Category: Public Relations

Remington College partners with America’s Blood Centers and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America to recruit minority blood donors

Heathrow, Fla. – (July 1, 2010) – Remington College, America’s Blood Centers and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America recently wrapped up the second in a series of 3 Lives blood drives on Remington College campuses across the country and collected 795 pints of blood during the month of June.

The program is called 3 Lives – because three lives may be saved for every one pint of blood donated. The blood drives focus on the need for minority donors – especially African Americans.

According to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA), African American blood donors provide blood with unique antigens that is vital for people battling sickle cell and other life-threatening diseases. Many people with sickle cell require frequent blood transfusions and it’s best for them to receive blood that closely matches their own.

A total of 1479 pints of blood have been collected through the 3 Lives campaign this year. Each Remington College campus has held two blood drives in 2010, and another round of blood drives are scheduled for September on the following Remington College campuses:

• Remington College of Nursing in Lake Mary, Florida
• Remington College-Houston, North Houston and Houston Southeast campuses in Texas
• Remington College-Cleveland and Cleveland West campuses in Ohio
• Remington College-Dallas and Ft. Worth campuses in Texas
• Remington College-Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lafayette campuses in Louisiana
• Remington College-Mobile campus in Alabama
• Remington College-Memphis campus in Tennessee
• Remington College-Tampa campus in Florida
• Remington College-Colorado Springs campus in Colorado
• Remington College-Honolulu campus in Hawaii
• Remington College-Columbia campus in South Carolina

For detailed information on the blood drives, please visit www.3Lives.com.

The Remington College 3 Lives blood drives are part of “Remington College Reaches Out,” a series of community initiatives and charitable efforts to mark the college’s 25^th anniversary in 2010.

Based in Heathrow, Florida, Remington College offers diploma and degree programs at 20 campuses throughout the United States, including a new online campus. Its mission is to provide career-focused education through a variety of programs, including nursing, cosmetology, business office management and criminal justice.

For more information, call 1-800-448-6405.

About Remington College: Remington College is a common name used by all 20 campuses of a group of affiliated companies of privately-owned, post-secondary educational institutions based in Heathrow, Florida. Through its campuses, Remington College offers diplomas, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees in a variety of fields, including: cosmetology; nursing; healthcare; criminal justice; business; electronics; information technology; and more.  Course offerings vary by campus. Remington College and its predecessor companies have been part of the higher education community since 1985. For more information, please visit http://www.remingtoncollege.edu/. For the latest news about Remington College, visit http://today.remingtoncollege.edu/

Media contact:

Frank Wolff

Wellons Communications

407-339-0879 office

407-637-6000 cell

Frank@wellonscommunications.com

eSchool Solutions provides latest teacher absentee management system and professional learning software to nearly 75,000 new students nationwide

ORLANDO, Fla. (August 4, 2010) – eSchool Solutions®, the leading provider of integrated technology solutions for the pre K-12 education market, has signed with five new school districts this fall to provide its teacher absentee management system and professional learning software.

The new districts are:

• District of Columbia Public Schools (Washington, D.C.)
• Balsz School District (Phoenix, Ariz.)
• Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center (Richmond, Va.)
• Pleasanton Independent School District (Pleasanton, Texas)
• Benton-Carroll-Salem Schools (Oak Harbor, Ohio)

These districts join the more than 500 school systems—encompassing 29,000 schools— in the U.S. and Canada already using the Orlando-based eSchool Solutions. In addition, eSchool Solutions re-signed with dozens of other districts this year, including Toronto District Schools. The services purchased include:

SmartFindExpress: With the old-fashioned manual process, administrative assistants at the school level went through a tedious and time-consuming process in order to find substitute teachers. SmartFindExpress automates the process by selecting the most qualified sub for a specified classroom (it also works for custodial, lunchroom staff and bus drivers). New this fall, teachers will even be able to communicate with substitutes and monitor the whole process through their iPhones.

Electronic Registrar Online: It’s not enough to offer a number of staff development options. For maximum effectiveness, professional learning opportunities must align with student achievement goals. With ERO, staff development is strategic. Combining best practices with state-of-the-art technology, ERO enhances professional development by making it more targeted, customized and effective.

