Cavendish, PE (June 12, 2018) – Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium in Cavendish is getting a very special display. The original lightsaber used by Luke Skywalker™, played by Mark Hamill in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™ will be in Cavendish for a limited time this June.
Believe it or not, this lightsaber was constructed from a vintage 1930s Graflex camera flash gun. The handle still has the original Graflex logo etched into it. It comes from the archives of Gary Kurtz, the producer on the first two Star Wars films.
Edward Meyer, VP of Exhibits & Archives for Ripley’s Believe It or Not! acquired the piece at the Profiles in History Hollywood Auction on June 28, 2017, for a staggering $450,000!
“Luke Skywalker’s original lightsaber is the crown jewel in our Hollywood memorabilia collection. It is the most important and famous movie prop of all time,” says Meyer.
The lightsaber will be displayed at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium located at Mariner’s Cove Boardwalk in Cavendish for a limited time. The exhibit will be open to the public starting on Wednesday, June 13 and will run through to Monday, July 2.
“We are extremely lucky to be able to bring this piece of Star Wars memorabilia to the Maritimes,” says Matthew Jelley, President of Maritime Fun Group-PEI, the company that operates the Cavendish Odditorium. “We are looking forward to sharing it with our fellow Star Wars fans!”
The public is invited to view Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber during those two weeks. Ripley’s will also be hosting a special event on Saturday, June 23, for customers who show up in their Star Wars costume on June 23 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm to receive a special treat!
MEDIA CONTACT
Suzanne Smagala-Potts
Public Relations Manager
Ripley Entertainment
smagala@ripleys.com
Office: 407-345-8010 Cell: 727-439-0136
Jessica Caseley
VP- Marketing, Sales and Community Engagement
Maritime Fun Group – PEI
jessica@maritimefun.com
Office: 902-963-3939 ext 258
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 14 million people visit its 100- plus attractions in 11 countries each year. In addition to its 30 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 countries around the world. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the second-largest privately held company in Canada.
About Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium Cavendish
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium Cavendish is a franchise of Ripley Entertainment Inc and operated by Maritime Fun Group (www.maritimefun.com). Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium was the winner of the Franchise of the Year Award by Ripley Entertainment in 2017. Family owned and operated, Maritime Fun Group manages 14 attractions across Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, including Sandspit, Shining Waters Family Fun Park, and Magic Mountain.
Star Wars®, Lightsaber®, and The Empire Strikes Back, are trademarks of Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. LLC and/or Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC. Lucasfilm is not affiliated with, endorsing or sponsoring this display or press release.
