UPDATED: Oscar fans in Dallas “would like to thank the Academy”

by Associated Press

Fans posed with the golden statue Monday.

Fans of the Oscars flocked to the Angelika in Dallas to hold the coveted gold statue, if only for a few minutes. The Oscar was on a road trip around the country before the Sunday awards night show.

Check out some highlights with Oscar:

AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences says the golden statuette will visit at least 10 cities as part of its first national tour.

Original story:

Oscar is going on a road trip.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences says one of the golden statuettes that are handed out at the Academy Awards will visit at least 10 cities as part of Oscar's first national tour.

Beginning Monday in New York City, the golden guy's journey will be chronicled online by Oscar Roadtrip reporters Ben Gleib and Angie Greenup on OscarRoadtrip.com, @OscarRoadtrip, and Facebook.com/TheAcademy. Fans can follow the Oscar statue's progress and even make suggestions for stops along the way.

The statuette will make appearances in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Mo., Houston, Dallas, and Phoenix before arriving in Hollywood for the Academy Awards on February 24. Fans in those cities will have a chance to pose for photos with the Oscar trophy.

Tour dates are:

February 4: New York
February 6: Philadelphia
February 7: Washington, D.C.
February 8: Baltimore
February 11: Chicago
February 13: St. Louis
February 14: Kansas City
February 17: Houston
February 18: Dallas
February 21: Phoenix
February 24: Hollywood

UPDATE: The statue will visit Dallas' Angelika Film Center at Mockingbird Station on Monday, February 18 at 3 p.m. According to the website, you can get your picture with Oscar himself and even give an acceptance speech. (A fake one, of course.)