Ripleys Believe It or Not

Ripley's Hosts 8th Annual Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Cheap Chic Weddings Launches
Eighth Annual Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest

Grand Prize Winner To Be Announced Live At Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square In June

Can you use toilet paper to make a beautiful wedding dress? If you can, you just might win $2012!

The Eighth Annual Cheap Chic Weddings “Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest” is sponsored by Charmin. The contest begins April 18, 2012 and winners will be announced at an event hosted by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Odditorium on June 27, 2012. Cheap Chic Weddings also welcomes new sponsor Life In Mobile, Inc. to this year’s contest.

The Grand Prize winner will receive $2012, the second place winner will receive $1000 and the third place winner will receive $500.

Here’s How to Enter:

First: Plan your design.

Second: Enlist a friend’s help (optional)

Third: Grab some Charmin Toilet Paper, Tape and/or Glue and/or Needle and Thread (that’s all you can use)!

Fourth: Make the dress on your model or mannequin and take some digital photos (front, back and side). Video clips are welcome but not necessary.

All photos and video are to be submitted to Cheap Chic Weddings at TPdresscontest@gmail.com by June 1, 2012 at 11:00 PM EST. There is no entry fee. The Judging Panel at Cheap Chic Weddings will judge the digital photo entries.

“Each year, the contest gets better and better. We are all excited to see the fantastic entries!” said Laura Gawne of Cheap Chic Weddings.

Official contest rules along with lots of other wedding cost saving tips and information can be found at www.Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com.

FREE Admission at Ripley's Times Square

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Celebrates Moms’ Sweet Side
With Unbelievable Cupcake Decorating…“Ripley’s Style”

Moms Receive Free Admission on Mother’s Day!

Vanilla cupcakes topped with chocolate covered ants and fruit loops…chocolate cupcakes sprinkled with jalapenos and bacon bits…all this and more is available for moms and kids as a special Mother’s Day treat at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Time Square. And on Sunday, May 13, 2012, kids who bring their mothers to Ripley’s Times Square will find free admission for mom at this the one-of-a-kind attraction.

During their journey through 18,000 square feet of astonishing artifacts, exclusive oddities and interactive exhibits, families are invited to stop at the Odditorium’s theatre room where Ripley’s Times Square has partnered with Sonii Cakes and Catering to create the ultimate cupcake decorating workshop. From12:00pm to 5:00pm, moms and kids will have the opportunity to create unbelievable sweet creations with over-sized cupcakes, colorful frosting and a variety of odd and unusual toppings from chocolate covered insects and Pop Rocks to pineapples and pretzels.

“Every mom deserves a sweet treat on Mother’s Day,” says Michael Hirsch, President/General Manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. “But as with everything found here at Ripley’s, there is always an unexpected twist. Kids are going to love using their imagination to create a special and outrageous cupcake for mom and will get an even bigger kick from the look on her face when she tastes it.”

*In order to redeem free admission, all mothers must be accompanied by at least one paid full-price child admission. Cupcake decorating available while supplies last.

Robert Ripley Nominated

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Robert Ripley Nominated for Sideshow Hall of Fame

The legendary Robert Ripley, among the first to bring the strange and unusual to the masses with his odditoriums and his cartoon panel “Believe It or Not!,” has been nominated for Coney Island’s prestigious Sideshow Hall of Fame.
Voting will take place on Friday, April 13, during the first night of the 10-day Congress of Curious Peoples, sponsored by Coney Island USA.

Ripley, who lived and worked in New York City from the time he was 23, created his first Believe It or Not! cartoon for the New York Globe in 1918, published his first Believe It or Not! book in 1929, opened the city’s first Believe It or Not! museum in 1939 and operated the Odditorium at the New York World’s Fair in 1940.

He also starred in his own radio show and later his own television show – being a pioneer in both mediums - all while living in New York.

Today, the country’s largest Believe It or Not! Odditorum operates in New York City’s Times Square. “We are proudly carrying on the Ripley tradition on a daily basis,” said Michael Hirsch, president/general manager of the New York Odditorium. “Ripley would be proud of what we are doing, and we are working hard to get him into the Hall of Fame, he certainly deserves it.”

The opening night event, being sponsored by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! will feature a show by the Lizardman, a popular entertainer at Ripley’s odditoriums worldwide. His show will be followed by nominating speeches, followed by voting.
Ripley’s is taking no chances this year and is having its own voting process, beginning on April 1 on the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Facebook pages. For 13 days, fans can vote for Ripley and at the same time become eligible for Believe It or Not! prize packages. Voting results will then be presented to the judges on April 13 in an attempt to persuade them of Ripley’s popularity.

The Hall of Fame ceremonies will take place in the Freak Bar of Coney Island USA, located at
1208 Surf Avenue in Brooklyn. (718) 372-5159.

Ripley's Times Square Open Late DAILY!

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0100

RIPLEY’S TIMES SQUARE OPEN LATE EVERY DAY!

Great Spring Break Destination For Whole Family

Beginning March 26, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square returns to staying open until 1:00 a.m. seven days a week, with the last ticket being sold at midnight. With doors opening every day at 9:00 a.m., Ripley’s Times Square is there to satisfy your craving to rediscover wonder and experience the world’s most unusual curiosities from early morning to late night!

During the first two weeks in April, Ripley’s Sideshow Wonders, led by host Albert Cadabra, will be performing live every day from 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in front of the museum under the marquee. Performances will occur every half hour and are free – NOTE: all performance times are subject to change without notice.

To save 20 percent on tickets AND skip the line, BUY TICKETS online.

Dietbet.com Last Supper at Ripleys Times Square

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0100

PROFESSIONAL EATERS DEVOUR GIANT PIZZAS, THEN GO ON DIET

“Last Supper” Held at Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square on March 9, 2012

DietBet.com, an online social dieting game that gives players the opportunity to compete to lose weight, announced several members of All Pro Eating will pull a dietary 180 and participate in a dietbet. This out-of-ordinary weight-loss challenge kicks-off with a “last supper” competitive eating contest of gigantic New York style pizza slices followed immediately by a weigh-in at the perfect location for such an event, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Odditorium, located at 234 West 42nd Street, on Friday, March 9 at 11:30 am.

The public is invited to cheer on the eaters as they bulk up before embarking on their four-week weight loss competition. Hopefully the competitors - and the scales - can handle getting a little cheese grease and tomato sauce on them from the 32" Koronet pizzas. The eating contest will be immediately followed by the official weigh-in to kick off the dietbet.

Players who reach their goal of dropping four percent of their starting weight in four weeks will split a $1,000 pot. Trained to do nothing but consume everything in front of them as quickly as possible, these men-turned-eating-machines will think twice before competing over the next month in wing-offs, hot dog races, taco triathlons, and milkshake marathons.

Members of All Pro Eating participating in the competition include:

•    Will “The Champ” Millender – Brooklyn resident; four time and current New York Stinky Cheese Eating Champion; featured on Discovery Channel, MTV, and National Geographic

•    Joel "The Cannon" Podelsky – from Laurence Harbor, NJ, once ate a pumpkin pie in 70 seconds; is the current National Bun & Cheese Eating Champion; was featured on “America’s Got Talent”

•    Mike “Sisco-Kid” Sisco – hails from Brooklyn; known as the Velvet Voice of Competitive Eating

•    Eric "Silo" Dahl – a college junior from Delano, MN, is the #1 Ranked All Pro Eating and #1 Ranked Collegiate Competitive Eater; is the World Hands-Free Pumpkin Pie Eating Champion and National Pulled Pork Eating Champion

•    Todd “The Hungry Genius” Greenwald – from Madison, Wisconsin is the All Pro Eating Promotions partner/chairman

•    Jammin' Joseph Larue – hails from Kentucky and is the National Food Court Eating Champion

The Champ, The Cannon, and Sisco-Kid will be competing live at Ripley's Odditorium on 42nd Street, while the others will be weighing in remotely. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square’s own Greg Dubin, known as the “Great Dubini” will emcee the fattening festivities.

“Competitive eaters going on diets, giant slices of pizza – you know we’re excited to host DietBet’s event,” said Michael Hirsch, president/general manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. “At Ripley’s, we celebrate the unexpected and can’t wait to watch this group of pro-eaters in their last meal before starting such an unbelievable feat.”

DietBet injects fun, competition, and social collaboration into Americans’ seemingly never-ending quest to shed extra weight. Players use the DietBet message boards to offer both encouragement and trash talk. Getting into the spirit, Will “The Champ” Millender recently shipped a case of Twinkies to Todd “The Hungry Genius” Greenwald.

"I've been in all kinds of eating competitions and this is one of the most unusual," said Jammin' Joseph Larue. "Getting professional eaters to lose weight ... it's like asking fish to walk or librarians to scream."

“We relish the opportunity to watch these expert eaters tackle a different kind of food-related competition. We're curious to see what they do to fill the time. Maybe Joel “The Cannon” will get into Words With Friends.” said Jamie Rosen, DietBet’s founder. “Traditionally, ‘diet’ has been viewed as a four-letter word and we’re proving that with DietBet, weight-loss can actually be fun.”

FREE Sword Swallowing Shows

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Steel of a Deal: Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Holds Free
Sword Swallowing Shows on Saturday, February 25

Ripley’s Celebrates the Art of Sword Swallowing on World Sword Swallower’s Day 2012

More than 20 sword swallowers will be “dropping swords” at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums worldwide at 2:25 p.m. on February 25, in celebration of the 6th annual World Sword Swallower’s Day.

In excess of 125 feet of solid steel is set to go down the hatch - hopefully without a scratch. In New York City, Keith Nelson will headline a free sword swallowing show outside Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Odditorium, located at 234 West 42nd Street. The show will start at 1:30 p.m. local time and culminate with an official “swallow” at 2:25:12 p.m. to coincide with the 2/25/12 date.

World Sword Swallower’s Day was founded by the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) and is co-sponsored by Ripley's Believe It or Not!

“We established World Sword Swallower’s Day to honor this ancient art and recognize the few people in the world who can do this," explains Dan Meyer, a sword swallower whose amazing feats have been chronicled by Ripley’s Believe It or Not!. “We also raise awareness of the contributions sword swallowers have made to the fields of medicine and science and raise money for esophageal cancer research.”

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! has a long history of highlighting the death-defying achievements of sword swallowers.
“Sword swallowers were a big part of the very first Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933,” said Tim O’Brien, VP of Communications for Ripley Entertainment Inc. “The three performers, two of whom were women, mesmerized the huge crowds. Ripley’s has been home to sword swallowers around the world ever since.”

BeLOVE Your Valentine

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Times Square Offers Couples Romance This Valentine’s Day: BeLOVE It or Not!

Buy One, Get One Free Savings Sealed With a Kiss

This Valentine’s Day, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square is inviting couples to skip the cliché dinner dates and plan an out-of-the-ordinary rendezvous filled with curiosity, amazement and amour. Couples willing to prove their love (or extreme like) with a kiss will receive special “buy one, get one free” ticket pricing.

Inside the Odditorium, guests will come face-to-face with the world’s most unbelievable oddities and artifacts including a collection of real human shrunken heads, a six-legged cow and an eight foot Transformer made completely of recycled car parts. Couples can test their true compatibility with the interactive “Match Maker” exhibit; cuddle close while exploring the chilling “Torture Chamber” room; and join forces to solve Ripley’s Impossible LaseRace.

Ripley’s BeLOVE It or Not! “buy one, get one free” ticket offer is available on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 only. To redeem this special savings, couples are required to kiss at the admission desk. Regular adult admission is $29.95. Discount can not be combined with any other offer.

Calling All JEDI WARRIORS:

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

CALLING ALL JEDI WARRIORS: Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Brings “The Force”
to Times Square with Star Wars Extreme Sleepover - February 10

Meet and Greet with Star Wars Characters, Yoda Mask Making, Wookie Cookie Decorating and Movie Tickets to Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace in 3D Included

As Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace returns to theatres in 3D this February, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square is offering fans the ultimate “galactic” overnight experience with Ripley’s Times Square’s Star Wars Extreme Sleepover. Taking place on February 10, 2012, the epic space series themed sleepover will include a character meet and greet, Ripley’s Impossible LaseRace™, Yoda mask making, Wookie cookie decorating and more.

Upon arrival, guests will be greeted by Star Wars costumed characters such as Jedi Warriors and Stormtroopers before exploring 18,000 square feet of astonishing artifacts, exclusive oddities and exciting interactive exhibits. Curiosities from around the globe include the world’s largest display of shrunken heads, an eight-foot tall Transformer statue made completely of used car parts and Ripley’s infamous “Black Hole” experience. During the evening guests will participate in a variety of Star Wars themed activities, games and movie next door.

“We are delighted to host our first Star Wars themed sleepover that will help benefit the local charity Pupperty Arts... it was a natural fit to put an out-of-this-galaxy twist on our out-of-the-ordinary overnight experience,” said Michael Hirsch, the Odditorium’s President/General Manager. “Fans of the movie are also encouraged to come dressed as their favorite Star Wars character.”

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Star Wars Sleepover includes admission to Ripley’s Odditorium; movie tickets to Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace in 3D; access to Ripley’s Impossible LaseRace™; Yoda mask making, Wookie cookie decorating and puppet making with Puppetry Arts; meet and greet with Star Wars characters from the 501st Legion’s Empire City Garrison and the Rebel Legion’s Echo Base; pizza dinner, snacks and breakfast at Applebee’s; Ripley’s scavenger hunt; gift bag; and games and prizes awarded throughout the night. All guests need to bring is a sleeping bag, pillow, pajamas, flashlight, and their curiosity.

Admission to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Star Wars Sleepover is $145 per person. Available on Friday, February 10, 2012, the Star Wars Sleepover begins at 7pm, ends at 8am the next morning and is suitable for children ages 6 and up. One adult (over age 21) is required for every four children attending.

Call our helpful Group Services team at 212-398-3133 for more details and to RESERVE YOUR SPACE!

*A portion of the proceeds will be given to Puppetry Arts, a Brooklyn based non-profit organization that brings visual and performance arts to youth and families in New York City.