To learn more about the company, visit http://www.eschoolsolutions.com/ or call 800-776-8774.

About eSchool Solutions

eSchool Solutions® is the leading provider of integrated technology solutions for the preK-12 education market. In 1987, the Orlando-based company revolutionized substitute management for school systems, completely changing the way districts managed substitutes and employee absences. Now, as a total solutions provider, eSchool Solutions provides a full suite of products and services designed to improve administrative efficiency and help school districts work smarter. The company serves more than 500 school systems, encompassing 29,000 schools in North America.

Father’s Day fun includes a race weekend, World’s Greatest Dad Challenge

NIAGARA FALLS, ON. (June 4, 2010) – Dads can celebrate Father’s Day in style with a full lineup of activities at Ripley’s Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls.

Not only will dad enjoy his special day, but the whole family is sure to enjoy all the Great Wolf Lodge special events, including:

• Father’s Day Race Weekend: Get dads’ motor running by treating him to an exhibit of real stock cars in front of the Lodge and a chance to meet some of the drivers.

• World’s Greatest Dad Challenge: Think your dad is the greatest of all? Have him take part in the World’s Greatest Dad Challenge and test his skill at golfing, pie-eating, arcade games, dancing and tattoo wearing. It’s sure to be a blast and the winning dad gets a free night’s stay.

• Family Dance: On Friday, June 18, the entire family can put on their dancing shoes and get their groove on from 8:30-10:00 pm in the Grand Living Room.

• Father’s Day Fashion Show: Check out the latest fashions from the Trading Post in this Father’s Day fashion show.

• Father’s Day Paw Race: On Monday, June 21, the Great Wolf Lodge will hold the wildest, wackiest race you’ve ever seen. 406 “paws” will race down the waterslide and around the lazy river. Each paw has a suite number on it. The winning guest gets a free future nights stay at the Lodge. All guest rooms occupied on Sunday night will be entered in the race.

Rates for Father’s Day start at $219.95 and includes 2 Days Play with 1 Night Stay. A package including dinner, a gift for dad, souvenir photo and children’s activities starts at $269.95.

For reservations at the Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls, visit http://www.greatwolf.com/niagara/waterpark or call (800) 605-9653.

About Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls

Great Wolf Lodge (www.greatwolf.com) Niagara Falls, Canada, is owned by Ripley’s Niagara Water Park Resort, L.P., a Jim Pattison Group company, through a license from Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.

Great Wolf Lodge captures the adventure and the intrigue of the Northwoods with nature-inspired accommodations, multiple family-themed restaurants, Elements spa, an arcade with over 100 games and an interactive miniature golf course. Measuring more than 100,000 square feet with 2.5 million litres of water, the indoor waterpark complex includes 13 waterslides, three pools, two whirlpools, a large outdoor heated spa experience, a giant wavepool, a 500,000 litre lazy river, a 4,000 litre tipping bucket and more.  Well known for its environmental programs, Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls has been awarded four leaves in the Audubon Green Leaf™ Eco-Rating program.

About Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.

Great Wolf Resorts, Inc^®. (NASDAQ: WOLF), Madison, Wis., is North America’s largest family of indoor waterpark resorts, and, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, owns and operates its family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge^® and Blue Harbor Resort^™ brands.  Great Wolf Resorts is a fully integrated resort company with Great Wolf Lodge locations in: Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Williamsburg, Va.; the Pocono Mountains, Pa.; Niagara Falls, Ontario; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Wash.; and Concord, N.C.; and Blue Harbor Resort & Conference Center in Sheboygan, Wis.  Through Great Wolf Resorts’ environmental sustainability program, Project Green Wolf^™, the company is the first and only national hotel chain to have all US properties Green Seal^™ Certified – Silver.

The company’s resorts are family-oriented destination facilities that generally feature 300 – 600 rooms and a large indoor entertainment area measuring 40,000 – 100,000 square feet.  The all-suite properties offer a variety of room styles, arcade/game rooms, fitness rooms, themed restaurants, spas, supervised children’s activities and other amenities.  Additional information may be found on the company’s Web site at www.greatwolf.com.

