Academy Award maker plans layoffs in Chicago

An Oscar statue is pulled from the final plating process that coats the statue with 24-karat gold at R.S. Owens & Co., in Chicago on Jan. 26, 2009. / AP/M. Spencer Green

The Chicago company that makes the familiar gold-plated Oscar statuettes is laying off almost 100 employees as it's bought by a Canadian firm, but some workers could be rehired.

R.S. Owens & Co. Inc. said this week in a notice to the Illinois Department of Commerce that it will lay off 95 workers on Dec. 17, when it is purchased by St. Regis Crystal of Canada. The business-data website Hoovers says R.S. Owens has about 250 employees.

R.S. Owens President Scott Siegel said many employees have applied to work for the new company but he isn't sure how many will be hired.

The Oscar and Emmy statues will still be made in Chicago.

R.S. Owens has been manufacturing Oscar statues for about 30 years.

The 85th Academy Awards will take place on Feb. 24, 2013. Nominations will be announced on Jan. 10.