Go to our Extreme Sleepover page for additional information.

A&E - NEW Series Shipping Wars

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square’s 4,000 Pound Steel Horse
Makes Its Television Debut in the Premiere of A&E’s New Real-Life Series
“Shipping Wars”

Episode Airs Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 9:00pm EST

For those who’ve ever stepped foot inside the lobby of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square, the 22-foot, 4,000 lb Steel Horse constructed out of stainless steal car bumpers made an impressive welcome. One of many massive oddities inside Ripley’s Times Square’s Odditorium, one must wonder – how does Ripley’s transport these exhibits to and from their attractions?

Master of “out-of-the-ordinary,” it comes with no surprise that when Ripley’s Times Square needed to ship its larger-than-life Steel Horse to Orlando, this transport would call upon heavy-duty movers that tackle the oversized, truly bizarre packages that traditional carriers won’t touch.

On Tuesday, January 10th, Ripley’s fans can catch a glimpse of what it takes to complete this unbelievable delivery on “Shipping Wars,” the new original real-life series on A&E, as independent shippers compete to win the job of shipping Ripley’s Steel horse and the high-stake race that unfolds trying to get the exhibit to Florida on time.

Each episode of “Shipping Wars” dives into the cutthroat world of these heavy-duty movers as they battle for the chance to transport the unshippable. The 10-episode half-hour series begins with back-to-back episodes Tuesday, January 10 at 9PM and 9:30PM ET/PT. See the preview.

Unbelievable Holiday Photo Contest

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Announces
Grand Prize Winners of Unbelievable Holiday Photo Contest

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square named the three grand prize winners of its Unbelievable Holiday Photo contest chosen by a panel of Ripley’s Times Square judges from the top 10 finalists based on humor, originality and holiday spirit. Receiving top votes from Facebook fans the winners are: Tiffany Bradley from Knoxville, TN, “Reindeer Kitty;” Melissa Salsgiver from Marysville, PA, “The Christmas Bandit;” and Shannon James from Henryville, PA, “Naughty or Nice?”

As the grand prize winners, Tiffany, Melissa and Shannon will receive the “Ultimate Times Square” package including two tickets to Ripley’s Times Square Odditorium, $50 gift card to Applebee’s, a Ripley’s prize pack with oddities and gifts from Ripley’s Odd Shop and two tickets on CitySights NY’s Mini-All Around Town double-decker tour bus offering unlimited hop-on, hop-off tours on all CitySights NY’s routes including Uptown, Downtown, Night and Brooklyn tours for 48 hours.

THE 3 GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

SEE THE TOP 10 FINALISTS

Ripleys NYC Reverse Santa Photos

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Reverse Santa Returns to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square This Holiday Season

“Ripley’s Style” Holiday Photos Where Santa Sits On YOUR Lap

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square’s “Reverse Santa” returns this holiday season to put an unconventional twist on the customary “sitting on Santa’s lap” family portrait. Ripley’s own “Reverse Santa” will sit on visitor’s laps this December creating an out-of-the-ordinary holiday family photo.

“Reverse Santa” photos will be available each Saturday from 12pm to 7pm, December 3 through December 24, as well as December 26 through 29 from 12pm to 7pm. Guests to the Odditorium will have the opportunity to take a variety of fun holiday shots with “Reverse Santa.” Individual prints, key chains and magnets can be purchased on site at Ripley’s Times Square, as well as a CD to create personalized holiday cards or share online with friends.

“Reverse Santa photos were a huge hit last holiday season, we couldn’t wait to offer them again this year,” said Michael Hirsch, President/General Manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. “At Ripley’s Time Square, we love surprising our guests with the unexpected and the look on their faces when Santa sits on their lap…it’s priceless.” Check out Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square's Reverse Santa Photos mentioned in The New York Daily News and Mommy Poppins.

BUY TICKETS online now and save 20% - plus SKIP THE LINE at Ripley's Times Square!

Can't make it to New York City this month? Then dust off your outrageous, funny and even embarrassing holiday and Santa photos and enter our Unbelievable Holiday Photo Contest for a chance to win an ultimate Times Square experience! Three grand prize winners will receive the “Ultimate Times Square” package including two tickets to Ripley’s Times Square Odditorium, $50 gift card to Applebee’s, a Ripley’s prize pack with oddities and gifts from Ripley’s Odd Shop and two tickets on CitySights NY’s routes including Uptown, Downtown, Night and Brooklyn tours for 48 hours! What are you waiting for? Enter Now!

Ripleys NYC Gimme Five Food Drive

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! To Hold
“Gimme Five” Food Drive to Fight Hunger in New York City

Donate 5 cans of food and get a ticket to Ripley’s Times Square Odditorium for only $5 from November 6-10

Ripley's Believe It or Not! is launching a campaign to combat hunger in all the cities where it has Believe It or Not! Odditoriums. Ripley’s Gimme Five Food Drive will take place from Sunday, November 6 through Thursday, November 10.

Here’s how it works: guests who bring a donation of five non-perishable food items can get a ticket to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Odditorium for just $5 (regular adult ticket price is $29.95). All the food collected will go to City Harvest.

“We’re in the business of ‘unbelievable’, and the number of families needing help putting food on the table is truly unbelievable,” said Jim Pattison Jr., President of Ripley Entertainment Inc. “That’s why we started this national effort to help food banks across the country.”

Facts on hunger in New York City:

•    Each week City Harvest helps feed more than 300,000 hungry men, women and children.

•    This year City Harvest will distribute more than 30 million pounds of food.

•    Many food bank clients say their children have to skip meals because there is not enough money for food.

Suggested donations include juice, soup, beans, tuna, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, pasta, tomato sauce and baby food.

Ripley’s “Gimme Five” promotion may not be combined with any other offers.
One discount ticket available for every 5 non-perishable food items donated.

Ripleys NYC Named TOP FIVE Attraction

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0100

KidsTravelGuides.com Names Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square
TOP FIVE™ Attraction in Times Square

KidsTravelGuides.com, the official website of the popular ABC City Guides for Kids™ named Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square a TOP FIVE™ attraction in New York City’s Times Square.

KidsTravelGuides.com TOP FIVE section features the best family friendly sights, attractions, activities, restaurants and hotels in a specific destination.

Known for its collection of more than 500 astonishing artifacts and exclusive oddities, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square takes visitors on an interactive journey through featured exhibits such as an eight-foot tall Transformer statue made completely of used car parts, a set of ancient elephant armor, New York City’s only LaseRace and “Black Hole Experience,” and much more! With more than 18,000 square feet of galleries, artifacts and fun, it is no surprise Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Times Square was acknowledged by KidsTravelGuides.com as New York City's must-see attraction.

Buy Tickets online now and save 20% -plus SKIP THE LINE at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square.

Ripleys Boo-lieve It or Not! Halloween

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Times Square Transforms Into Overnight Halloween Playground
With Ripley’s Boo-lievable It or Not! Slumber Fest - Oct 29th, 2011

Bone-Chilling Entertainment, Trick-or-Treating and Late Night Haunted House Included
This Halloween, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square is turning its 18,000-square-foot Odditorium into a haunted playground with Ripley’s Boo-lieve It or Not! Slumber Fest. A spooky twist on Ripley’s Times Square’s famed “Extreme Sleepover,” this outrageous overnight experience offered on October 29th, featuring outrageous performances with a Ripley’s edge – where seeing is believing, plus trick or treating, a costume contest, flashlight scavenger hunt, and even the thrill of a late night haunted house.

Upon arrival, guests will witness show-stopping acrobats by famed entertainer Bubble Boy along with dare-devil stunts by Professor Danger.   Kids will trick-or-treat while exploring oddities from around the globe such as the world’s largest display of shrunken heads, a vampire killing kit and eight-foot tall Transformer statue made completely of used car parts. At the stroke of midnight, the lights turn out for a thrilling haunted scavenger hunt.

“We’ve upped the ante on our popular Extreme Sleepover to create the ultimate Halloween celebration,” said Michael Hirsch, President/General Manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. “And if a scavenger hunt in the dark doesn’t thrill scare-seeking youngsters …there’s always a sleeping bag next to our hissing cockroaches.”

Ripley’s Boo-lieve It or Not! Slumber Fest includes admission to Ripley’s Odditoriom; Halloween themed scavenger hunt; late-night haunted house; access to Ripley’s Impossible LaseRace™; dinner, breakfast and snacks; a screening of a Halloween themed family movie; costume contest with prizes; live entertainment; and a souvenir goody bag featuring bug candy and an exclusive ‘I Survived Ripley’s Boo-lieve It or Not! Slumber Fest’’ t-shirt. All guests need to bring is a sleeping bag, pillow, pajamas, flashlight, costume and their curiosity. Available on October 29th, 2011, Slumber Fest begins at 7pm, ends at 8am the next morning and is suitable for children ages 6 and up. One adult (over age 21) is required for every four children attending.

Examiner.com says Ripley's Slumber Fest is "the perfect way to spend Halloween"
New York Family says Ripley's Slumber Fest is “... a Halloween slumber party
that kids will remember for years to come.”

Admission to Ripley’s Boo-lieve It or Not! Slumber Fest is $129 per person. Advance tickets are offered with the reduced price just $116 a person when purchased by September 9, 2011.

For more information about Slumber Fest or to book, call 212.398.3133.

Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson at Ripleys NYC!

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Bernard Hopkins, Albert Cadabra and Chad Dawson
at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square, New York

Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins and his opponent “Bad” Chad Dawson visited Ripley’s Times Square today for a special photo opportunity in front of the New York Odditorium’s iconic marquee to promote their upcoming WBC and Ring Magazine Light HeavyWeight World Championship Fight. In addition, a press conference was held at BB King’s on 42nd Street.

Ripley’s Times Square’s President and General Manager Michael Hirsch participated in the press conference on behalf of Ripley’s Believe it or Not! “This is such an exciting event to be a part of and Bernard Hopkins is a living, breathing BION (Believe it or Not),” says Hirsch. “All eyes in the sports world will be on the Staples Center on October 15th and we’re ecstatic to be a part of it.”

At the press conference, Albert Cadabra, host of Ripley’s Times Square’s Sideshow Wonders displayed his famed human blockhead routine for the fighters, letting them know that they weren’t the only people in the room “tough as nails”. Hopkins, showing his true Ripley’s spirit, even asked if he could push the nail in to which Cadabra obliged.

Hopkins will be defending the WBC and Ring Magazine HeavyWeight Championship he captured from Jean Paul on May 21. At 46 years-old, Hopkins has become the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world title. Chad Dawson, 29 years-old, who has wanted a shot at Hopkins for years, is vying for the title against this unusual champion, making for a match that truly deserves the Believe It Or Not title. In addition to being one of the sponsors for the title fight, Ripley’s will also immortalize Hopkins’ legendary career with a wax figure to be displayed in its Odditoriums across the globe’ with plans to unveil it during fight week in Los Angeles.

Transformers Invades Ripleys

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Transformers Invades Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square

New Exhibit Features Eight Foot Bumblebee Statue Made Completely of Recycled Car Parts

As Transformers: Dark of the Moon takes over the big screens setting a record breaking four-day Fourth of July holiday weekend box-office debut, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square is about to experience its own Autobot invasion. Opening this Friday, July 8, 2011, the new Ripley’s Transformers exhibit features an eight foot statue of Bumblebee, the small yellow Autobot known for his wise-cracking sense of humor, made completely of recycled automobile parts.

On display in the admissions lobby of the Times Square Odditorium, the Transformer statue was hand-crafted in Bangkok, Thailand by artist Anchalee Saengtai. Created entirely from recycled junk car parts, the Bumblebee figure weighs more than 1,000 pounds and features arms and legs that move.

“It’s unbelievable how the artist was able to take old car parts and literally transform them into a vivid replica of Bumblebee,” said Michael Hirsch, President/General Manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. “This new exhibit is an eye-opener for anyone who ever wondered if a Transformer could really be made from a car…or for any fan of the movies.”

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! recently acquired several Transformers statues to be featured in its attractions worldwide. Currently on display is a Bumblebee statue at Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks in San Antonio and an Optimus Prime statue at Ripley’s Odditorium in San Francisco. Throughout the year additional Transformers statues will be added to Ripley’s Odditoriums in London, Myrtle Beach, Hollywood and Jeju Island, Korea.

Tasti D-Lite teams up with Ripleys

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Tasti D-Lite Times Square Creates
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Certified Unbelievable Sundae

Special Sundae Available Every Saturday from July 9 through August 13

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square is partnering with Tasti D-Lite Times Square, home of the lower calorie, soft serve frozen dessert to create a special, Certified Unbelievable Sundae. Available every Saturday from July 9 through August 13, 2011, the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Certified Unbelievable Sundae is a rich and chocolaty creation of red velvet cake frozen soft serve topped with chocolate fudge and chocolate chips (nuts available by request).

Guests visiting Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square can show their museum admission ticket at Tasti D-Lite Times Square, located at 1588 Broadway between 47^th Street and 48^th Street, to receive $1 off the purchase of any sundae.

And, all Tasti D-Lite patrons at the Times Square location on Saturdays between July 9 and August 13, 2011 will automatically be entered for a chance to win a pair of tickets to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square and a $25 tasti treat card.

“This sundae captures all the fun of Ripley’s and its taste…truly unbelievable,” said Michael Hirsch, President/General Manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. “It’s a great summertime partnership; Tasti D-Light is the perfect treat to cool off before or after a visit to Ripley’s.”

Summer Safari at Ripleys

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley's Times Square Announces Summer Safari Adventure

This summer, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square invites you to take a walk on the wild side with our Summer Safari Adventure. Dress the part of Robert Ripley as he traveled the world with FREE Safari hats as you and your group will explore over 500 artifacts and 20+ themed galleries. You will be engaged with our longest scavenger hunt ever inside our museum, challenged to discover the amazing relics our world has to offer like Mr. Ripley did over 70 years ago.