Eighteen schools across the country each win $2,000 donation of school supplies

Heathrow, Fla. – (April 1, 2010) – After more than 36,000 votes from parents and public schools eager to fill needs in the classroom, Remington College is proud to announce the winners from its inaugural Adopt Our School program.

Schools competed for up to $2,000 worth of school supplies of their choice, courtesy of Remington College. Any public school in a Remington College campus market was eligible to compete.

Here are the winning schools for each Remington College campus:

Baton Rouge: St. Helena Central High School

Cleveland: Oliver Hazard Perry Elementary School

Cleveland West: Union School

Columbia (South Carolina): Camden Elementary School

Colorado Springs: Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy

Dallas: Ed Hodges Elementary School

Ft. Worth: Elkins Elementary School

Honolulu: Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind

Houston: O’Donnell Middle School

Houston Southeast: Park Place Elementary School

North Houston: Humble High School

Lafayette (Louisiana): Woodvale Elementary School

Little Rock: Little Rock Preparatory Academy

Memphis: Southern Avenue Charter School

Mobile: Orange Beach Elementary School

Nashville: Holloway High School

Shreveport: Bossier High School

Tampa: Pine Grove Elementary School

Remington College is now working with the winning schools to purchase the items that the schools want – and need. Remington College will be supplying everything from band instruments to school uniforms to backpacks.

“As educators, we know how important it is to have the resources that students need,” said Jack Forrest, Remington College President and CEO. “We want to help schools in our local communities by helping fill the gap created by budget pressures. In the final analysis, nothing is more important to the health and future of the community than an educated citizenry.”

Remington College will hold another Adopt Our School competition in the fall, with another $2,000 worth of school supplies for the winning schools.

The Adopt Our School program is part of “Remington College Reaches Out,” a series of community initiatives and charitable efforts to mark the college’s 25^th anniversary in 2010.

Based in Heathrow, Florida, Remington College offers diploma and degree programs at 20 campuses throughout the United States, including a new online campus. Its mission is to provide career-focused education through a variety of programs, including nursing, cosmetology, business office management and criminal justice.

For more information, call 1-800-448-6405.

About Remington College: Remington College is a common name used by all 20 campuses of a group of affiliated companies of privately-owned, post-secondary educational institutions based in Heathrow, Florida. Through its campuses, Remington College offers diplomas, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees in a variety of fields, including: cosmetology; nursing; healthcare; criminal justice; business; electronics; information technology; and more.  Course offerings vary by campus. Remington College and its predecessor companies have been part of the higher education community since 1985. For more information, please visit http://www.remingtoncollege.edu/. For the latest news about Remington College, visit http://today.remingtoncollege.edu/

Media contact:

Frank Wolff

Wellons Communications

407-339-0879 office

407-637-6000 cell

Frank@wellonscommunications.com

“King for a Day, the Story of Stories” teaches children how to unlock their imagination and discover possibilities!

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. (August 12, 2010) – No need to kiss a frog or chow down on a poison apple. Becoming royalty these days just requires a bit of imagination and a flip of a page.

Acclaimed illustrator Mark Wayne Adams, who has illustrated more than 15 picture books and written two other stories, is launching his latest book, King for a Day, the Story of Stories, this month that helps children unlock their imaginations.

Fans are invited to meet Adams at the book’s launch party.

When: Saturday, Aug. 14 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Altamonte Springs

Web: www.kingforaday.me

In Mark Wayne Adams’ illustrative style King for a Day provides a whimsical look at the way children take their passions and create imaginative stories from everyday life. Complete with enlightening writing and drawing exercises, this story will win the hearts of children and adults everywhere. This enduring tale allows children to discover visual and expressive techniques through sketchbook journaling.

From the book:

“Have you ever wanted to change an ordinary day into an extraordinary story?

Well, first you must find your life’s passion!

A passion is not a place or a thing.

It is an action—an action that makes you happy.”

