Martha Raye Receives the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: 1969 Oscars

Bob Hope presents the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Martha Raye at the 41st Academy Awards.
See more 1969 Oscar highlights: • 1969 Oscars
Become an Oscar Insider: www.oscars.org/insider/
Check out our Academy Originals: / academyoriginals
ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards-in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners-the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

[@brucemonterosso2493]

Get off yer butts and give this truly humble American legend, and hero, the STANDING O she so richly deserved!!!! THANK YOU, MARTHA!!!!!! 👏🇺🇸👏💜🇺🇸👏💜🇺🇸👏💜🇺🇸👏💜

[@madman37115]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for finally sharing this beautiful moment. The thousands of men and women that Col. Maggie entertained from World War II to Vietnam will enjoy seeing this clip.

[@MrImiller07]

In addition to her contributions in entertaining the American servicemen overseas, Martha Raye was an extremely gifted and talented singer and comedienne, as evidenced by her performance opposite Chaplin in Monsieur Verdoux and in the film Billy Rose's Jumbo. Richly deserved.

[@markpapa6639]

From WW2 to Vietnam Martha Raye has been there. The first woman to receive it and the American MEDAL OF FREEDOM to top it all off. God bless you Maggie !!!!!!

[@Rikki0]

We still love you, Colonel Maggie. You brought us a light in the utter darkness that we were in and you, as well as Bob Hope and Ann Margret, let us know that we would never be abandoned as long as you lived. We are jealous of the angels who now enjoy your company. True love, Sweetheart. 5th Marines 2/1 An Hoa River Basin Quang Nam Province South Vietnam '69-71.

[@polyprinz]

She such a fantastic person, actress, and humanitarian!!

[@vkorchnoifan]

I remember Martha Raye. I hope to see her in the afterlife.

[@martymartin6191]

look at that wonderful woman!!!! She is a treasure!!!!

[@afr43210]

Terrible that they didn't give her a standing ovation.

[@MrBilliefan]

And she surely deserved it.

[@MovieJon]

Too many anti-Vietnam folks in the audience who allowed their feelings about that to cloud how much Ms. Raye did for the MEN, all men from WWII to Korea and beyond, regardless of the situation that brought them to the front of war. They should have been ashamed, one and all.

[@mildredhighcock7333]

Americans were a little more cool and less kiss ass than they are now when every thing everyone does is applauded

[@gregXxo]

@@mildredhighcock7333 it's called respect

[@vince065us]

The quality of the color during this time period is excellent.

[@michaeljayklein500]

Martha was a true American hero.

[@alanwitton5039]

A well deserved award

[@grasshopper3817]

With all she's done in the humanitarian field and the heartfelt appreciation she gave, I expected to see a standing ovation. Hollywood was becoming so callus and corrupt.

[@MrBaddel77]

this was very quickly.thanks for uploading

[@claudiocorleone7856]

Even with war that world was a much better place than today.

[@ritathomas3926]

God Bless Col. Maggie Rest in Peace, Martha Raye

[@colleenkennedy]

An American Hero.

[@kevinmcguire5696]

Who's the woman in the audience half-way up in the center whose arms are crossed and not applauding? cow.

[@freddyfreddy5853]

I’m thinking $20.00 bill.

[@markr5714]

it was 1969 and Hollywood was being political and anti-war....it is not that they didn't want to stand up, they couldn't because of their left wing base....we who are true Americans know that she was a hero and we give her a standing ovation in our hearts...

[@topogigio2879]

If they were that left wing, they wouldn't have given John Wayne the best actor award the following year. And if you watch the Oscars over those first few decades, people almost never got standing ovations. It just wasn't done. Now they stand up for costume designers.

[@bryanismyname7583]

@@topogigio2879 : And who else but Barbra Streisand, no conservative, handed it to him with a kiss. Back then, even if you disagreed politically you could set that aside and still talk to someone with respect. But war is a tough issue, especially Vietnam.

[@paulinayexannihtorres1709]

John Barry is Not Coming To Oscar From Best Score From On Her Majesty's Secret Service

[@BellaFirenze]

Too much Bob Hope, too little Martha Raye.