Academy President Robert Rheme, 73rd Academy Awards season.

The thrill of walking down the red carpet on Oscar Night won't be felt by the stars in Hollywood alone; thousands of Americans in 37 cities across the country encountered Oscar's unique brand of magic at Oscar Night America fundraising galas, each one sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

From Miami to Boston, Seattle to Honolulu, Oscar Night America parties attempt to recreate the glamour and excitement of the Academy Awards ceremony, complete with limousine rides, walks down red carpets, celebrities, paparazzi and press interviews of arriving guests. Last year, 33 Oscar Night America parties raised over $1.8 million for local charities. All money raised stays in each community; none of it goes to the Academy.

The 37 cities hosting Oscar Night America parties in 2001 are Augusta, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Louisville, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, Tucson and Washington, D.C. All of the parties will feature a live broadcast of the 73rd Academy Awards Presentation, which is being televised by the ABC Television Network.

"Oscar Night has been America's party night for years," said Ric Robertson, executive administrator of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Among the thousands of parties every Oscar Night are hundreds of charity fundraisers. "We developed Oscar Night America as a way for at least some of those events to benefit by virtue of a relationship with the big show out here in Los Angeles. Receiving official Oscar Night America status seems to make those parties a bit more special."

The Academy provides official Oscar Night America parties with the same printed Academy Awards show programs as those handed out at the ceremonies in Los Angeles. The Academy also provides copies of the 73rd Academy Awards poster designed by graphic designer Alex Swart. Official parties are also permitted to use the image of the Academy's copyrighted Oscar statuette on invitations and other material.

Most of the parties are black-tie affairs, though some are less formal, with varied and distinctive touches. Some events require partygoers to dress up as famous couples, and many feature photographers or "paparazzi" to shoot the arrivals.

Only one charity party in a given city may participate in Oscar Night America. Events are completely produced by local non-profit organizations, with the active participation of the local ABC-TV affiliate station. Among the charities presenting parties this year are the Arthritis Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Volunteers of America, Variety Club, Minnesota AIDS Project, Detroit Institute of the Arts, Denver Film Society and other local arts foundations and film festivals.

Oscar Night America began in 1994 with parties in two cities, Minneapolis and San Francisco. Concept Marketing Development of Camarillo, California, will assist the Academy in coordination of the program for the seventh year.