The book is published through Adams Illustration & Design and Caballo Books, the publishing side of the design company. For more information on Adams, visit http://www.markwayneadams.com.

King for a Day: ISBN-13:  978-1-59616-008-8           ISBN-10:  1-59616-008-X

ABOUT MARK WAYNE ADAMS (http://www.markwayneadams.com)

Mark Wayne Adams has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and resides in Florida. His professional career ranges from a caricature artist to art director for companies like The Walt Disney Company to Caballo Books. In addition to writing and publishing children’s books, he is the illustrator of more than 15 children’s books. Growing up as a librarian’s son, it seemed a natural development for him to create illustrations for a new generation of readers. His insightful quote “The greatest treasure is your story. What role will YOU play?” has inspired his audience to seek out their unique life’s passion.

Mark Wayne Adams’ company is dedicated to the design and production of a variety of children’s picture books. The company contribution to authors’ books has received numerous awards, including the Eric Hoffer Award, Benjamin Franklin Award, Independent Publishers Award, Mom’s Choice Award, Indie Excellence Award, and Moonbeam Award.

Mark Wayne Adams’ goal is to inspire children to create and build confidence in their remarkable talent.

All of Mark Wayne Adams’ books are available in bookstores nationwide, as well as on www.Amazon.com and www.markwayneadams.com. Mark Wayne Adams is available for interviews, as well as school, bookstore and professional events. Please contact Mark Wayne at http://www.markwayneadams.com.

Niagara Falls resort caters events to families with preschoolers, including early evening story time, pup painting and extra sweet activities

NIAGARA FALLS, ON. (August 12, 2010) – Young pups will rule Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls during September! The award-winning resort and indoor water park is throwing an activity-filled extravaganza designed just for its younger guests and their families.

From Sept. 7-19, Great Wolf Lodge is hosting “Wolf Pups Week,” where guests will experience an extra dose of age-appropriate adventures.

• Little ones will hang on the edge of their seats as Great Wolf Lodge storytellers reveal exciting and inspiring tales of Niagara Falls. The daily story time takes place with bedtimes in mind—with special early evening hours.

• Pup painting allows our younger guests to recreate the inspirational settings of Niagara Falls and its surrounding natural wonders—all with their own paws. Supervised finger painting takes place in the Lodge’s craft and creative hangout, the Cub Club.

• Top off a long day at the Lodge’s indoor water park with a sweet treat. Children will be able to choose from mounds of toppings in order to decorate their very own Lodge cookie. Then, it’s bon appétit.

Of course, the Great Wolf Lodge’s major attraction is its massive all-indoor and weatherproof water park. It includes 13 waterslides, three pools, two whirlpools, a large outdoor heated spa experience, a giant wavepool, and a 500,000 litre lazy river.  That’s not to mention the looming Fort Mackenzie, a four-story interactive treehouse water fort that offers 12 levels of super-soaking fun, and of course, the Niagara Rapid Run, a water roller coaster that will definitely get the kids (and parents) howling.

It even offers exciting-yet-safe areas for preschool-age kids with fun Kiddie Slides and the Frog Pond, where little kids learn to jump from lily pad to lily pad.

When the young pups aren’t living it up at the water park, there’s still plenty to do—like the luxurious Scooops Kids Spa, where children between 4 and 12 can get manicures, pedicures and facials in a banana-split inspired environment. Or they can jumpstart the morning with the always entertaining Forest Friends Show, starring Mother Bear and Ringo Raccoon, in the Grand Living Room.

While little ones are the focus during “Wolf Pups Week,” there’s plenty to do for the rest of the family. Guests will find numerous styles of upscale, nature-inspired accommodations, multiple family-themed restaurants, Elements spa, an arcade with more than 100 games and an interactive miniature golf course.

For Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls reservations, visit http://www.greatwolf.com/niagara/waterpark or call (800) 605-9653.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Keith Simmonds

General Manager Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls
Ph: 905.354.4888, email: simmonds@ripleys.com

About Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls

Great Wolf Lodge (www.greatwolf.com) Niagara Falls, Canada, is owned by Ripley’s Niagara Water Park Resort, L.P., a Jim Pattison Group company, through a license from Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.

