrial Revolution of the 19th century. Red was too expensive to stock until it synthetical chemicals made it cheaper. The automation of carpet-weaving also allowed for the non-aristocracy to afford red rugs and other red fabrics.
The red carpet upheld all value in society. The actual 'treatment' of rolling out the red carpet started with express train passengers riding from NYC-Chicago in the 20th century.
The first instance of the red carpet in Hollywood came for the 1922 premiere of Robin Hood at the Egyptian Theatre. About 50 years later, the Academy awards rolled out the first red carpet for the 1961 Oscars. However, it took 3 more years, in 1964, for Americans to stream the ceremony and the carpet in color.
And now 60 years later, the red carpet tradition continues with the 96th Oscars!
Shop Res Ipsa (red) RugsRes Ipsa's 2024 Oscars Picks
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
NOMINEES
ANNETTE BENING
Nyad
LILY GLADSTONE
Killers of the Flower Moon
SANDRA HÜLLER
Anatomy of a Fall
CAREY MULLIGAN
Maestro
EMMA STONE
Poor Things
Josh & Odini: Lily Gladstone
Res Ipsa Aspen: Emma Stone
Res Ipsa NYC: Sandra Huller
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ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
NOMINEES
EMILY BLUNT
Oppenheimer
DANIELLE BROOK
The Color Purple
AMERICA FERRERA
Barbie
JODIE FOSTER
Nyad
DA'VINE JOY RANDOLPH
The Holdovers
Josh & Odini: Da'Vine Joy Randolph
Res Ipsa Aspen: Emily Blunt
Res Ipsa NYC: Danielle Brook
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ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
NOMINEES
BRADLEY COOPER
Maestro
COLMAN DOMINGO
Rustin
PAUL GIAMATTI
The Holdovers
CILLIAN MURPHY
Oppenheimer
JEFFREY WRIGHT
American Fiction
RES IPSA WINNERS
Josh & Odini: Cillian Murphy
Res Ipsa Aspen: Cillian Murphy
Res Ipsa NYC: Cillian Murphy
Res Ipsa Paris Saint-Germain: Cillian Murphy
Res Ipsa Paris Le Marais: Bradley Cooper
Cole: Cillian Murphy
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
NOMINEES
STERLING K. BROWN
American Fiction
ROBERT DE NIRO
Killers of the Flower Moon
ROBERT DOWNEY JR.
Oppenheimer
RYAN GOSLING
Barbie
MARK RUFFALO
Poor Things
Josh & Odini: Robert Downey Jr.
Res Ipsa Aspen: Mark Ruffalo
Res Ipsa NYC: Ryan Gosling
Res Ipsa Paris Saint-Germain: Robert Downey Jr.
Res Ipsa Paris Le Marais: Ryan Gosling
Cole: Mark Ruffalo
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BEST PICTURE
AMERICAN FICTION
Ben LeClair, Nikos Karamigios, Cord Jefferson and Jermaine Johnson, Producers
ANATOMY OF A FALL
Marie-Ange Luciani and David Thion, Producers
BARBIE
David Heyman, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Robbie Brenner, Producers
THE HOLDOVERS
Mark Johnson, Producer
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON
Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Martin Scorsese and Daniel Lupi, Producers
MAESTRO
Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Fred Berner, Amy Durning and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers
OPPENHEIMER
Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan, Producers
PAST LIVES
David Hinojosa, Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, Producers
POOR THINGS
Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, Producers
THE ZONE OF INTEREST
James Wilson, Producer
Josh & Odini: Oppenheimer
Res Ipsa Aspen: Past Lives
Res Ipsa NYC: Barbie
Res Ipsa Paris Saint-Germain: Barbie
Res Ipsa Paris Le Marais: Oppenheimer
Cole: Zone of Interest