Our safari hunt is themed around our wildlife and other fascinating animal curiosities, including one of only three albino giraffes ever found, animals born with extra limbs, and real human shrunken heads from the Amazon jungles! Your journey will take you around the globe and back as only North America’s largest Ripley’s Believe it or Not! museum can.

“Our Summer Safari Adventure allows children of all ages to explore the world of Ripley’s, combining a wonderful educational experience with fascinating artifacts that is fun for everyone,” says Beth Sousa, director of sales. “We are thrilled to offer this experience that will ‘wow’ and amaze you.”

A summer safari inside, with air conditioning, staying cool and clean - now that’s a twist that only Ripley’s can produce – Believe It! For more information, give our helpful team a call (212) 398-3111 or check out our Groups page.

The Lizardman at Ripleys NYC

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square to Unveil Wax Figure
of “The Lizardman” on June 24

The Lizardman Celebrates Immortalization in NYC with Free Performances June 25 and 26!

Erik Sprague, the green scaly entertainer who goes by the name of “The Lizardman” is coming to New York City…but he is not alone. On June 24, 2011 at 11:30am, “The Lizardman” will host the unveiling of his stunningly realistic wax figure at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. To celebrate his immortalization, “The Lizardman” will entertain spectators outside the Odditorium with free performances throughout the weekend.

Taking Ripley artists nearly 200 hours to create, the wax statuette portrays each detailed characteristic of Sprague’s extreme body modifications from his forked tongue down to each tiny green scale, a process which started in August 2010 when Sprague spent days in the Ripley wax studios for a fully body casting. This life size figure will be the newest item on display in the main entrance of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square.

“A guy with green scales and a forked tongue? The Lizardman has the undeniable gift to shock and awe any audience,” said Michael Hirsch, President/General Manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. “We cannot wait to unveil our new star attraction and give Lizardman a permanent home in Times Square.”

On Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26, “The Lizardman” will be performing live outside of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square every hour on the hour, from 12pm to 7pm, as well as making himself available for photo opportunities for guests and fans.   Erik “The Lizardman” Sprague is one of the most complete sideshow entertainers in history, most widely known for his extreme transformation from human to reptilian including full body tattoos of green scales, sharpened and pointy teeth, forked tongue, piercings, and subdermal implants.

Check out our photos of Lizardman in the act on our Facebook page.

Photograph by Allen Falker

Ripleys Offers Dads Free Admission

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Offers Dads Free Admission on Father’s Day
… BUT WITH A TWIST

“Wacky Wheel of Dad Dares” Challenges Fathers to Earn Complimentary Admission

This Father’s Day, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square is offering Dads free admission to its one-of-a-kind attraction…but with a Ripley’s twist. Certified in the unexpected, Ripley’s Times Square is inviting all Dads to take a spin on the “Wacky Wheel of Dad Dares” and complete a ridiculously bizarre challenge in order to redeem free admission.

From 10am to 8pm on Sunday, June 19, 2011 every Dad entering the Odditiorium will receive one spin on the “Wacky Wheel of Dad Dares” for the chance to earn free admission. Jam-packed with outrageous and awkward challenges, Ripley’s “Wacky Wheel” will have Dads eating “mystery treats” from the Ripley’s gift shop, walking in six-inch heels, leading their family in Hokey Pokey, whistling while eating 10 saltine crackers and much more. Dads who successfully complete the task in which their spin lands (or at least makes a valiant effort trying), will receive free admission to the Odditorium on June 19, 2011. In order to redeem free admission, all fathers must be accompanied by at least one paid full-price child admission.

“Every Dad deserves to be celebrated on Father’s Day and at Ripley’s we wanted to honor them with a little off-beat fun,” said Michael Hirsch, President/General Manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. “Kids are going to get a kick out of watching Dad as he attempts things like hula hooping for 90 seconds straight.”

Check out photos from this event on Ripley's New York Facebook page!

Ripleys Fundraising Program

Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square Fundraising Program

Ripley's Believe It or Not! is excited to introduce its new fundraising program. A refreshing change from the typical car wash or bake sale, a fundraiser at Ripley's provides visitors an alternative experience that varies from the norm. Visitors can explore the museum at their own pace, all the while knowing that they are benefitting a non-profit of their choice while having an unbelievably fun time! A fundraiser at Ripley's Believe It or Not in Times Square is an exciting opportunity to explore one of New York City's coolest attractions and raise money while doing so.

With the help of an enthusiastic staff, anyone can easily organize a fundraiser at Ripley's. Ripley's Believe It or Not! provides a certain number of tickets to non-profits at a highly discounted fundraising rate. These non-profit organizations then resell the tickets at regular retail value, keeping the difference as profit for whatever fund they are raising money for! It's a fun and easy way to inspire people to contribute to a cause.

Included in Ripley's fundraising program are exciting perks, like free Ripley's items from the Odd Shop and cool scavenger hunts. "Ripley's Believe It or Not is a wonderful place to hold a fundraiser, thanks to our supportive staff, who help guide you through the process and the unusual and bizarre setting only helps to stir interest among attendees." Beth Sousa, Group Sales Manager.

Click for more Fundraising Program information or call us directly 212-398-3133.

Z100 - Ripleys New York

Tue, 10 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley's Times Square, Z100 Team Up For Afternoon Fun

This past Saturday, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square and Z100 teamed up to challenge Times Square passersby in a number of contests that made those watching say, “I don’t believe it!” Hosted by Z100’s notorious Greg T., contestants faced off to compete for outrageous prizes, free admission into New York’s must-see attraction, and even gift certificates for the world famous Serendipity 3 Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Outrageously Bizarre Banana Split.

“Greg T. and Ripley’s Times Square are truly a great match,” says Michael Hirsch, general manager, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square. “His antics fit in perfectly with our museum as both will shock and amaze you. If you missed our event this past Saturday, you missed an opportunity to be wowed.”

Contests included “Minute to Win It” themed challenges like Noodling Around, where participants picked up six penne noodles and placed them around the perimeter of a table using only a piece of uncooked spaghetti in their mouth, and Baby Rattle, a contest in which gumballs like the ones used in Ripley’s world famous Barack Obama portrait were transferred from one bottle to another in under 60 seconds while the bottles were joined together to form the shape of a rattle.

And the glory for the winners? For some, it was a copy of the New York Times best seller Seeing is Believing from Ripley’s publishing. For others, it was the joy of being able to munch on chocolate covered insects, courtesy of Ripley’s Little Shop of Oddities. But the real winners were everyone involved, leaving with a smile on their face!

Free Admission to All Moms

Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Times Square Gives Free Admission to All Moms on Mother’s Day

Every day of the year, mothers across the globe perform true Believe it or Nots so it seems a bit unfair that they only get one day a year to be celebrated. For the second year in a row, Ripley’s Times Square provides an alternative to the traditional Mother’s Day activities that will amaze, astonish, and make Mom proud of the thought you put into her gift – a visit to New York’s must see attraction. In addition, we are going to ease your wallet a bit, providing FREE admission to all moms when accompanied by at least one child as well as a free family portrait like you’ve never seen before.

So forget the traditional brunch, eschew the trip to the movies, and pass on the flowers. A visit to Ripley’s Times Square to experience the world’s most amazing artifacts, artwork, and interactives is sure to make this Mother’s Day a memorable one. And P.S. – when you get to the laser race, be sure to let mom win.

Ripleys NYC + Serendipity 3

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square - Partners With Serendipity 3

To create the wackiest sundae in history!

New York City is definitely the place that proves that truth can be stranger than fiction. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square, home to the ultimate in the odd and bizarre, is partnering with the legendary NYC restaurant, Serendipity 3, to create the weirdest and wackiest sundae in history: The Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Outrageously Bizarre Banana Split!

“When two iconic brands, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square and Serendipity 3, join forces, the results will certainly be unbelievable,” says Michael Hirsch, general manager, Ripley’s Times Square. “This sundae captures the essence of Ripley’s while showing off the culinary wonders of Serendipity that will certainly make you say ‘I don’t believe it’ when it’s delivered to your table.”

Covered with REAL chocolate coated FARM ANTS, CRICKETS, INSECT LARVA and a LARVA LOLLIPOP the Ripley’s Believe IT or Not! Outrageously Bizarre Banana Split Sundae is strange…even by New York standards. An unbelievable five scoops of Serendipity’s premium ice cream saturated in a bizarre combination of toppings including crazy wet walnuts, dripping oozing raspberry sauce, ludicrously strange and sticky caramel, with a sideshow of hot fudge and peanut butter toppings will be sure to satisfy your appetite. Adding to the oddity, the sundae is topped off with two banana “horns,” an “albino” mountain of whipped cream protruding and covered with chocolate creepy crawlers to complete this outlandish and crazy concoction. YES, the insects are real!

Unbelieveable Talent

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Announces
The Unbelievable Talent Contest Winner

“Lucky the Painproof Man” is the winner of our Unbelievable Talent Contest! The finalist competition was held Wednesday, April 13th right here at Ripley’s Times Square Odditorium.

To prove his extreme resistance to pain, “Lucky” kicked off his routine by eating a glass light bulb, wowed the audience when he lay on a bed of nails, followed by a daring climb up a staircase of sharpened swords barefoot.

Four finalists, chosen by the public, traveled to New York City to compete in front of an esteemed panel of judges for the chance to win the grand prize of a summer (July-August) job as a Sideshow Performer at Ripley’s Times Square or the choice of $1,000 cash prize.

“It was a tight competition, but after seeing the array of Lucky’s talents, we knew we had our winner,” said Michael Hirsch, General Manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. Hirsch was among the panel of judges which included Edward Meyer, VP Exhibits and Archives of Ripley Entertainment Inc.; Albert Cadabra of Ripley’s Sideshow Wonders; and Buck Wolf, Senior Correspondent of AOL Weird News.

Top finalists competing in Ripley’s Times Square Unbelievable Talent Contest included Jim Stilianos, whose talents ranged from walking on sharp pieces of glass to juggling fire; Zack Anthrax, who amazed the crowd by breaking two wooden arrows with his throat, and the Braggart Family trio – Hans Braggart, Jay Braggart and Uncle Lushklutz, who performed a three way knife juggling act while balancing on top of rola bolas.

Throughout the month of March, contestants submitted videos displaying their unbelievable talents to the Ripley’s New York Facebook page at where public voting determined the competitions top finalists.

Since Robert Ripley began scouting the globe for extreme oddities, Ripley’s has discovered some incredibly, unbelievably talented people. People who can hammer six-inch spikes into their noses, lift 100 pounds with their earlobes, fold themselves into a small box, and hang weights from their lower eyelids using fish hooks and chains. See some of Ripley’s highly talented Sideshow Performers.

Sword Swallowers Day

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Hosts
World Sword Swallower’s Day Event on February 26

Free sword swallowing performances part of worldwide event!

Nearly 20 sword swallowers will be “dropping swords” at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums worldwide at 2:26 p.m. on February 26, in celebration of the Fifth Annual World Sword Swallower’s Day.

As part of the international event, Todd Robbins and several other performers will present a free sword swallowing show outside the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Odditorium. The performance will start at 1:30 p.m., with the finale at 2:26 p.m. local time.

World Sword Swallower’s Day was founded by the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) and is co-sponsored by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! locations around the world.

Why World Sword Swallower’s Day? “We sword swallowers risk our lives every time we swallow swords, but many people don't believe it’s real, or they think the art has died out," explains Dan Meyer, a sword swallower who has been featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

"We established World Sword Swallower’s Day to raise awareness of the medical contributions sword swallowers have made to the fields of medicine and science, to honor veteran performers, to raise funds for esophageal cancer research and the Injured Sword Swallower’s Relief Fund (with donations matched by Ripley’s), and to correct myths by putting on sword swallowing demonstrations for the public and media around the world.”

About Sword Swallowing
The art of sword swallowing began more than 4,000 years ago in India, and requires the practitioner to use mind-over-matter techniques to control the body and repress natural reflexes to insert solid steel blades from 15 to 25 inches down the esophagus and into the stomach. With the demise of the traveling circus sideshow over the past several decades, there are currently less than a few dozen full-time professional sword swallowers actively performing the deadly art around the world today.

Extended Winter Hours

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley's Times Square Extends Winter Hours

Early or late, celebrate mid-Winter break with Ripley’s

Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square will be open late all Presidents’ Day weekend and during mid-Winter break. Hours of operation from Friday, February 18 through Saturday, February 26 will be 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m., with the last ticket sold at midnight.

So whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, we will be open to satisfy your curiosity of the strange and the bizarre. You will experience a journey that will take you around the world and beyond, including a trip through our world famous black hole, exploration of the world’s largest collection of real human shrunken heads, the challenge of spy training camp New York City’s only Laser Race, and so much more.

With over 500 artifacts in 20 plus themed galleries, our 18,000 square foot facility will astonish and amaze you. An experience for everyone, Ripley’s Times Square is a museum you’ll kids will actually enjoy.

Ripleys BeLOVE It or Not!

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley's BeLOVE It or Not!

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at New York’s Most Unusual Attraction

See a movie? Boring! Go to dinner? Good luck getting reservations to a decent restaurant. This Valentine’s Day, do something different, romantic, and astonishing all at once, and save a bunch of dough!

Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square is inviting all couples to North America’s largest Ripley’s and recognizing your love (or extreme like) by offering a buy one, get one free for all couples. There is a catch, though. In order to secure your great savings, you’ll have to prove your love – a kiss is required to seal the savings. Once inside, you’ll explore our Tunnel of Love exhibit, which demonstrates how love used to be, need to get close to your partner to survive our torture chamber room, and join forces to solve our Ripley’s Impossible LaseRace. All in all, a true demonstration of your partnership and teamwork.

And for those of you on your first or second date, what a perfect time to break the ice – your first kiss as a couple can take place right at our admissions desk. So forget all the “typical” Valentine’s Day dates and join us at Ripley’s as we share the love!

Extreme Birthdays

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Extreme Birthdays At Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Be among the first of your friends to celebrate a unique birthday at New York's most fascinating and exciting attraction - Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square. Ripley’s easy to book party packages include a fun activity, admission to the Times Square Odditorium and a try at New York’s only LaseRace.

