Robert Ripley Nominated for Sideshow Hall of Fame

ORLANDO, FL, April 05, 2012 (Press-News.org) 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.

"It is due time Rip makes it into the hall of fame, after narrowly missing it the last two years," said Tim O'Brien, VP Communications for Ripley Entertainment Inc. "We are going all out this year and plan to pull all the punches we can to make sure he gets elected."

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 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 Believe It or Not! Times Square is located at 234 W. 42nd Street in Manhattan. (212) 398-3133.

Contact:
Tim O'Brien
VP Communications
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
(615) 646-7465
(615) 496-5949
Obrien@ripleys.com

About Ripley' s Believe It or Not! Times Square
Located in Times Square in the heart of New York City, Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium brings people of all ages face-to-face with the world's most unbelievable curiosities. With 18,000 square feet of astonishing artifacts, exclusive oddities, exciting interactive exhibits and heart-stopping sideshow performers, this one-of-a-kind attraction welcomes visitors to experience the unusual and unexpected, where the entire family will rediscover wonder around every corner. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square is open from 9 - 1 a.m. Follow us on Twitter. Tell us your most unusual stories and like us on Facebook.

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 12 million annually at its 80-plus attractions in 10 countries. In addition to its 32 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.

About Coney Island USA
Coney Island USA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation based in the amusement park area of the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn New York. In existence since 1980, Coney Island USA has developed and produces a number of different programs including some of New York City's best loved summer programming, such as the Mermaid Parade and the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. Coney Island USA, also operates the Coney Island Museum and produces Ask the Experts, Burlesque at the Beach, the Coney Island Tattoo and Motorcycle Festival, Creepshow at the Freakshow, and the Coney Island Sideshow School. Coney Island USA also produces the Coney Island Film Society and the Coney Island Film Festival in association with indiefilmpage.com. The purpose of Coney Island USA is to defend the honor of American popular culture through innovative exhibitions and performances.