Press & Media
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Niagara Falls Odditorium Holds Free Sword Swallowing Shows on Saturday, February 25th
Ripley’s celebrates the art of sword swallowing on World Sword Swallower’s Day
NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. (Feb. 3, 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 Niagara Falls, Vanessa Neil, one of the few female sword swallowers in the world, will perform a free sword swallowing show outside Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Niagara Falls Odditorium, located at 4960 Clifton Hill. The show will start at 2:00 p.m. local time and culminate with an official “swallow” that will take place at 2:25:12 p.m. to coincide with the 2/25/12 date. Ripley’s Prize Giveaway and photo opportunities will follow.
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. “There, three performers, two of whom were women, mesmerized the huge crowds. Ripley’s has been home to sword swallowers around the world ever since.”
For a large selection of high resolution images, please visit:
http://www.ripleysnewsroom.com/swordswallowday2012/
Contacts
Madalena Phillips
Marketing & Public Relations, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Niagara Falls
905-356-2238 office
647-466-0295 cell
mphillips@ripleys.com
Tim O’Brien
VP Communications
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
(615) 646-7465 – office
(615) 496-5949 – cell
Obrien@ripleys.com
Dan Meyer
President
Sword Swallowers Assoc. International
(615) 969-2568
halfdan@aol.com
About Ripley Entertainment
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com) family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 12 million people visit its 80-plus attractions in 11 countries each year. In addition to its 31 Believe It or Not!Odditoriums, 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.
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.
About the Sword Swallowers Association International
Founded in 2001 to preserve the art of sword swallowing, SSAI (www.swordswallow.org) is comprised of sword swallowers from around the world and maintains a website with general information on sword swallowing for the general public at www.swordswallow.com
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Calling all Handlebars, Mouthbrows and Horseshoes- The Search for the Strangest Movember Mo is on!
- Ripley’s Niagara launches contest to find strangest Movember Mo’s in support of #Movember - Entries deadline is Novemeber 30th at Midnight. - Multiple Prizes
Niagara Falls, ON. November 23, 2011 – During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in Canada and around the world. With their “Mo’s”, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer. On November 30th, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! will conduct a contest to find the Strangest Stash. All gentlemen are invited to participate- the contest will begin at 5pm sharp at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditroum in Niagara Falls and will feature categories such as the longest stash, creative cut and strangest style. If you can’t make it to Ripley’s this Wednesday, you can also qualify for prizes by emailing photos and video of your Movember Moustache to Ripley’s Niagara prior to November 30th.
“It is important that we support such grassroots efforts to bring awareness and support crucial fundraising efforts for health issues effecting males. We often tend to overlook our health. Every moustache this Movember is a reminder for gentlemen everywhere to be proactive about their health get checked”, explains Tim Parker, General Manager of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditourium and judge this Wednesday.
The contest is open to all ‘Mo Bros’ across Canada. Videos and Photos can be sent to Madalena Phillips, Director of Public Relations for Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium at (mphillips@ripleys.com) prior to November 30th 2011 to qualify.
The strangest #Movember Mo will take home a night’s stay at Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls. Prizes will consist of charity donations, cash prizes, attraction tickets and Ripley’s swag.
Good Luck to all the Mo Bros who have groomed, trimmed and waxed their way into the annals of fine moustachery. May the strangest Movember Mo win.
For more information on the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Strange Movember Stash Search, please visit www.ripleysniagara.com.
For more information on Movember, please visit www.movember.com.
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Media Contacts Madalena Phillips Director of Marketing & Public Relations Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium 905-359-2866 – Niagara e. mphillips@ripleys.comRipley’s Believe It or Not! To Hold “Gimme Five” Food Drive to Fight Hunger in the Niagara Falls Area
Donate 5 cans of food and get a ticket to Ripley’s Niagara Falls Odditorium for only $5 from November 6th – 10th
Niagara Falls, Ont. (Oct. 27, 2011) – 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! Niagara Falls Odditorium for just $5 (regular adult ticket price is $13.99). All the food collected will go to Project S.H.A.R.E.