For families seeking an unforgettable personal touch, ask about our premium party.

For more info - Ripley's Times Square Birthday Parties.

Holidays at Ripley's Times Square

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley's Times Square For The Holidays

New York City’s Most Exciting Attraction Open Every Day!

**YES, we are open today. Come on in, stay warm and learn something new.

Everyone thinks that holidays at their household is the strangest collection of people in the world. From the uncle in the corner whose drooling begins before dessert, to the cousins who have more food on their face than inside their mouth, holidays brings together family members that make us shake our head.

Here at Ripley’s Believe it or Not!, we make your holiday dinner look tame. From the world’s largest collection of real human shrunken heads to our world famous Black Hole to bizarre animals like a two-headed calf and albino giraffe, you will take a journey into the truly bizarre and unusual that will make you thankful for your family.

Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square is open from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. (exception – Dec. 31^st, 2010 we will be closing at 5:00 p.m.) so you can see what weird really means.

Purchase your Tickets now and save 20%, plus skip the line!

Family Holiday Photo At Ripley's!

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Reverse Santa Photo At Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square, New York

Celebrate the holidays in unique style. Ripley’s is taking a different approach to a time honored tradition this season with a visit from Little Santa. Starting after Thanksgiving and lasting through December 18^th, Little Santa will be available to sit on your lap for an unforgettable souvenir photo at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square. Little Santa will be available from noon to 7pm each Saturday.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square will be open to share this and hundreds of other family friendly oddities from 9am to 1am weekdays AND weekends.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square Ultimate Adventurer tickets are 20% off when you Purchase Online!

Holiday Meal Warning!

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Turkey & Knife Holiday Meal Warning

Ripley’s urges families to be cautious with carving utensils this holiday season - especially if there’s a hungry puppy around. Visit our x-ray gallery to see the remarkable image of a 12 inch serrated knife inside the stomach of an otherwise active Saint Bernard puppy.

Eager to take a bite of the festive foul, the pup bit off a bit more than she could chew, including the ominous looking blade! Not only did the mischievous pet survive, but visitors can learn about the talented vet who saved her and see the actual knife only at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square will be open to share this and hundreds of other family friendly oddities on Thanksgiving Day and all Thanksgiving weekend.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square TICKETS are available online for 20% off!

Superstitious

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Superstitious Flock To Ripley's Times Square

Nearly 2/3 of all people believe in some superstition. It’s not surprising then that most people tested avoided walking under a ladder or shy from breaking mirrors. Journey into Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square and discover some strange superstitious beliefs from around the globe.

Where does the proverbial 10 foot pole come from? Who were the real mad scientists? What other creatures did the Egyptians mummify and bury with their kings? What is a 3-faced hate god? Do more than 30,000 four-leaf clovers bring the owner more luck? If the Buddha is made of cold, hard cash, does rubbing his belly bring financial prosperity? Learn about these incredible superstitions and many more while visiting Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square.

To explore Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square, Buy Tickets in advance and get 20% off, plus skip the line.

During our 'After Ghoul Special'

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley's Halloween 'After Ghoul Special'

The “After Ghoul Special” returns to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square this Halloween, for a week long celebration when kids get in FREE! From witches and vampires to prisoner torture devices and scorpion lollipops, Ripley’s Odditorium is filled with many spine-tingling and unusual exhibits to help get families in the Halloween spirit.

Starting Monday, October 25 through Friday, October 29, kids will receive free entrance to the Odditorium with the purchase of a full-priced Ultimate Adventurer adult ticket ($29.95). Ripley’s staff will be dressed to impress in kooky and spooky Halloween costumes, handing out candy at surprise sections of the Odditorium from 4pm to 7pm that week. Those who dare can participate in an adrenaline pumping Halloween themed scavenger hunt available also available from 4pm-7pm, Monday through Friday.

For more information about Ripley’s “After Ghoul Special,” please call 212-398-3133.

Robert Ripley

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Robert Ripley, The Explorer

Ripley's discoveries, the tales he told and adventures he lived will forever be the foundation of all that Ripley Entertainment encompasses. Did you know that Ripley was one of the most famous people in the world during the first half of the 20th century? Believe It!

Robert Ripley ventured into unconventional areas in India and the Orient and visited people and cultures that most Americans never knew existed. His favorite destination was China, and for several months after he first traveled to the Orient, Ripley signed his cartoons Rip Li. It was also during these travels that he picked up many strange and unbelievable souvenirs that later became an extensive collection of amazing oddities and stories that serve to entertain the public even today.

The New York Daily News listed Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square as one of the Top 50 Things that Makes New Yorkers Smile. Why? Because they found it pretty amazing that visitors to 42nd Street can see a lock of hair from George Washington, the revolver John Wilkes Booth dropped on the stage at Ford’s Theatre and the world’s largest public display of real shrunken human heads.

Amazing historic artifacts found only at the Times Square Odditorium include those linked to Napoleon, the Titanic, WWII, the Berlin Wall, witch trials, vampire hunts, ancient Egypt, dinosaurs, tribal customs, Babe Ruth, the Yankees, the Far East, space exploration and much more.

To explore Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square, BUY TICKETS online and get 20% off.

Fascinating Field Trip

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0100

An Extraordinary Field Trip Doesn't Have To Break The Bank

Schools save up to 40% off when planning a fascinating, fun and enlightening field trip to Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square.

Complementing state learning standards for Math, Science, Language, Social Studies and The Arts, our Times Square Odditorium features hundreds of real artifacts that will inspire curiosity, challenge creativity and engage young minds.

Click here (http://www.ripleysnewyork.com/groups/educational-programs.cfm) to learn more about taking your class to Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square.

World's Smallest Teen

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0100

World's Smallest Teen Visits Ripley's Times Square

Measuring in at 22 inches and weighing just 10 pounds, the world’s smallest teenager, Khagendra Thapa Magar, 17, visited Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square on Tuesday to mark his Appearance in Ripley’s Believe It or Not!’s latest book, Enter If You Dare.

Khagendra, from Nepal, fulfilled his dream of coming to New York and spent time at the largest Ripley’s Odditorium in North America as well as visited the Empire State Building, lunched at Katz’s Deli, and took a stroll through the heart of Times Square.

While Khagendra’s size sets him apart from other teenagers, he shares the same interests as others his age including dancing and karate. When he turns 18 in October, he will be the smallest man in the world.

To experience other amazing people and the world’s most astonishing collection of artifacts, you can visit Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square seven days a week beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Purchase Tickets in advance and save 20 percent!

Open

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Times Square Open All Labor Day Weekend!

Looking to end your summer with a bang? How about with some astonishing artifacts, amazing interactives, and mind-blowing artwork? Then Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square is the place for you.

Located on 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! in New York City will take you on an adventure across the world without all the worries of airplanes, traffic and other Labor Day weekend annoyances. From the world’s largest collection of human shrunken heads, to New York City’s only Laser Race, to artwork made out of bubble gum, spider webs and postage stamps, Ripley’s Odditorium will be sure to leave you amazed and dumbfounded by the oddities that exist in our world. Open from 9 a.m. until 1 a.m. (last ticket sold at midnight), we’re ready for you all Labor Day Weekend long.

What could be better than that? Purchase your tickets online and save now! And you get to skip the line!

So get the family together and bring them to Ripley’s, where there’s something for everyone and we will stimulate the kids’ minds right as they get ready to go back to school!

Summer Time Means

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Summer Time Means Fun Time

And nothing says fun like Ripley’s Times Square!

Your summer can take the usual turn – beaches, outdoor activities, or a trip to the Hamptons. Yawwwn! Or, you can take a journey into the bizarre and unusual and visit North America’s largest Ripley’s Believe it or Not! right in the heart of Times Square.

Thinking of the beach? Don’t forget about all that sand and salt water up your nose. Here, at Ripley’s Believe it or Not! in Times Square, we’ve got an incredible collection of shrunken heads that are way cooler than the beach, and a lot less aggravating than a sandy bottom.

Thinking of a romantic gaze at the stars on a cool summer night? Just you, your significant other, a blanket to lie on, and…. Bugs. Lots of bugs. That sure could put a damper on the evening. Lucky for you, Ripley’s has a collection of hissing cockroaches that are locked up in a case so you don’t have to share your food. And if you need stars, there’s nothing like our amazing black hole that will swirl and spin around you as you wander through, making you feel like you’re floating in space!

Think you’re up for some serious competition? Ripley’s New York offers the newest, coolest way to compete with your friends and family with New York City’s only Laser Race. Be challenged as you go up, over, under and around a web of lasers as quickly as possible and watch the members of your party do it on TV as they attempt the challenge. Then, make fun of them for all of the lasers they tripped. Sure beats being a weekend warrior and needing three tubes of Ben-Gay to recover.

Enjoy our wacky world of wonders as you wander through and check out every exhibit at your own pace. Ripley’s is the perfect place to take a break from the scorching summer sun and learn about some crazy artifacts that we bet you never knew existed!

Buy Tickets now and save, plus skip the line!

Soles4Souls National Barefoot Week

Fri, 28 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Kids Earn $4 Off Admission When They Go Barefoot and Walk on Ice for Soles4Souls’ National Barefoot Week
June 1-7, 2010

Ripley’s Sideshow Performer Jelly Boy Goes Barefoot on Shards of Broken Glass!

Kids have a chance to earn bragging rights and earn $4 off their admission into our Odditorium on Saturday, June 5th if they can walk barefoot on a block of ice in celebration of National Barefoot Week.

In honor of a great cause, we invite our youngest guests to “Go Barefoot for Soles4Souls”, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and donations for people in need of shoes all over the world.

On Saturday, June 5th, we will also:
Contribute 10% of all full-priced Ultimate Adventurer purchases to Soles4Souls.
Invite guests to make $1 (or more) donations to Soles4Souls and have their name displayed on our Believe It Or Not! Wall.

For those fascinated by the foot, Ripley’s Times Square has an incredible array of artifacts like:
-Size 22 shoes from Bob Lanier, former NBA basketball player
-Ladies size 22 shoe from Sandy Allen – formerly the tallest woman in America
-Tiny shoes worn by turn of the century sideshow performers
-Boots once belonging to General Tom Thumb
-Antique lotus slippers from Chinese foot binding
-Dinosaur leg & foot

Come bare your soles and join us for a week of Believe It Or Not! fun and charity. For more information on Soles4Souls’ National Barefoot Week visit http://www.barefootweek.com/.

Extraordinary Camp Experience!

Sat, 15 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

An Extraordinary Camp Experience

Camps are already lining up to see New York's most fascinating, unique & exciting attraction - Ripley's Believe It or Not! in New York City. With dozens of wildly fun interactive elements and hundreds of real artifacts that can’t be seen anywhere else, camp directors are planning amazing experiences that their campers will never forget.

Of course, our attraction is air conditioned and we’re easy to get to with convenient bus drop-off & pick up areas right in front of our door.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square is a great experience but you don’t have to take our word for it. Here’s what some of our customers have to say about their visits to our Odditorium:

“I'm not sure what I expected, but there are so many interesting things to see at Ripley’s, it really blew my mind!”

“We had a blast - I've never seen a collection quite like it!”

What are you waiting for? Special camp rates are available to those who qualify and be sure to ask about our outrageous scavenger hunt packages – a perfect fun addition to any camp outing.

Click here for Group Info or call 212.398.3133.

May is Discount Month for Moms!

Sat, 01 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Offers Moms FREE Entrance &
Family Photo on Mother’s Day!

- Family Portraits Taken with Ripley’s Sideshow Wonder Performers
- Moms Receive 15% Discount All Other Sundays in May
- Would-Be Moms Can Visit Ripley’s Fertility Statues Showcased in the Entranceway

For families looking to add a little oddity and fun to their Mother’s Day celebration, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square welcomes them to visit this one-of-a-kind attraction. Throughout May, Ripley’s intriguing Odditorium offers a few ways to celebrate:

On Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9, 2010, moms who bring their children to Ripley’s will receive FREE admission. In addition, from 12:30pm – 7:00pm moms can finally get that family photo they’ve wanted, with a few extra Ripley’s family members in between – perhaps Albert Cadabra, the Human Blockhead; Betty Bloomerz, the Silent Sword Swallower or Baron Von Geiger, the Strongman.

On additional Sundays throughout May, Ripley's is offering a 15 percent discount on admission for all moms who bring their children to see the famed attraction. Some restrictions may apply and cannot be combined with any other offers.

Celebrating motherhood, Ripley’s will have two of its fertility statues on display in the entranceway. Would-be mothers can come and rub the statues for good luck. Throughout the years, 2,000 women believe some of Ripley’s fertility statues may have helped them become pregnant.

“We want to give moms a break from the monotony and finally realize their kids aren’t so abnormal when they meet our Sideshow Wonder Performers,” says Michael Hirsch, general manager. “Moms will also love our off-beat take on household items like dryer lint portraits, jackets made from shopping bags and even a dress made of egg beaters."

Purchase Tickets to Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square!

You Weird Enough to Work Here?

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Are You Weird Enough To Work Here?

Ripley’s Times Square announces 2010 Summer Internship Program

Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square, New York City’s most unusual attraction, announced today the launch of an internship program for the 2010 summer tourism season. Internships are available to college students who have completed at least one year of school and are for school credit. Qualified applicants will not be playing with a full deck.

“Listen, if you want to go to an office and file envelopes all day, well I’d say to have a great summer,” says Michael Hirsch, general manager, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square. “However, if the idea of earning college credit in the world’s best tourism market while being surrounded by shrunken heads, a lock of Elvis’s hair, and 500 other amazing artifacts, look no further.”

Internship candidates will be exposed to all aspects of a major attraction, including but not limited to guest satisfaction, customer service, sales and marketing, and other business operations.

The right candidates will:

•    Have an outgoing personality
•    Like to have fun
•    Be a little weird
•    Like to have fun
•    Have outstanding verbal and written communication skills
•    Like to have fun
•    Have a great work ethic and infectious, positive attitude

Responsibilities will include:

•    Having fun
•    Interact with clients and welcome groups upon arrival
•    Assist with guest flow of the museum
•    Having fun
•    Assist sales and marketing team in all facets of department’s operations
•    Having fun

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to fun@ripleysnewyork.com. Please make sure to include one example of why you’re weird enough to work with us.