Great Wolf Lodge captures the adventure and the intrigue of the Northwoods with nature-inspired accommodations, multiple family-themed restaurants, Elements spa, an arcade with over 100 games and an interactive miniature golf course. Measuring more than 100,000 square feet with 2.5 million litres of water, the indoor waterpark complex includes 13 waterslides, three pools, two whirlpools, a large outdoor heated spa experience, a giant wavepool, a 500,000 litre lazy river, a 4,000 litre tipping bucket and more.  Well known for its environmental programs, Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls has been awarded four leaves in the Audubon Green Leaf™ Eco-Rating program.

About Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.

Great Wolf Resorts, Inc^®. (NASDAQ: WOLF), Madison, Wis., is North America’s largest family of indoor waterpark resorts, and, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, owns and operates its family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge^® and Blue Harbor Resort^™ brands.  Great Wolf Resorts is a fully integrated resort company with Great Wolf Lodge locations in: Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Williamsburg, Va.; the Pocono Mountains, Pa.; Niagara Falls, Ontario; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Wash.; and Concord, N.C.; and Blue Harbor Resort & Conference Center in Sheboygan, Wis.  Through Great Wolf Resorts’ environmental sustainability program, Project Green Wolf^™, the company is the first and only national hotel chain to have all US properties Green Seal^™ Certified – Silver.

The company’s resorts are family-oriented destination facilities that generally feature 300 – 600 rooms and a large indoor entertainment area measuring 40,000 – 100,000 square feet.  The all-suite properties offer a variety of room styles, arcade/game rooms, fitness rooms, themed restaurants, spas, supervised children’s activities and other amenities.  Additional information may be found on the company’s Web site at www.greatwolf.com.

###

Enter If You Dare!

ORLANDO, Fla. (August 31, 2010) – Ripley Publishing builds on its worldwide success with the August 10 launch of a new annual, the seventh in its multimillion bestselling series. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Enter If You Dare! is an all-new collection of the strangest stories and features from around the globe.

A mind-boggling array of incredible and bizarre facts, stories, interviews and features are presented in a stunning new design.

New highlights include “Ripley’s Revealed,” an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at such subjects as contortionism, fire-eating and sword-swallowing. Enter If You Dare! also includes interviews with some of the planet’s most extraordinary people that explore their motivations, while “Ripley’s Research” boxes explain the science behind some of the most incredible tales in the book.

Stories from the book include:

• A Wisconsin man spent 17 years building a sports car in his cellar – then realized he had no way to get it out of his house. You won’t believe what he did to get it out!
• A teenager from Nepal is the smallest man on earth. He stands 22 inches tall and weighs just 10 pounds.
• A real-life fat cat in England weighs a whopping 22 pounds and likes to pig out on cheese-and-onion potato chips. He was chosen to be part of a weight loss group for porky pets.
• A Chicago woman needed something to wear to a party, so she made a dress – out of salami and bacon.
• A man spent 15 years building a model out of matchsticks – 4,000,000 matchsticks!

Enter If You Dare! also contains a dramatic double gatefold that details the shady world of vampires, and two single gatefolds – a tribute to Coney Island sideshows and a lifesize portrait of tiny teenager Jyoti Amge – she stands just 23 ½ inches tall!

Enter If You Dare! is sure to continue the massive success of the expanding Ripley’s book brand.   The book is available for purchase through all major book retailers, online and at Ripley’s Odditoriums.

Contact information

Edward Meyer, Vice-President, Exhibits and Archives, Tim O’Brien, Vice President of Communications, and Anne Marshall, Publisher, are available for interviews, as are many of the people featured in the book.

Media contact:

Frank Wolff

407-339-0879 office

407-637-6000 cell

frank@wellonscommunications.com

About Ripley Publishing

Ripley Publishing is the publishing arm of Ripley Entertainment Inc., the owner of the internationally famous trademark Ripley’s Believe It or Not! As world authority on all that is unbelievable, the company offers up its vast archives of the strange and unusual through books, television shows, tourist attractions, motion pictures, merchandise and the worldwide syndication of its daily newspaper cartoon. Ripley researchers across the globe are busy each day digging deep into the world of the odd and bizarre to compile enough fresh and exciting material to fill the Believe It or Not! series of books published each year.

