New York City Proves That Truth Can Be Stranger Than Fiction

On June 21, 2007, New York City welcomed back the spirit of Robert Ripley with the opening of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Odditorium. Ripley’s return to his past home of 30 years has proved that New York City is definitely the city that proved that truth can truly be stranger than fiction.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Odditorium houses the ultimate in the odd and bizarre, including the largest gallery of authentic shrunken heads, a section of the Berlin wall and a 3,197 lb meteorite, as well as items that are genuine New York including Bebe Ruth’s “Believe It or Not’s! New York team baseball uniform.

To celebrate the grand opening, Ripley’s hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring live ‘Believe It or Not Freaks and Side-show performers’ featuring the iconic shrunken heads. In true Believe It or Not! fashion, a world- renowned sword-swallower, Dan Meyer, cut the shrunken head ribbon immediately after pulling 24 inches of solid steel from this throat.

“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 of Ripley Entertainment Inc. “We are thrilled to bring Ripley’s Believe It or Not! back to a city where, in 1918, Ripley coined that now famous phrase. Ripley’s Times Square Odditorium houses 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”.