Can't Get Tickets?

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Can’t Get Yankees Tickets?

Celebrate the New Baseball Season at Ripley’s Times Square!

North America’s largest Ripley’s museum is home to amazing baseball memorabilia that will bring the history of America’s pastime to life.

“New York is the best baseball town in America and Ripley’s Times Square celebrates the game’s history with some truly iconic artifacts,” said Michael Hirsch, General Manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. “There was no greater fan than Robert Ripley. He amassed an amazing collection of baseball memorabilia during his lifetime, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! has carried on his tradition. Ripley’s Believe it Or Not! invites New Yorkers to celebrate the 2010 season with a visit to our Times Square odditorium.”

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square collection of baseball relics include:

A 1931 Wooden Novelty postcard signed during Spring Training that has 16 autographs including Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Believe it or Not!, Claire Ruth, Babe Ruth’s wife.
Three seats from the original Yankee Stadium from behind home plate taken in 1923.
A movie in the theater room with a feature on The Bandits, a one-armed softball team.
A collection of Ted Williams mementos from his 1994 induction and unveiling of the Ted Williams Hitters of Hall of Fame which includes his autograph, a 1950s Player of the Decade Baseball Heroes baseball card, inaugural cover to the opening of the museum, and more.
During WWII, Robert Ripley was committed to fundraising. In 1939, he put together a charity softball game at Madison Square Garden that included 60 celebrities to raise money for The Boys Club of New York. Ripley stacked his own team, the Believe it or Nots, that included Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth, heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey, Jimmy Durante, W.C. Fields, Al Jolson, William Randolph Hearst, to name a few. In its day, the combined assets of the team members made it the richest and most valuable team ever assembled. We have on display 12 of the original uniforms worn by the team and a classic photograph of the Believe it or Nots with Babe Ruth laying in the foreground of the photo.

Fun Baseball Facts Courtesy of Ripley’s!

Ty Cobb walked up to 30 miles a day during the off-season with lead in his shoes to maintain his lower body strength.
In 1968, San Francisco Giants Manager Alvin Dark told reporters that NASA would "put a man on the moon before Gaylord Perry hits a home run." On July 20, 1969 Perry connected for his first ever home run - 20 minutes after Neal Armstrong walked on the moon!
Toledo, Ohio's professional baseball team was known as the Mud Hens as early as 1896 and remains the only professional sports franchise in America with a feminine name.
Stabbed to Death by a Baseball! Stanton Walker attended a ball game and was seated between two friends when one attempted to pass an open pocket knife to the other. Just as the knife passed in front of Walker it was struck by a foul ball and driven into his heart - killing him. (1902 incident reported by Ripley in 1939)
Belt loops did not become standard on men's trousers until after WWI, but baseball players were using them on their knickers as early as the 1800s!
The words "strike" and "hit" mean the same in every situation except in baseball parlance.
There are 12,386,344 possible plays in baseball!
Carlos May is the only Major League Baseball player to ever wear his birth date on the back of his uniform - May 17.
The odds of a baseball fan being hit by a ball at a major league game are 300,000 to 1

Click here to Buy Tickets now.

With Extreme Sleepover

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square’s NEW Extreme Sleepover.

Ripley's outrageously unique Extreme Sleepver experience has captivated families, school groups and scout groups from across the country who are determined to spend a wild night in the Big Apple.

Participants at Ripley’s Extreme Sleepover can take this once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the hundreds of incredible artifacts and dozens of wildly fun interactive elements contained within the twenty themed galleries of the iconic Times Square attraction.

After a fun dinner and flashlight scavenger hunt, Ripley’s Extreme Sleepover participants rest comfortably in the shadow of a baseball uniform worn by Babe Ruth. Real Egyptian mummies are prepared to shoo away any monsters in the closet and guests are relieved to know that shrunken heads don’t snore.

The action packed evening gives every participant an attempt in New York’s only laser race - a timed challenge of flexibility, agility and speed through a high tech laser maze. Of course, the memories and photos from your evening are yours to keep, but Ripley’s also provides each person with a souvenir t-shirt and limited edition patch.

Like the world’s smallest car, these programs have a limited capacity and are selling out fast! Be sure to call today to schedule your visit. See Extreme Sleepover testimonials.

Go to EXTREME SLEEPOVERS for more information including available dates and pricing - or download our PDF flyer.

Space is limited and subject to availability; prices do not include tax. A non-refundable 20% deposit is required to hold your space. Call 212-398-3133 today to schedule your Extreme Sleepover.

Chew On This

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square to Display 12 Mile Long Gum Wrapper Chain

Ripley’s president to sign link number 3,000,000

Here’s something to chew on:

Gary Duschl has a gum wrapper chain that stretches for 12 miles.
·         That’s 42 times the height of the Empire State Building.
·         It’s as long as 210 football fields.
·         It’s twice as long as the height of Mount Everest.
·         It would take 5 hours to walk the length of the chain.
·         It would take 12 minutes to drive its length in a car at 60 mph.
·         If full, all the wrappers would contain 5 tons of gum.
·         He has spent more than 24,000 hours and 45 years on this feat.

Oh, did we mention it’s a chain of gum wrappers?

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square will hold a media availability on Wednesday, March 10 at 10:30 a.m. to mark a major milestone in Duschl’s chain of love. Jim Pattison Jr., President of Ripley Entertainment, will sign the three-millionth link in the chain. The full gum wrapper chain – all 12 miles of it - will be on display.

“This is a remarkable feat and a true Believe It or Not!” said Pattison. “The amount of effort and attention to detail that has gone into this is amazing.” Visitors to the Ripley’s Times Square Odditorium can check out Duschl’s chain for themselves on Wednesday, March 10. Duschl will hold chain-making demonstrations for the public from 1-5 p.m.
Chance to Become Part of Ripley History

The public can be a part of this historic event.

Everyone is welcome to visit the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Odditorium from Wednesday, March 10 through Sunday, March 14 and sign a gum wrapper that will be sent to Duschl who will use it as part of his chain.

Ripley’s visitors who bring in 5 gum wrappers of any sort will get a $5 discount off the price of admission ($4 off for children) from Wednesday, March 10 through Sunday, March 14.

Duschl, from Virginia, started creating the record-breaking chain a few years ago - when LBJ was President, TV was mostly in black and white and a band named the Beatles was gaining in popularity. He started in 1965.

Duschl was in ninth grade science class when he saw kids making gum wrapper chains. He made his first link that day and one link led to another. He wanted to make the longest chain in the class, then the longest in the school, then the longest in town and he never gave up. He stuck with it – for the next 45 years.

There are 1,500,000 gum wrappers in the chain and all are Wrigley’s brand. Duschl doesn’t chew much gum; he’s really in it for the wrappers.

“It’s something that I can do in the comfort of my home. I find it therapeutic to sit down and weave a chain the same way someone would sit down and knit something,” Duschl said.

He knows exactly where he wants to go with his chain - another 14 miles, straight ahead. That would make it the length of a marathon at 26.2 miles, give or take a few hundred wrappers. That’s probably another 15 years away, when he’ll be in his mid-70s.

To view downloadable high-resolution images of Gary Duschl and his gum wrapper chain, go to http://www.ripleysnewsroom.com

For more on Gary Duschl, go to www.gumwrapper.com

BUY TICKETS and save!

100 Feet of Sharp, Solid Steel Swords

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

More than 25 sword swallowers will be performing shows at more than a dozen Ripley Believe It or Not! Odditoriums worldwide at 2:27 p.m. on February 27, 2010 in celebration of the Fourth Annual World Sword Swallowers Day.

More than 100 feet of solid steel is set to go down the hatch - hopefully without a scratch!

World Sword Swallowers Day was founded by the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) and is co-sponsored by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! locations around the world.

"We established World Sword Swallower’s Day to raise awareness of the medical contributions sword swallowers have made to the fields of medicine and science, to honor veteran performers, to raise funds for esophageal cancer research and the Injured Sword Swallower’s Relief Fund (with donations matched by Ripley’s), and to correct myths by putting on sword swallowing demonstrations for the public and media around the world.”

Ripley's is a proud sponsor “Because it’s great entertainment,” said Tim O’Brien, VP of Communications for Ripley Entertainment Inc. “Sword swallowers and Ripley go way back to the very first Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium, set up at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933. There, three performers, two of whom were ladies, mesmerized the huge crowds. Ripley’s has been home to sword swallowers around the world ever since.”

Sword swallowers will be performing at more than a dozen Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, including: New York City; Orlando and St. Augustine in Florida; Hollywood, Calif.; Niagara Falls, Can.; Ocean City, Md.; Atlantic City, N.J.; Gatlinburg, Tenn.; and G Branson, Mo.; and Grand Prairie, Texas.

Highlights at Believe It or Not! locations during the day will include:

Red Stewart will attempt to swallow a record 52 swords at one time in Atlantic City.
Dai Andrews will attempt to swallow a very dangerous 120-degree curved Sword at Ocean City.
Dan Meyer will swallow hedge clippers in Grand Prairie, Texas
Erik Kloeker, the youngest professional sword swallower in the world will perform in Gatlinburg.
Travis Fessler will swallow a sword with his mouth full of live Madagascar cockroaches in Gatlinburg;
George The Giant, the world’s tallest sword swallower, will attempt to swallow a giant 33-inch long sword in Hollywood.

“It’s a huge honor for us to carry on the great tradition of sword swallowers who have performed at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums over the years!” Meyer explains. “In light of this, SSAI is sending out an open invitation to all sword swallowers around the world to contact us and join us in swallowing swords at Ripley’s Believe It or Not museums and other locations on the 27th!"

Performances are scheduled to take place on 2/27/10 at 2:27:10 p.m. local time, unless noted.

About Sword Swallowing:
The art of sword swallowing began more than 4,000 years ago in India, and requires the practitioner to use mind-over-matter techniques to control the body and repress natural reflexes to insert solid steel blades from 15 to 25 inches down the esophagus and into the stomach. With the demise of the traveling circus sideshow over the past several decades, there are currently less than a few dozen full-time professional sword swallowers actively performing the deadly art around the world today.

Medical Facts and Trivia about Sword Swallowing:
These facts help explain why there are currently less than a few dozen full-time professional sword swallowers left performing around the world today!

Sword Swallowing is a 4,000 year old art that originated in India around 2,000 BC.
Sword swallowers use mind-over-matter techniques to repress the natural gag reflex in the back of the mouth, the peristalsis reflex in the throat, and the retch reflex in the stomach to "swallow" solid steel sword blades from 15-30 inches in length.
Sword swallowing can take from two to seven years to learn, and even after years of practice, some people never learn to master it.
The longest sword swallowed on record was 33 inches long swallowed by George the Giant.
The most swords swallowed at once was 47 swords swallowed by Red Stuart in 2008.
SSAI reports that there are on average between four and six serious sword swallowing related injuries reported around the world each year that require medical attention and hospitalization, with dozens more that go unreported each year.
Treatment of sword swallowing injuries can cost from $25,000-$75,000 per injury.

To purchase tickets to Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square and save, BUY ONLINE NOW

Come Share Your Love

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Share Your Love - Ripley's Times Square is Open All President's Weekend Until Midnight.

Looking to make your sweetie say “Wow” on Valentine’s Day? You can make that happen with a visit to New York ’s most astonishing attraction, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square . From one of only 11 Iron Maiden’s in existence to a pair of African fertility statues to artifacts that allowed cultures to claim members of the opposite sex as their own, an adventure through Ripley’s will certainly make your date wonder: “What’s he/she thinking about?”

Don’t worry if you don’t have a date for Valentine’s Day – Ripley’s Times Square has something for everyone and will be open until midnight every day during the mid-Winter break. It’s President’s Day every day at Ripley’s with amazing exhibits like a portrait of President Obama made out of over 12,600 bubble gum balls and a tribute to President Lincoln himself with a presidential collection that will blow your mind.

To save on tickets, purchase online – and skip the line during a very busy week!

What Would You Do...

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

An outrageous, fun and unmistakably unique competition is taking place Valentine’s Day weekend at New York’s most extreme and fascinating attraction – Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square.

On Friday, February 12, 2010 couples can demonstrate their love through a series of uncanny, humorous and, perhaps, bizarre tasks while racing through the twenty-plus themed galleries at Ripley’s showcase location in Times Square. Tasks range from peculiar photo ops, acts of courage to challenges of digestive fortitude like consuming a stomach-churning, yet edible, curiosity. The couple to complete all of their tasks and make it to the finish line with the best time gets married, on the spot, making them the first couple to ever be married in this one-of-a-kind, sensational attraction.

“We’ll see what couples are willing to show that they’ll do just about anything for love. At a
place like Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square, your mother-in-law may be the most
normal person at the ceremony and we’re okay with that!”, says Stephen Ekstrom, Director of Sales and Marketing, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square. “Ripley’s Remarkable Race to the Altar is guaranteed to be unlike anything New York has ever seen before.”

Two dozen shrunken human heads, a couple of two-headed creatures and a collection of certified freaks will be on hand to witness the ceremony. The happily married, yet somewhat questionable, couple winning the race will also receive an amazing prize package containing Ripley’s souvenirs, our latest book and some seriously bizarre bragging rights.

Intrigued couples are encouraged to fill out a Race to the Altar application - PDF Application.

All applications must be received by February 2, 2010! Participation is limited.

For curious locals, Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square is also celebrating the spirit of love by giving away special edible treats to the first 250 couples to visit the famed Times Square attraction on February 13th & 14th.

As the kissing hissing cockroaches may say, feel free to bug us for more info.

Download application PDF Application.

To purchase tickets to Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square and save > BUY NOW

Has NEW MOON got you fixated on Vampires?

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Authentic Vampire Killing Kit On Display at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square

New Yorkers and New York visitors fear not! With the number one movie in America, NEW MOON, raising awareness about vampires on the prowl, your guide to safety is on display right in the heart of Times Square at Ripley’s Believe it or Not!