New additions include Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze & Candy and Toy Factory; hundreds of new exhibits

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – (June 23, 2010) – Ripley’s Believe It or Not! San Francisco Odditorium, a popular Fisherman’s Wharf attraction since 1967, will reopen after undergoing a mega-makeover that took several months and $5 million dollars to complete.

A media preview day will be held on Tuesday, June 29 from 10 am to 1 pm. Reporters and photographers will have full access to see and try out the exhibits in the Odditorium and can interview Ripley’s representatives before the museum opens to the public.

“If you have visited us in the past, as millions have since we first opened, you certainly won’t recognize us now,” said Ian Iljas, Ripley’s general manager. “Not only do we have a new, fresh and colorful look and new exhibits, but we also have expanded the space and now offer a mirror maze with hundreds of mirrors and a candy and toy factory that has an amazing choice of bulk candies and unique toys.”

With more than 70 new interactive and hands-on exhibits, it’s the most interactive Believe It or Not! Odditorium in the world!  It is home to more than 300 exhibits, 80% of which are new, in 18 themed galleries, with a new emphasis on the Bay Area.

Highlights include:

• The car that the late Buck Helm was in when it was crushed during the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. Helm spent 89 hours in the vehicle under tons of rubble. The car was donated to Ripley’s by the Helm family and it has never been on display in the Bay Area, having spent the last 20 years in Los Angeles.

• The world’s smallest Golden Gate Bridge replica – made from a single toothpick.

• The restraint chair from the former gas chamber on San Quentin’s death row.

• Joe DiMaggio war memorabilia.

• “Goliath,” the world’s largest sea lion, acquired from P.T. Barnum.

• Space shuttle Columbia, a model made from 600,000 matchsticks.

• Celebrity portraits made entirely of candy, including a lovely, licorice-laden Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson made from gum drops.

• A wedding dress made from toilet paper.

• A ball of human hair weighing 167 pounds.

Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze & Candy &Toy Factory is where “mirror, mirror on the wall” goes to a whole new level, with more than 200 mirrors spread across nearly 2,000 square feet of space. After completing the amazing maze, visitors can treat themselves to a treat from the colorful new candy store. It has a splendiferous variety of candies of all kinds – from old fashioned root beer barrels to the most current confections, all set in a fantasy candy factory surrounding.

“Visitors will find a new emphasis on San Francisco in our attraction,” said Iljas. “It’s a great testament to Robert Ripley, who called San Francisco home for a time.”

Robert Ripley joined the San Francisco Bulletin as a cartoonist in 1909 and then moved to the San Francisco Chronicle where he worked until heading to New York City in 1912.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! San Francisco Odditorium is located at 175 Jefferson Street.

For ticket information and hours please visit http://sanfrancisco.ripleys.com/.

Contacts:

Tim O’Brien                                                     Ian Iljas

VP Communications                                       Manager

Ripley Entertainment Inc.                               Ripley’s Believe It or Not! San Francisco

Office – 615-646-7465                                   Office – 415-202-9850

Cell – 615-496-5949                                       Cell – 415-515-5359

Obrien@ripleys.com iljas@ripleys.com

About Ripley Entertainment Inc.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! San Francisco is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com) family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment.  More than 13 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.

Additions offer Bay Area families and Fisherman’s Wharf visitors new opportunities for fun, family outings!

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – (July 1, 2010) – Ripley’s Believe It or Not! San Francisco Odditorium, a popular Fisherman’s Wharf attraction since 1967, has reopened after undergoing a mega-makeover that took several months and $5 million dollars to complete.

Additions include Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze & Candy and Toy Factory and hundreds of new exhibits

“If you have visited us in the past, as millions have since we first opened, you certainly won’t recognize us now,” said Ian Iljas, Ripley’s general manager. “Not only do we have a new, fresh and colorful look and new exhibits, but we also have expanded the space and now offer a mirror maze with hundreds of mirrors and a candy and toy factory that has an amazing choice of bulk candies and unique toys.”