“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.”
Suggested donations include juice, soup, beans, tuna, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, pasta, tomato sauce and baby food.
Ripley’s Niagara Falls Odditorium is located at 4960 Clifton Hill. Hours are from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm Sunday through Thursday and 10:00 am to midnight Friday and Saturday.
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.
For more information, please contact us at nfalls@ripleys.com or 1 905 356 2238.
Media contacts:
Madalena Phillips
Marketing & Public Relations
Ripley Entertainment Inc.- Ripley’s Niagara
905-356-2238– office
647-466-0295 – cell
mphillips@ripleys.com
Tim O’Brien
VP Communications
Ripley Entertainment
615-646-7465 – office
615-496-5949 – cell
About Ripley Entertainment
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 12 million annually at its 80-plus attractions in 11 countries. In addition to its 31 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions, 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.
The World’s Most Extreme Escape Artist Escapes the Dagger Trap
Please follow along with our upcoming media and press events on Newsvine.
Please visit our Flickr Page for a complete reel of Photos from the event.
MEDIA ALERT: Steve Santini, World’s Most Extreme Escape Artist to Perform The Dagger Trap Deathly Escape Live.
What: Steve Santini to perform live escape of the The Dagger Trap.
Who: Steve Santini, a world-leading escape artist will escape a 150 pound steel plate with over a dozen razor sharp spikes aimed at Santini’s shackled body. As he attempts to escape, the deadly trap will be triggered at lightning speed, leaving Santini with a fraction of a second and zero margin for error to avoid certain death!
When: Tuesday, September 27, 2011. Live Escape of The Dagger Trap at 11:00 a.m. sharp.
Where: Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium, Niagara Falls, ON. (4960 Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada). Parking available on-site.
Interview: Video and Interview opportunities can be arranged in advance.
Media Kits: Available the morning of September 27, 2011.
For further information:
Madalena Phillips, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium e. mphillips@flintbrandhouse.com T. 647.466.0295
Sophie Dinicol, Buck Productions e. sophie@buckproductions.com T. 416. 362. 3330
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New Rides Coming To Ripley`s Moving Theater
Ripley’s Moving Theatre, the self-proclaimed “Innovator of Niagara Tourism” is introducing two new rides to their famous attraction, bringing a new meaning to their slogan Experience the Thrill. After months of planning, researching, and renovations, Ripley’s Moving Theatre is ready to unveil its latest project. A new lobby, new rides, and new technology are bound to attract a wide variety of guests, as well as past guests who are true adventure seekers. Snow Ride and Skate Race are the featured rides for the Summer 2011 season, and guests are invited to experience these adrenaline-pumping rides that incorporates a new 4D, Real-D technology which is the first of its kind in Niagara Falls. Visit the Ripley’s Moving Theatre today for the grand opening of the newest technology in Niagara Falls and have the most invigorating experience by being a part of a movie.
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Proceed with Caution- Unless You Want a Baby!
Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, the global authority on the weird, strange and bizarre has announced good news for any would-be mothers. The two authentic African fertility statues, which 2,000 women believe may have helped them get pregnant, will be on display in the lobby of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium in Niagara Falls in September 4th to September 26th 2010.
The 5ft tall wooden statues were acquired from the Baule people of the Ivory Coast (Cote-d ’Ivorie) of West Africa and within a year of going on display at Ripley Entertainment’s head office in Orlando, Florida, 13 office staff and visitors became pregnant. Following a three- year world tour in the late 1990’s, Ripley’s received over 2,000 letters from women how had been told by doctors that they would never conceive.
The good news for any would-be mothers, the statues are now back on the road for a 2010 international tour. The statues will be on display at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Niagara Falls September 4th to September 26th. “We are not making any claims for the statues, but it is amazing just how many women have told us they became pregnant after touching them, even though some of them had been told they would never give birth.”
Anyone who fancies what could possibly be the cheapest fertility treatment in the world is welcome to come try their luck at Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
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