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February 28, 2024

The 96th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood (check your local listings for broadcast times). Over the course of our 176-year history Hammacher Schlemmer and its unique products have been honored to play a variety of roles in motion pictures, as well as television, music, and even the theater.

One of our products helped a movie bad guy carry out his nefarious schemes(1) while another was used as a prop in a legendary director’s spy film(2). On another occasion our company namesakes were cast as supporting characters—played by a couple of body builders—in a comedy about a beer drinking competition.(3) And our New York store was once the setting for a scene in a Tom Hanks film.(4)

While we aren’t an official member of the Academy (our invitation to the awards show seems to have been misplaced again) we took the liberty to create an equally prestigious Award to honor five Oscar-themed items beloved by the critics—our discerning customers. So, without further ado, the “Hammie” goes to… 

1. Best Visual Effects: The Generation Three Illumiglobe.

This desktop lamp provides ambient illumination using a galaxy of colored lights rather than CGI. Its 48 white and colored LEDs create a captivating pattern that takes you on a journey to an alternate dimension not unlike watching your favorite science fiction movie franchise. When not lit, its polished surface provides mysterious reflection.

2. Best in a Supporting Role: The All Day Portable Gel Seat.

Ideal for hardcore movie buffs, this gel seat cushion helps you sit comfortably through not only the entire Oscars broadcast, but also binge watching all the nominated pictures. It’s filled with a soft visco-elastic gel and supportive memory foam that disperses your weight to alleviate pressure points. It also folds for easy carrying to your local art movie house’s latest foreign film festival.

  3. Best in a Leading Roll: The Foldaway Rolling Kitchen Island.

That is not a typo. This mobile kitchen island will be the star of your next watch party as it rolls to and fro to provide additional prep and serving space. It sets up without tools and has a 2" wood countertop that supports up to 100 lbs. and metal shelves that handle up to 50 lbs. each. Best of all, it arrives fully assembled and ready to roll.

4. Best Makeup: The Brighter Foldaway Vanity Mirror.

For those who must serve as their own makeup artist, this exclusive vanity mirror shines plenty of flattering light to help ensure your star turn. Its 54 bright white LEDs shine 25% brighter than others of its kind and its 12X magnification lets you zoom in for extreme close ups. It also folds to about the size of a portable DVD player, allowing it to tag along for touch ups anywhere.

5. Best Picture: The Best Portable DVD Player.

Don’t shortchange your viewing experience by watching an award-winning movie on a sub-par screen. This portable DVD player was rated The Best by the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute for its 15 1/2" screen that displayed crystal clear video and its full, clear audio. Also ranked as the easiest unit to use, it has clearly labeled buttons, an intuitive menu and runs for up to six hours on a full charge, long enough to watch the full Oscars award broadcast and the “other” Best Picture winner in a single road trip.

As the curtain draws on our Oscar-themed showcase, we hope these Hammie-winning products will enhance your cinematic experience. Here’s to a star-studded celebration! 

(1). In the 1967 suspense thriller Wait Until Dark, the villain Roat, played by Alan Arkin, uses our cellophane gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints. (“Highly recommended. Disposable. You buy them in enormous rolls from Hammacher Schlemmer.”)
(2) Director Alfred Hitchcock received a set of steak knives from Hammacher Schlemmer which were used as props in his 1964 movie Torn Curtain.
(3) In the 2006 movie Beerfest, two of the supporting characters are named Hammacher (Ralf Möller) and Schlemmer (Günter Schlierkamp).
(4) In the 1990 movie Joe Versus The Volcano, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, the title character goes on a shopping spree in our store.