Hollywood, CA (December 14, 2017) – In honor of the latest film from the esteemed Star Wars franchise being released, Star Wars: The Last Jedi™, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is bringing the original Star Wars lightsaber used by Luke Skywalker™ himself, Mark Hamill, in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™ to Hollywood! This is the first time the renowned movie prop is being put on public display.
Photo © Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
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.
(Example of a Graflex camera with flash gun. This Graflex is Stanley Kubrick’s Speed Graphic camera at the LACMA exhibit. Photo Credit: Seth Anderson via Flickr/Creative Commons)
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. I can think of nowhere better to unveil it for the first time to the general public than Ripley’s Hollywood Odditorium.” – VP of Exhibits & Archives for Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
The lightsaber will be displayed at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium located at 6780 Hollywood Blvd. for a limited engagement. The exhibit will be open to the public starting on Saturday, December 16, 2017 and will run through the middle of January.
Along with the lightsaber, a C-3PO® head used on Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and Peter Mayhew’s (Chewbacca® in Star Wars) hand print in concrete will be on display.
Photo © Ripley’s Believe it or Not!
Photo © Ripley’s Believe it or Not!
These classic film memorabilia artifacts will join Hollywood Ripley’s already extensive Star Wars collection which includes a portrait of Princess Leia™ made from 6,872 keyboard keys and holds secret messages. If you look extra hard, you can see “May the Force Be With You.”
Photo © Ripley’s Believe it or Not!
MEDIA CONTACT
Suzanne Smagala-Potts
Public Relations Manager
Ripley Entertainment
smagala@ripleys.com
Office: 407-345-8010 Cell: 727-439-0136
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.
Star Wars®, Lightsaber®, The Last Jedi, The Empire Strikes Back, Princess Leia®, Chewbacca® and C-3PO 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.
