The Gig Young Oscar for They Shoot Horses Don't They? Will Reunite with His Daughter Jennifer Young

Nov. 12, 2010 - PRLog -- Beverly Hills -   Singer/bestselling author and producer Jennifer Young is delighted to announce that her father's Oscar for his role as Best Supporting Actor in the 1969 film They Shoot Horses Don't They? will finally be bequeathed to her as per signed agreements between The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences' Executive Director Bruce Davis, CAA's Marty Baum (Gig Young's agent recently deceased) and herself.  In 1996 Miss Young requested from Marty Baum that her father's Oscar should rightly be in her possession since she is Gig Young's only child. Jennifer Young is the only child between Gig Young and his fourth wife famed Beverly Hills original celebrity Realtor to the Stars Elaine Young. Baum who obtained possession of the Gig Young Oscar after Young's suicide in 1978 claims he has had a right to possess and display the Oscar in his office. Miss Young then approached the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, the actual owner of all Oscars since the 1950's, and requested that they intervene. However the Academy did not demand it's return from Baum. Disappointed, Jennifer Young turned to famed criminal & civil lawyer Melvin Belli to take legal action. At that time Jennifer Young brought her dilemma to the media and appeared on national TV and Print outlets including the Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Inside Edition, Entertainment Tonight, People Magazine, and a cover story in The Los Angeles Times. "Oscargate" was a word used by many reporters about this unique Oscar story.

In January of 1997, the case was settled by all parties and Jennifer Young agreed to receive her father's Oscar at the time of Marty Baum's death. Thereafter, all parties agreed in writing to allow Jennifer Young to take possession of her father's Oscar at the time of death of Marty Baum. Marty Baum died this week on Friday November 5th. At that time the Oscar was still on display in a locked acrylic pedestal in Marty Baum's office at CAA. The excerpt from the exact wording in the agreement by Marty Baum and the Academy and Jennifer Young states,  "...This confirms...pursuant to Martin Baum's prior formal bequeath of the aforementioned Oscar to the Academy, upon his death the Academy has no objection to providing physical possession of the Oscar to Ms. Jennifer Young for a designated period of forty-eight (48) weeks per year for the duration of her lifetime."

Jennifer Young began the development to produce a documentary on her iconoclast award winning father Gig Young. Over the last few years, photography and production commenced and is now in post. She is currently looking for distribution. Many stars and peers of Gig Young have been recorded including a segment taped by Marty Baum himself last year. (see teaser footage of documentary in My Space link below) Jennifer Young has always been extremely grateful to Marty Baum for his agreement to bequeath her father's Oscar to her upon his death. In fact Jennifer and Baum became friends after their reunion meetings during the filming of the documentary.
Young states,

" Marty was even starting to advise me with my career.  I thought that was so kind of him to offer his help. We very much enjoyed each others company. This Oscar is something I have been waiting for, nearly 2 decades.  The fact that I will receive the Oscar during this time, it is actually my age flipped and it was the year I was born, really makes me feel that this is coming full circle.. and it also feels like it was my Daddy's wish for me to have his Oscar at this time. Marty said to me in our second meeting that I was at my fathers exact age when he walked through his doors and signed him on the spot! Marty and I got along very well. I was able to see him several times before he passed away. During the time I filmed Marty for my Daddy's Documentary called "Between A Father and His Daughter", he had wonderful stories to tell and stated on camera that the Oscar would be going to me as per the agreement between all 3 of us including the Academy. I cried last night for the loss of Marty and how blessed I am that I finally made peace with him getting up the courage to meet with him after all this time.  The last time I saw Marty at CAA  we were leaving and held hands. To me it seemed it was his way of saying he was so glad that I had finally come forward to see him. Having this Oscar means so much to me. I know I did not win it but the day Marty Baum let me hold my daddy's Oscar, I felt just as much joy as my Daddy did the day he accepted it on stage. Holding it made me feel that I had finally been reunited with a wonderful part of my father."

While waiting patiently for her father's Oscar to be bequeathed to her by Baum's representatives, Jennifer Young is finishing up the Gig Young documentary, writing a new book and of course writing and singing her music.


Photo: Jennifer Young Collection

Jennifer Young, holding her dad's Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Marty Baum's CAA Office 6/25/2009

Background:
Jennifer Young  Official Fan Page   http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/The-Jennifer-Yo...
Jennifer Young Latest Music          http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hollywood-lights/id37816...
Jennifer Young MySpace               http://www.myspace.com/funandtalentedmusic
Jennifer Young's new Music Video "Hollywood Lights"(including behind the scenes footage)    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtNH4Ch_QXI





Contact:  Edward Lozzi, Edward Lozzi & Associates Public Relations  310-922-1200  epl@lozzipr.com


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