New York’s most unusual and exciting attraction has an authentic vampire killing kit that was actually sold to superstitious travelers in Transylvania. The kit, which is over 150 years old and made in 1840, includes everything needed when face-to-face with a vampire. The kit is portable and includes an ivory cross, gun with silver bullets, a wooden stake, holy water and, of course, garlic.

“I’m still undecided on whether vampires are actually out there,” says Michael Hirsch, General Manager of Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square. “I can tell you that I do feel a little bit safer knowing what’s needed just in case I come across one of these fearsome creatures.”

Check out the AOL Video on Ripley's Vampire Killing Kit.

To learn how to protect yourself and see over 500 artifacts from all over the world, click here to purchase tickets

Think YOUR Family is Weird?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Think YOUR Family Is Weird?

Come to Ripley’s Believe it or Not! open every day until 1:00 a.m. during Thanksgiving weekend so you can see what weird really is!

Everyone thinks that Thanksgiving Day at their household is the strangest collection of people in the world. From the uncle in the corner whose drooling begins before dessert, to the cousins who have more turkey on their face than inside their mouth, Thanksgiving brings together family members that make us shake our head.

Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square is open all Thanksgiving weekend from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. (last ticket sold at midnight) so you can see what weird really means.

Purchase your tickets now and save plus and skip the line by purchasing online BUY NOW

Monster Python Slithers into Ripley's

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Monster Python Slithers Into Ripley's in NYC

Gatorland’s Speedbump entertains hundreds at Ripley’s Times Square

An 18-foot, 250 pound Burmese Python made an astonishing appearance at Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square on Thursday, November 12, amazing hundreds of passers-by walking on 42nd Street. Speedbump, a member of Gatorland’s new python exhibit in Orlando, Fla., was joined by other reptilian friends including other snakes and a few alligators. Fortunately, the display within Ripley’s museum of the python that ate an alligator whole was not replicated.

“This is exactly the sort of thing you can expect to see on any given day at Ripley’s Times Square,” said Michael Hirsch, general manager. “Ripley’s Believe it or Not! is personified by the strange and the fascinating and today was a perfect example. Imagine strolling down 42nd Street, walking into our lobby, and being greeted by a mammoth snake.”

Visitors had the opportunity to pet and hold Speedbump, and it took a total of 12 people to hold up the snake for the photo pictured here. Speedbump was acquired by Gatorland during a recent Pet Amnesty Day held in conjunction with the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) in an effort to educate consumers about the responsibilities of exotic pet ownership.

Berlin Wall History on Display at Ripley's Times Square!

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

With the 20^th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall approaching on November 9, museums around the world will have historic sections of the wall on display, including the Vatican, John F. Kennedy Library, the United Nations headquarters and 13 Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museums.

Yes – Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

Ripley’s owns what is likely the largest collection of Berlin Wall sections in the world - 16 10-by-10 foot sections of the wall, most of which are on display at its museums around the world, including right here in New York City.

“We’re proud to have a true piece of history among our over 500 artifacts,” says Michael Hirsch, General Manager, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square. “Our Berlin Wall display is a perfect example of the Ripley’s Times Square experience. Not only do we offer a journey into the unusual and bizarre, a visit to our attraction also exposes the minds of children and adults to cultures and historical events from around the world.”

So how did a company famous for oddities acquire 160 feet of the Berlin Wall?

“Like most of the country, we were watching the events unfold on TV,” said Edward Meyer, VP of Exhibits for Ripley’s Believe It or Not! “A couple of people in our company had the idea that something significant was about to unfold and we should get over there as fast as possible.”

Meyer was part of a small Ripley’s team that was soon on the ground in Berlin.

Meyer said “It was one of the most emotional things I have ever experienced. To walk in and out of holes in the wall and experience something that had been impossible for nearly 30 years was truly amazing.”

As people around him stuffed chunks of the wall into suitcases, Meyer started scouting for the most interesting sections he could find and prepared to make offers to buy them.

“It was a bit of a free-for-all, because no one really owned the wall,” he said. “We received assistance from an American diplomat who shall remain nameless, and we dealt directly with the German military.”

Ripley’s was soon the proud owner of 160 feet of Berlin Wall - 16 sections that each weighed about 2 tons.

“Buying it was easy. Getting it home was the hard part,” laughed Meyer.

The sections were taken down and put on a barge and floated up the river to Hamburg and eventually placed on a shipping vessel and sent to the U.S.

Meyer won’t reveal the purchase price, but says “it cost us about 50 times more to ship the collection to the U.S. than it did to buy it.”

Today most of the sections are popular exhibits at Ripley museums around the world. Two of the sections not currently on display will eventually head back overseas to go on display at proposed Ripley museums in Bahrain and Korea.

“We were there for one of the most historic events of the 20^th century,” said Meyer. “And our collection still serves as a living history lesson today.”

Ripley museums with Berlin Wall displays include: Orlando , New York City , London, Hollywood , San Antonio, Atlantic City , Ocean City , Panama City , Williamsburg , Gatlinburg , Thailand , Mexico City, Kuwait and Cavendish (Canada).

Multimedia materials:

Click here for a video of Edward Meyer talking about what it was like to be in Berlin as the wall was coming down. Click here for a video of Meyer talking about how he bought sections of the Berlin Wall and got them home.

To view images of some of the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Berlin Wall sections go to www.ripleysnewsroom.com

Media are welcome to visit their local Ripley’s museum to take pictures or video of the Berlin Wall displays, talk to people about the 20^th anniversary, etc.

Media contacts:

Michael Hirsch

Ripley’s Times Square

(212) 398-3133

michael@ripleysnewyork.com

Tim O’Brien

VP Communications, Ripley Entertainment Inc.

Office – 615-646-7465

Cell – 615-496-5949

Obrien@ripleys.com

About Ripley Entertainment Inc.

Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com), keepers of the venerable Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand, is a global leader in location-based entertainment, entertaining more than 13 million annually at its 74 attractions in 13 countries. In addition to its 32 Believe It or Not!museums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in 42 countries. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.

Ripleys Times Square announces Yankees Fan Promotion!

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Another Yankee World Series? Believe It or Not!

Ripley's Believe It or Not, Times Square, home to New York's most amazing collection of baseball artifacts, announces special Yankees fan promotion!

Young fans wearing their best Yankee gear get in FREE at Ripley's Believe It or Not, Times Square*.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square today announced a deal to root, root, root for the home team New York Yankees as they march hopefully toward a Believe it or Not! Major League record 27th World Series championship. For a limited time young Yankees fans can show their hometown pride by wearing their favorite Yankee apparel and get in free with the purchase of full-priced adult ticket at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square!

“The Yankees are bringing New York one step closer to clinching another World Series title, and no one is more excited than their hometown fans,” said Michael Hirsch, General Manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. “Baseball is near and dear to us here at Ripley’s. Robert Ripley, a former player himself, amassed an astounding collection of baseball memorabilia throughout his life, and Ripley’s Times Square is home to some of the most amazing baseball artifacts in the world. True baseball fans will be mesmerized by our unique collection.”

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square collection of baseball relics include:

· A 1931 Wooden Novelty postcard signed during Spring Training that has 16 autographs including Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Believe it or Not!, Claire Ruth, Babe Ruth’s wife.

· Three seats from the original Yankee Stadium from behind home plate taken in 1923.

· A movie in the theater room with a feature on The Bandits, a one-armed softball team.

· A collection of Ted Williams mementos from his 1994 induction and unveiling of the Ted Williams Hitters of Hall of Fame which includes his autograph, a 1950s Player of the Decade Baseball Heroes baseball card, inaugural cover to the opening of the museum, and more.

· During WWII, Robert Ripley was committed to fundraising. In 1939, he put together a charity softball game at Madison Square Garden that included 60 celebrities to raise money for The Boys Club of New York. Ripley stacked his own team, the Believe it or Nots, that included Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth, heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey, Jimmy Durante, W.C. Fields, Al Jolson, William Randolph Hearst, to name a few. In its day, the combined assets of the team members made it the richest and most valuable team ever assembled. We have on display 12 of the original uniforms worn by the team and a classic photograph of the Believe it or Nots with Babe Ruth laying in the foreground of the photo.

Fun Baseball Facts Courtesy of Ripley’s!

--Ty Cobb walked up to 30 miles a day during the off-season with lead in his shoes to maintain his lower body strength.

--In 1968, San Francisco Giants Manager Alvin Dark told reporters that NASA would "put a man on the moon before Gaylord Perry hits a home run." On July 20, 1969 Perry connected for his first ever home run - 20 minutes after Neal Armstrong walked on the moon!

--Toledo, Ohio's professional baseball team was known as the Mud Hens as early as 1896 and remains the only professional sports franchise in America with a feminine name.

--Stabbed to Death by a Baseball! Stanton Walker attended a ball game and was seated between two friends when one attempted to pass an open pocket knife to the other. Just as the knife passed in front of Walker it was struck by a foul ball and driven into his heart - killing him. (1902 incident reported by Ripley in 1939).

--Belt loops did not become standard on men's trousers until after WWI, but baseball players were using them on their knickers as early as the 1800s!

--The words "strike" and "hit" mean the same in every situation except in baseball parlance.

--There are 12,386,344 possible plays in baseball!

--Carlos May is the only Major League Baseball player to ever wear his birth date on the back of his uniform - May 17.

--The odds of a baseball fan being hit by a ball at a major league game are 300,000 to 1.

The Yankee Pride promotion will be valid from October 26^th until November 6^th 2009 for children ages 4-16 with the purchase of an adult ticket ($26.95). Children must be wearing Yankees apparel to receive free admission.

Ripley's Times Square Announces After Ghoul Special

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square today announced the launch of its “After Ghoul Special”, a month-long Halloween celebration where kids get in free! Ripley’s is the spot to be this October where every day is Halloween!

Monday through Thursday from 4 PM to 7 PM, kids will get in free with the purchase of an adult ticket ($26.95). Ripley’s staff will be dressed to impress in kooky and spooky costumes, handing out Jelly Belly treats to all kid customers visiting Monday-Thursday, during the “After Ghoul Special” hours at the Odditorium.
And if you dare, a Halloween story time will be held at 5:30 PM in the Ripley’s theater, read by one of Ripley’s ghoulish guides!

“Ripley’s is excited to announce the launch of its “After Ghoul Special”,” said Michael Hirsch, Ripley’s General Manager. “You can’t beat the value—and the fun—of this one of a kind Halloween celebration right in the heart of Times Square. No place is better suited for Halloween than Ripley’s Odditorium!”

Please note the “After Ghoul Special” will not be available on Columbus Day, Monday, October 12th, 2009. For more information about Ripley’s “After Ghoul Special” and other Halloween promotions please call 212-398-3133.

Warhol Head

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The shrunken head once owned by famed New York pop artist Andy Warhol—aka “The Warhol Head”—has found a new home, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Times Square today announced. The Warhol Head will become part of the world’s largest collection of shrunken heads at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Odditiorium, joining twenty-three others.

The Warhol Head, pictured above, originally belonged to a warrior in the jungles of Ecuador, who lost it in a battle with the Jivaro Indians. The Jivaros claimed the heads of enemies as symbols of bravery and displayed them—reduced to fist size—as war trophies. To shrink a head, the Jivaros slit the back of the neck and peeled the skin away from the skull. Once the skull was removed, they sewed the head, including the eyes and mouth, back together to ensure that the spirit of the dead did not come back to haunt them. Hot stones and sand were poured into the vacant cavity and the head was boiled in a broth of secret herbs. Finally, the miniaturized head was cured over an open fire to give it a distinctive leathery texture then decorated, in this case, with a headband adorned with the carapaces of iridescent green jungle beetles.

The Warhol Head was owned by Mr. Warhol from 1959-1972, when he sold it through the Winston House Gallery in New York City. From there it was owned by two different collectors of tribal art before being purchased by Ripley’s Entertainment this year. Ripley’s Entertainment is also in possession of a shrunken head once owned by another famous American, Ernest Hemingway.

“Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square welcomes the Warhol Head into its extraordinary 24-piece collection of shrunken heads,” said Ripley’s Times Square General Manager Michael Hirsch. “Each of these heads has its own vibe and personality and we very much look forward to getting to know the Warhol Head. Staff has reported chattering among the collection late at night about the new celebrity neighbor, but I’m not sure whether I believe that or not.”

About Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square
Situated in the heart of Times Square in Manhattan, New York, Ripley's Believe It or Not! offers visitors the ultimate insight into the world of the odd and bizarre. Hundreds of weird and unusual artifacts are displayed in more than 20 themed galleries spanning two floors. Whether examining a six-legged cow, a lock of Elvis' hair, 24 shrunken heads (the most on public display anywhere on the planet), a section of the Berlin wall, or a life-size albino giraffe, the amazing Ripley's Believe It or Not! collection proves that fact is indeed stranger than fiction. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square (www.ripleysnewyork.com) is located at 234 West 42nd Street and is open daily 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Call 212-398-3133.

About Ripley Entertainment Inc.
Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com), keepers of the venerable Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand, is a global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 13 million guests visit its 60-plus attractions operating in 12 countries annually. The Orlando-based company also has divisions that oversee publishing, licensing and broadcast operations. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.

Cat Man appearing August 29th - September 7th!

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square today announced that the internationally renowned “Cat Man” will be appearing as a curiosity in its odditiorium from August 29th through September 7th. Cat Man has transformed every inch of his body to appear tiger-like; from filing his teeth, tattooing tiger strips on his skin, and undergoing nearly 20 facial surgeries, including whisker implants and pointed ears.

“The dog days of summer are coming to an end; Cat Man is on his way!,” said Michael Hirsch, General Manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. “Cat Man is a must-see for people of all ages fascinated by the strange and bizarre. He will feel right at home at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square.”

Cat Man’s real name is Dennis Avner, a 50 year old male computer programmer from Tonopah, Nevada. His transformation from human to tiger makes him the most modified human being in the world. Claiming to have the mind and soul of a tiger, Avner has spent uncalculated amounts of money altering his body and has devoted much of his life to his feline obsession, including eating raw meat and climbing trees.

