Throughout the city, the country and the world, there were viewing parties for the Academy Awards Sunday night.
But only one had the distinction of being held in an Iconic Beaux-Arts building that dates back to 1912 in downtown Los Angeles—the L.A. Athletic Club at 7th and Olive.
It’s where Alta Global Media held its second annual Oscar bash for a lively black-tie crowd of about 100 guests, one of the night’s exclusive viewing parties.
The club’s Victory Ballroom was filled by the time the show started at 4 p.m. PT, and guests had a great view of the ceremonies unfolding at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on a big screen set up in the center of the room, as well as two smaller side monitors.
Before the show, as the red carpet showcased gorgeous gowns worn by the likes of Halle Berry and Demi Moore, Alta Media Global Founding Partner Steven Adams made his way through the room, greeting partygoers. The company’s marketing chief Theo Dumont was also making the rounds.
Many of decked-out attendees had made their way to the floor above for a photo booth run by Getty photog Michael Bezjian.
Oscar host Conan O’Brien’s opening bit spoofing The Substance was a big hit with the crowd and everyone seemed thrilled by the wins for supporting actor Kieran Culkin and supporting actress Zoe Saldana, both of whom were widely favored to take home their respective trophies.
But when Mikey Madison was announced as the winner of best actress over Demi Moore, an audible gasp was heard throughout the ballroom.
Although he later got criticism and was the butt of jokes for the length of his speech, the room paid rapt attention to The Brutalist’s Adrien Brody as he stood at the podium holding his trophy for best actor. It was Brody’s second leading man Oscar, after his statuette for The Pianist and he joins an exclusive club that includes Al Pacino, Tom Hanks and Anthony Hopkins as the few who have ever had these double honors.
And of course the capper of the evening was when Anora took the prize as best picture, sweeping the night with a total of five Academy Awards.