With more than 70 new interactive and hands-on exhibits, it’s the most interactive Believe It or Not! Odditorium in the world!  It is home to more than 300 exhibits, 80% of which are new, in 18 themed galleries, with a new emphasis on the Bay Area.

Highlights include:

• The car that the late Buck Helm was in when it was crushed during the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989.  Helm spent 89 hours in the vehicle under tons of rubble. The car was donated to Ripley’s by the Helm family and it has never been on display in the Bay Area, having spent the last 20 years in Los Angeles.

• The world’s smallest Golden Gate Bridge replica – made from a single toothpick.

• The restraint chair from the former gas chamber on San Quentin’s death row.

• Joe DiMaggio war memorabilia.

• “Goliath,” the world’s largest sea lion, acquired from P.T. Barnum.

• A model of the Space Shuttle Challenger made from 600,000 matchsticks.

• Celebrity portraits made entirely of candy, including a lovely, licorice-laden Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson made from gum drops.

• A wedding dress made from toilet paper.

• A ball of human hair weighing 167 pounds.

Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze is where “mirror, mirror on the wall” goes to a whole new level, with more than 200 mirrors spread across nearly 2,000 square feet of seemingly dead end paths. Special lighting and sound effects make this a fun and unique family activity!

Ripley’s Candy & Toy Factory is a colorful, fun and tasty addition to the Believe It or Not! and the Marvelous Mirror Maze! A huge and splendiferous variety of candies of all kinds – from old fashioned root beer barrels to the most current confections are available as are unique and fun toys.

“Visitors will find a new emphasis on San Francisco in our attraction,” said Iljas. “It’s a great testament to Robert Ripley, who called San Francisco home for a time.”

Robert Ripley joined the San Francisco Bulletin as a cartoonist in 1909 and then moved to the San Francisco Chronicle where he worked until heading to New York City in 1912.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! San Francisco Odditorium is located at 175 Jefferson Street in the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf.

The Odditorium opens daily at 9 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; and Midnight on Friday and Saturday.

For ticket information and hours please visit http://sanfrancisco.ripleys.com/.

For high-resolution, downloadable images, please go to Ripley’s Newsroom.

Contacts:

Tim O’Brien                                                     Ian Iljas

VP Communications                                       Manager

Ripley Entertainment Inc.                               Ripley’s Believe It or Not! San Francisco

Office – 615-646-7465                                   Office – 415-202-9850

Cell – 615-496-5949                                       Cell – 415-515-5359

Obrien@ripleys.com iljas@ripleys.com

About Ripley Entertainment Inc.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! San Francisco is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com) family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment.  More than 13 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.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Atlantic City looking for contestants for August 18 face frenzy

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – (Aug. 2, 2010) – Got a face that can launch a thousand ships? Did you get in trouble as a kid for making faces? If so, that mug just might win you some cash and a place in history from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Atlantic City.

Ripley’s is looking for contestants for its 14^th annual Great Face Off. The contest is to find the person who can make the funniest, silliest, weirdest, creepiest or craziest face.

The winner gets $300 in cash and a picture of their winning face on permanent display at Ripley’s Atlantic City Odditorium.

People who think their face has what it takes can try out for the contest either in person at Ripley’s Atlantic City Odditorium or send a digital picture of their craziest face to ripacac@aol.com. All prequalified contestants will receive a free Ripley’s t-shirt on the day of the event.

Mugs that make the cut will be invited to the Great Face Off competition on Wednesday, August 18 at 11 a.m. at Ripley’s Atlantic City Odditorium, located at New York Ave. and The Boardwalk.

For more information and downloadable images of past winners, such as Joe Zappulla, shown here, the 2009 winner, go to Ripley’s Newsroom.

Contacts:

Chris Connelly

GM, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Atlantic City

Office – (609) 347-2001

ripacac@aol.com

About Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Atlantic City is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com) family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment.  More than 13 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.