About Ripley Entertainment Inc.
Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com), keepers of the venerable Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand, is a global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 13 million guests visit its 60-plus attractions operating in 12 countries annually. The Orlando-based company also has divisions that oversee publishing, licensing and broadcast operations. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.

Ripleys LaseRace - A Huge Success

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley's Times Square LaseRace - A Huge Sucess!

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square visitors have been challenged by the same high-tech laser technology famously demonstrated by blockbuster Hollywood stars in films including Entrapment, Mission Impossible, and Ocean’s 12.

Ripley’s Impossible LaseRace™, which opened at Ripley's Times Square is the only LaseRace in New York City and tests the guile and agility of New Yorkers as they duck, shimmy, pivot, and crawl through a maze of brilliant red laser beams in an effort to achieve the best possible time. Touch a laser, and time is added onto your score.

“Catherine Zeta Jones made this look easy in Entrapment, but in real life it’s a challenge,” said Ripley’s Times Square General Manager Michael Hirsch. “People love it; the response to the LaseRace during our trial period was overwhelming. But I have to warn you, it’s addictive!”

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Times Square, at 234 w. 42^nd street in Manhattan, is open from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 A.M. (Tickets are sold until midnight.)

Buy your TICKETS now!

Celebrate the New Baseball Season at Ripleys!

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Fun Baseball Facts Released

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square today released a list of fun baseball facts to coincide with the start of the baseball season. It also formally announced its unique year-round collection of historical baseball memorabilia. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! founder Robert Ripley was a renowned baseball enthusiast and collector, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square has extraordinary baseball artifacts on display.

“New Yorkers are in baseball heaven this week, celebrating the openings of the new Yankee Stadium and Citifield,” said Michael Hirsch, General Manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. “Baseball is an historic American game, and there was no greater fan than Robert Ripley. He amassed an amazing collection of baseball memorabilia during his lifetime, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! has carried on his tradition. Ripley’s Believe it Or Not! invites New Yorkers to celebrate the 2009 season with a visit to our Times Square odditorium.”

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square collection of baseball relics include:

A 1931 Wooden Novelty postcard signed during Spring Training that has 16 autographs including Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Believe it or Not!, Claire Ruth, Babe Ruth’s wife.
Three seats from the original Yankee Stadium from behind home plate taken in 1923.
A movie in the theater room with a feature on The Bandits, a one-armed softball team.
A collection of Ted Williams mementos from his 1994 induction and unveiling of the Ted Williams Hitters of Hall of Fame which includes his autograph, a 1950s Player of the Decade Baseball Heroes baseball card, inaugural cover to the opening of the museum, and more.
During WWII, Robert Ripley was committed to fundraising. In 1939, he put together a charity softball game at Madison Square Garden that included 60 celebrities to raise money for The Boys Club of New York. Ripley stacked his own team, the Believe it or Nots, that included Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth, heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey, Jimmy Durante, W.C. Fields, Al Jolson, William Randolph Hearst, to name a few. In its day, the combined assets of the team members made it the richest and most valuable team ever assembled. We have on display 12 of the original uniforms worn by the team and a classic photograph of the Believe it or Nots with Babe Ruth laying in the foreground of the photo.

The following baseball facts, courtesy of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square, were released to the public today for their enjoyment.

Fun Baseball Facts Courtesy of Ripley’s!

Ty Cobb walked up to 30 miles a day during the off-season with lead in his shoes to maintain his lower body strength.
In 1968, San Francisco Giants Manager Alvin Dark told reporters that NASA would "put a man on the moon before Gaylord Perry hits a home run." On July 20, 1969 Perry connected for his first ever home run - 20 minutes after Neal Armstrong walked on the moon!
Toledo, Ohio's professional baseball team was known as the Mud Hens as early as 1896 and remains the only professional sports franchise in America with a feminine name.
Stabbed to Death by a Baseball! Stanton Walker attended a ball game and was seated between two friends when one attempted to pass an open pocket knife to the other. Just as the knife passed in front of Walker it was struck by a foul ball and driven into his heart - killing him. (1902 incident reported by Ripley in 1939)
Belt loops did not become standard on men's trousers until after WWI, but baseball players were using them on their knickers as early as the 1800s!
The words "strike" and "hit" mean the same in every situation except in baseball parlance.
There are 12,386,344 possible plays in baseball!
Carlos May is the only Major League Baseball player to ever wear his birth date on the back of his uniform - May 17.
The odds of a baseball fan being hit by a ball at a major league game are 300,000 to 1

About Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square

Situated in the heart of Times Square in Manhattan, New York, Ripley's Believe It or Not! offers visitors the ultimate insight into the world of the odd and bizarre. Hundreds of weird and unusual artifacts are displayed in more than 20 themed galleries spanning two floors. Whether examining a six-legged cow, a lock of Elvis' hair, 24 shrunken heads (the most on public display anywhere on the planet), a section of the Berlin wall, or a life-size albino giraffe, the amazing Ripley's Believe It or Not! collection proves that fact is indeed stranger than fiction. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square (www.ripleysnewyork.com) is located at 234 West 42nd Street and is open daily 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Call 212-398-3133.

About Ripley Entertainment Inc.

Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com), keepers of the venerable Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand, is a global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 13 million guests visit its 60-plus attractions operating in 12 countries annually. The Orlando-based company also has divisions that oversee publishing, licensing and broadcast operations. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.

Contact: Bill O’Reilly
212-938-0004

Madalena Phillips
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square
212-398-3133 X 221

President Obama Comes to Times Square! (Sort of)

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square today unveiled a portrait of President Barack Obama made entirely of gumballs—12,784 of them!

The one-of-a-kind, six-by-six foot portrait of the President, which can be seen for free from Ripley’s street entrance, will become part of Ripley’s Believe It or Not Times Square!’s permanent collection of unique presidential artifacts.

The collection already features a portrait of President Abraham Lincoln made entirely of Lincoln pennies, locks of George Washington’s, Abraham Lincoln’s and John F. Kennedy’s hair, and other amazing historical items.

“Ripley’s Believe It or Not Times Square! is proud to feature this truly unique presidential portrait,” said Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square General Manager Michael Hirsch. “It is a genuine work of art and it makes a wonderful addition to our presidential collection. This is a one-of-a-kind portrait that has to be seen.”

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square will begin a special gumball promotion Thursday at noon, in which guests can win free entrance into the “Odditorium”. Each guest will have one chance to purchase a gumball (25 cents) from a machine. Anyone drawing an orange gumball gets free admission. (One try per guest) The promotion will run until April 15th.

The portrait was designed artist Franz Spohn, and assembled by dozens of school children as part of a Martin Luther King Day celebration at the King Kennedy Center in Ravenna, Ohio.

About Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Situated in the heart of Times Square in Manhattan, New York, Ripley's Believe It or Not! offers visitors the ultimate insight into the world of the odd and bizarre. Hundreds of weird and unusual artifacts are displayed in more than 20 themed galleries spanning two floors. Whether examining a six-legged cow, a lock of Elvis' hair, 24 shrunken heads (the most on public display anywhere on the planet), a section of the Berlin wall, or a life-size albino giraffe, the amazing Ripley's Believe It or Not! collection proves that fact is indeed stranger than fiction. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square (www.ripleysnewyork.com) is located at 234 West 42nd Street and is open daily 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Call 212-398-3133.

About Ripley Entertainment, Inc. (http://www.ripleys.com/) is a leading global attractions company with annual attendance of more than 13 million. In addition to its 60-plus attractions, the Orlando-based company has publishing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the globally syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley's Believe It or Not! that still runs daily in 200 newspapers in 42 countries. There are now 30 Ripley's Believe It or Not!® odditoriums (including NYC) in operation. The unique attractions feature exhibits that one must see to believe - exhibits that are so bizarre, so odd, so strange, that even the most worldly and knowledgeable guests will be awestruck.

Bill O’Reilly:
212-938-0004
bill@nicholaslence.com
Nicholas & Lence Communications

Madalena Phillips:
212-398-3133 X 221
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square
madalena@ripleysnewyork.com

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square Launches

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

New York’s Most Unusual and Engaging Attraction Provides Schools with a One-of-a-kind Educational Field Trip Experience

Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square today launched its new School Field Trip experience, complete with study guides that meet state learning standards for multiple subjects. Tri-State area teachers now have a new and exciting option for field trips that will excite, amaze and educate their students.

“Our turnkey educational programs are adding a whole new dimension to school class trips,” says Michael Hirsch, general manager, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. “Kids love the different interactive exhibits and more than 500 unusual artifacts from around the world. Teachers will be blown away by how they tie into their curriculums in social studies, math, science, tolerance, and more.”

The study guides include a list of state learning standards that are met by a Ripley’s visit, easy to adapt interdisciplinary classroom activities, engaging handouts for students, unique homework assignments, and more. The guides are broken down into three age groups: grades K-4, grades 5-8, and grades 9-12.

Teachers and educators can download the study guides for free at http://www.ripleysnewyork.com/groups/downloads.cfm. For more information, or to book a school trip, please contact Ripley’s at (212) 398-3133.

About Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square

About Ripley Entertainment Inc.

Ripley's Times Square Celebrates Sword Swallower's Day

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

30 Feet of Solid Steel to be swallowed at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museums Worldwide

At 2:28pm on February 28, 2009, Sword Swallowers around the world will attempt to swallow over 360 inches of steel swords at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums worldwide for International Sword Swallowers Awareness Day. That’s over 30 feet of solid steel! Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) President Dan Meyer proclaimed the third annual “International Sword Swallowers Awareness Day” to raise awareness of sword swallowers around the world.

The day is co-sponsored by Ripley Entertainment, who together with SSAI, is inviting SSAI member sword swallowers to put on sword swallowing demonstrations at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! locations around the world. Sword Swallowers Tim Robbins, Lady Aye and Donny Vomit will perform at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square location this coming Saturday.

Why do sword swallowers need a day of awareness? “We sword swallowers risk our lives every time we swallow a sword, but many people don't believe it’s real, or they think the art has died out," explains Meyer, a sword swallower and Ripley’s Believe It or Not himself. "SSAI established this day to promote this ancient art that is still being carried on by a few dozen surviving practitioners, to honor veteran performers, to raise awareness of the medical contributions sword swallowers have made to the fields of medicine and science, to correct misconceptions and educate the public and medical professionals by putting on demonstrations for medical facilities and the media around the world.”

Why is Ripley’s co-sponsoring the day? “Because it’s great entertainment,” said Tim O’Brien, VP of Communications for Ripley Entertainment Inc. “Sword swallowers and Ripley’s go way back to the very first Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium, set up at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933. There, three performers, two of which were ladies, mesmerized huge crowds. Ripley’s has been home to sword swallowers around the world ever since.”

On February 28th sword swallowers will perform worldwide, with some attempting to set individual or small group records, while others will perform at Ripley’s Believe It or Not locations around the world. "Normally most of us perform alone," Meyer says. "By SSAI hosting ‘International Sword Swallower's Day’, it gives us a chance to all work together to be part of something much bigger, and performing at Ripley’s Odditoriums helps bring us all together."

On February 28th, SSAI sword swallowers will perform at Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditoriums in Ocean City MD, Hollywood CA, Orlando FL, Gatlinburg TN, Niagara Falls, New York City, and London, England. Highlights at Ripley’s locations will include performances by SSAI’s President Dan Meyer in London, the world’s tallest sword swallower, George the Giant in Hollywood, the world’s youngest sword swallower, Erik Kloeker and with his brother Travis Fessler in Gatlinburg, and the largest gathering ever of female sword swallowers in New York City. All Ripley’s performances will take place on 2/28/09 at precisely 2:28:09pm local time. At the end of the day, sword swallowers will submit reports of their activities to SSAI for review and to be submitted for consideration as a possible “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” cartoon.

“It’s a huge honor for us to carry on the great tradition of sword swallowers who have performed at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums over the years,” Meyer explains. “In light of this, SSAI is sending an open invitation to all sword swallowers worldwide to contact us and join us in swallowing swords at Ripley’s Believe It or Not museums and other locations on the 28th!"

To celebrate February as “National Swallowing Disorders Month”, sword swallowers not able to make it to a nearby Ripley’s Believe It or Not! location are invited to perform at local medical facilities to help raise awareness of esophageal cancer, dysphasia, GERD, and other upper gastro-intestinal and swallowing disorders. Since some sword swallowers perform charitable work for the medical community, SSAI is encouraging sword swallowers to put on demonstrations at medical facilities throughout the day. Sword swallowers will also perform at hospitals, nursing homes and orphanages for those who would otherwise have difficulty getting to theaters to see live performances. “Sword swallowers who participate in these activities find them rewarding,” explains Meyer. “On February 28th, many people will have the opportunity to see sword swallowing first-hand who would otherwise not have a chance to witness it."

“Many of us have been entertaining for years, and we love our work,” explains Meyer. “‘Sword Swallowers Day’ is a great opportunity for us to show the medical community and the rest of the world what we really do, and performing at Ripley’s locations helps us get the word out!”

The art of sword swallowing began over 4000 years ago in India, and requires the practitioner to use mind-over-matter techniques to control the body and repress natural reflexes to insert solid steel blades from 15 to 25 inches down the esophagus and into the stomach. With the demise of the traveling circus sideshow over the past several decades, there are currently less than a few dozen full-time professional sword swallowers actively performing the art of sword swallowing around the world today.

About Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square

About Ripley Entertainment

Ripley Entertainment, Inc. (http://www.ripleys.com/) is a leading global attractions company with annual attendance of more than 13 million. In addition to its 60-plus attractions, the Orlando-based company has publishing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the globally syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley's Believe It or Not! that still runs daily in 200 newspapers in 42 countries. There are now 30 Ripley's Believe It or Not!® odditoriums (including NYC) in operation with another to open in late 2007 in India. The unique attractions feature exhibits that one must see to believe - exhibits that are so bizarre, so odd, so strange, that even the most worldly and knowledgeable guests will be awestruck.

About The Sword Swallowers Association International

The Sword Swallowers Association International was founded in 2001 to preserve and promote the ancient art of sword swallowing, is comprised of sword swallowers from around the world and maintains a site with general information on sword swallowing for the general public at www.swordswallow.com.

For additional information, please contact:

Madalena Phillips, Ripley’s Times Square (212) 398-3133, madalena@ripleysnewyork.com

Be Shocked and Amazed at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square During the Holidays

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square will be delivering the largest holiday shock in New York City this holiday season when The Enigma, a puzzle - tattooed sideshow prodigy performs December 27 - 29 in the heart of Times Square.

The self-proclaimed 'Freak of Nature' emerged in 1991 and has since performed his all-agesshow around the world staging sideshow stunts that will make anyone's jaw drop. His utter disregard for the ordinary has resulted in a daring show one has to see to believe.

'He is more puzzling than many of our Believe it or Nots! inside the odditorium,' proclaimed Michael Hirsch, General Manager. 'When I was first introduced to The Enigma, I was amazed. I knew immediately that he was somebody we had to bring to perform live at Ripley's and what better time to do it than the Holidays.'

The Enigma's shows will be free of charge and discounted admission tickets to the Believe It or Not! Odditorium will be distributed to the Enigma's show crowd. He will perform on the hour, from noon to 8 p.m. daily.

About Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square
Situated in the heart of Times Square in Manhattan, New York, Ripley's Believe It or Not! offers visitors the ultimate insight into the world of the odd and bizarre. Hundreds of weird and unusual artifacts are displayed in more than 20 themed galleries spanning two floors. Whether examining a six-legged cow, a lock of Elvis' hair, 24 shrunken heads (the most on public display anywhere on the planet), a section of the Berlin wall, or a life-size albino giraffe, the amazing Ripley's Believe It or Not! collection proves that fact is indeed stranger than fiction. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square (www.ripleysnewyork.com) is located at 234 West 42nd Street and is open daily 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Call 212-398-3133.

About Ripley Entertainment, Inc. (http://www.ripleys.com/) is a leading global attractions company with annual attendance of more than 13 million. In addition to its 60-plus attractions, the Orlando-based company has publishing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the globally syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley's Believe It or Not! that still runs daily in 200 newspapers in 42 countries. There are now 30 Ripley's Believe It or Not!® odditoriums (including NYC) in operation. The unique attractions feature exhibits that one must see to believe - exhibits that are so bizarre, so odd, so strange, that even the most worldly and knowledgeable guests will be awestruck.

For additional information, please contact:

Madalena Phillips, Ripley's Times Square (212) 398-3133, madalena@ripleysnewyork.com

Tim O'Brien, Ripley Entertainment Inc. (615) 646-7465, obrien@ripleys.com

Kiss For Coats: A dare to care this holiday season

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

With over 90% of New York’s homeless in need of a warm coat and thousands of New Yorkers being forced to make a choice between buying a winter coat and putting food on the table or meeting other basic survival needs, New Yorkers will have an opportunity to drop this staggering statistic on December 12th.

98.7 KISS FM (WRKS) will be broadcasting live throughout the day from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square in Midtown Manhattan as they host their annual donation drive from 6am to 7pm. “The KISS Cares Coat Drive is in its 6th year collecting thousands of coats for New Yorkers in need, and we are so excited to bring it to Ripley’s Times Square this year”, 98.7 KISS FM (WRKS) Program Director, Rose Crichton explained. ”It’s a fun, family friendly venue right in the heart of the city and I couldn’t think of a better partner!”.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! will be offering live Side-Show performance shows throughout the day and an exclusive admission offer to all those who come donate a coat. “Ripley’s is ecstatic about the chance to support New York Cares, an excellent organization that has directly been aiding the homeless for over twenty years”, explained Ripley’s General Manager, Michael Hirsch. “We are encouraging all New Yorkers to extend their kindness and give to those who are experiencing trouble obtaining the necessities that many of us take for granted.”

Roaches are on the Menu at Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Who says there is no such thing as a free lunch?

They’re crispy; they’re crunchy; they’re on the menu at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium in Times Square. Visitors can sit down and dine white-glove style on live roaches on Halloween day from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

The payoff? The first 20 people to down a roach will get free admission to Ripley’s that day - and bragging rights for the rest of their lives. Diners are hereby given advance notice that condiment use is NOT allowed.

“The Halloween season highlights the oddities inside our museum, usually making our guests squirm and squeal but this Halloween we are looking to our guests to shock us- we want New Yorkers to come down and make us shriek,” said Michael Hirsch, general manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square.

For vegetarians and the squeamish, there’s another way to earn a free admission to the Odditorium, as long as they are pint-sized. From October 25th through October 31st, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is offering free admission to any costumed child with the purchase of an adult ticket.

Once inside, explore twenty-plus galleries of artifacts, videos and interactive exhibits of the world’s strangest oddities of nature, science, humanity and history. From ancient masks to Egyptian mummies to the world’s largest collection of shrunken heads, the Ripley’s exhibits are certain to both fascinate and make guests’ skin crawl this Halloween.

Feel free to bug us for more info.

About Ripley Entertainment, Inc. (http://www.ripleys.com/) is a leading global attractions company with annual attendance of more than 13 million. In addition to its 60-plus attractions, the Orlando-based company has publishing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the globally syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley's Believe It or Not! that still runs daily in 200 newspapers in 42 countries. There are now 30 Ripley's Believe It or Not!® odditoriums (including NYC) in operation. The unique attractions feature exhibits that one must see to believe - exhibits that are so bizarre, so odd, so strange, that even the most worldly and knowledgeable guests will be awestruck.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square New York's Most Unusual Event Space

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Corporate parties, weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other special events now possible in the shadows of over 500 amazing artifacts

Over 300 of New York City's best event planners kicked off the countdown to the holidays on Tuesday evening with a sample of Manhattan's newest and coolest event venue: Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square.

Taking unique events to a whole new level, Ripley's Odditorium, located in the heart of Times Square, allows guests to mingle with the world's tallest man, hissing cockroaches, and the largest display of real shrunken heads in existence while enjoying the outstanding food and service provided by 212-Events Catering and Event Planning.

"People are always looking for something different when planning their events," says Michael Hirsch, General Manager of Ripley's Believe it or Not! Times Square. "Well, it doesn't get any more unique than hosting your event where guests will be amazed by their surroundings. We're taking holiday parties out of the ballroom and bringing them into the unbelievable where guests will be talking about their experience long after the event is over."

Event planners were thrilled by the fascinating opportunities to be creative and the potential of the venue. "For those looking for something different and separate themselves from the rest of the corporate parties, Ripley's Believe it or Not! is an amazing location," said Sarah Hughes, Event Planner for Washington & Lee Law School Alumni Association. "The only thing that limits you from creating a once in a lifetime event is your imagination."

Ripley's Odditorium can host parties ranging from 50-1,300 people. For more information, to do a venue walk-through, or to book your event now, please contact their sales department at (212) 398-3133.

About Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square

Situated in the heart of Times Square in Manhattan, New York, Ripley's Believe It or Not! offers visitors the ultimate insight into the world of the odd and bizarre. Hundreds of weird and unusual artifacts are displayed in more than 20 themed galleries spanning two floors. Whether examining a six-legged cow, a lock of Elvis' hair, 24 shrunken heads (the most on public display anywhere on the planet), a section of the Berlin wall, or a life-size albino giraffe, the amazing Ripley's Believe It or Not! collection proves that fact is indeed stranger than fiction. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square is located at 234 West 42nd Street and is open daily 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Call 212-398-3133.

World Famous Cote-d'Ivoire Statues are linked to more than 2,000 pregnancies - So proceed with caution!

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium on 42nd Street in Manhattan will host the first stop of a three year, multi-city tour of the world famous Ripley's Fertility Statues!

"Please Don't Touch - Unless You Want a Baby!"

More than 2,000 women have reported they became pregnant shortly after touching the wooden statues. Many of them had been told by doctors they would never be able to conceive! Since the women’s stories became public in 1994, millions have visited the statues.

Beginning Aug. 26, the statues will be on display for a three-month engagement in the lobby of Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium in Times Square. Would-be parents are invited to come in and touch them for FREE during regular business hours.

The five-foot tall wooden statues were acquired from the Ivory Coast (Coted'Ivoire ) of West Africa in 1994, and were placed in the lobby of Ripley Entertainment's corporate headquarters in Orlando. Within months, 13 women, including staffers and office visitors were pregnant.

Following a December 1996 story in the Wall Street Journal chronicling the phenomenon, the demand to touch them became international news. In the ensuing years, the edifices made three trips around the world, stopping at Believe It or Not! museums, allowing millions easy and free access. They were retired to the Ripley warehouse in 2001, but due to great demand, they were put on display at the Ripley headquarters in Orlando where they have been seen by hundreds each month who made a special pilgrimage to see and touch the statues.

"For years now, we have been inundated with requests to make these statues available once again at our odditoriums throughout the world," said Edward Meyer, VP Archives & Exhibits for Ripley Entertainment. "Amazingly, people are still finding out about them and call us wanting an opportunity to come in and touch them. Due to this demand, we have decided to tour them again."

After New York City, the statues will spend a month each at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums in Grand Prairie Texas and Williamsburg, Va. They will begin 2009 in Branson, Mo.

About Ripley Entertainment, Inc. (http://www.ripleys.com/) is a leading global attractions company with annual attendance of more than 13 million. In addition to its 60-plus attractions, the Orlando-based company has publishing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the globally syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley's Believe It or Not! that still runs daily in 200 newspapers in 42 countries. There are now 30 Ripley's Believe It or Not!® odditoriums (including NYC) in operation. The unique attractions feature exhibits that one must see to believe - exhibits that are so bizarre, so odd, so strange, that even the most worldly and knowledgeable guests will be awestruck.

Contact:
Tim O'Brien
VP Communications, Ripley Entertainment
Obrien@ripleys.com
615-646-7465 - office
615-496-5949 - cell

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Opens in Times Square in New York City

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

New York City welcomes back the spirit of Robert Ripley with the opening of Ripley's Believe It or Not!® Times Square Odditorium. Thursday's opening marks the return of Ripley to New York, his home for more than 30 years, and to the city that proved that truth can truly be stranger than fiction. Ripley's Times Square houses the ultimate in the odd and bizarre including 24 shrunken heads, a section of the Berlin Wall and a 3,197 lb. meteorite, as well as items that are genuine New York including Babe Ruth's "Believe It or Not's??? New York team baseball uniform.

To celebrate the grand opening, Ripley's is hosting a celebratory ribbon cutting featuring iconic shrunken heads. In true Believe It or Not! fashion, a world-renowned sword swallower will cut the shrunken head ribbon after he pulls the 24 inches of solid steel from his own throat! Ripley's is also inviting New Yorkers and visitors to "Show Us Your Oddities??? prior to the ribbon cutting this morning, in which people showcase their own everyday oddities with an opportunity to win an invitation to the red carpet party this evening. The VIP extravaganza continues tonight in the quirky spirit of Robert Ripley, with celebrities like Kelly Osbourne, Jenny McCarthy and Carmen Electra who will walk a red carpet of hot coals along with performers from all walks of life including Lizardman, Catman and the woman with the world's longest fingernails. To view the red carpet action live, log onto http://www.ripleys.com/ tonight at 7 pm EST and see the star-studded web cast in real time.

"New York City is one of the most amazing cities in the world and it's easy to see why Robert Ripley made the Big Apple his home,??? said Bob Masterson, President, Ripley Entertainment Inc. "We are thrilled to bring Believe It or Not! back to the city where, in 1918, Ripley coined that now famous phrase. Ripley's Times Square Odditorium will house the greatest collection of unbelievable odd and unusual items ever assembled under one roof, from this world and beyond! This fantastic collection captures the essence of Mr. Ripley, the eccentric collector who proved to the world that truth could indeed be stranger than fiction.

Robert Ripley's New York
Robert Leroy Ripley, an icon in the world of cartoon art, the first person to be elected to the Trivia Hall of Fame, and the founder of an entertainment empire based on the premise that "truth can be stranger than fiction,??? first came to New York from San Francisco in 1913 at the age of 23. Working as an illustrator in San Francisco, Ripley was encouraged by his friend Jack London to go to New York and pursue his baseball dream or at least make more money from his drawings. He landed a job as an illustrator with the New York Globe and in 1914 he tried out for the New York Giants - and made the team! Unfortunately, in his very first game with the Giants, he broke his pitching arm. With his baseball career over, Ripley returned to the drawing board at the Globe and to living a full and rich New York City life including marrying a Ziegfeld Follies showgirl, living in a 28-room stone mansion on a private island off Mamaroneck and hosting grand parties during prohibition that would dazzle even the most jaded New Yorker.

About Ripley Entertainment
Ripley Entertainment, Inc. (http://www.ripleys.com/) is a leading global attractions company with annual attendance of more than 13 million. In addition to its 60-plus attractions, the Orlando-based company has publishing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the globally syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley's Believe It or Not! that still runs daily in 200 newspapers in 42 countries. There are now 30 Ripley's Believe It or Not!® odditoriums (including NYC) in operation with another to open in late 2007 in India. The unique attractions feature exhibits that one must see to believe - exhibits that are so bizarre, so odd, so strange, that even the most worldly and knowledgeable guests will be awestruck.

Read more Grand Opening Press"
City Guide

About Big Apple Entertainment Partners LLC Big Apple Entertainment Partners operate the Ripley's Times Square Odditorium. Big Apple Entertainment Partners LLC is controlled by Carni Development Group LLC, an investment vehicle established for the purpose of making investments in entertainment properties worldwide.

About Ripley's Believe It or Not!® Times Square Odditorium
Address: 234 West 42nd Street (between 7th and 8th Avenue)
Phone Number: (212) 398-3133
Hours: Open 365 days a year from 9am to 1am
Pricing: Adults - $26.95; children ages 4 - 12 years old - $19.95; students, seniors and military
personnel - $21.99