Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Bringing an Original Star Wars® Lightsaber® to Branson for a Limited Engagement!
For Immediate Release
Branson, MO (February 26, 2020) – Just in time for BransonCon, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Branson is bringing an original Star Wars lightsaber used by Luke Skywalker™ himself, Mark Hamill, in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back!™. This exhibit is the first time the renowned movie prop will be on display in Branson.
Believe it or not, this lightsaber was constructed from a vintage 1930s Graflex camera flashgun. The handle still has the original Graflex logo etched into it. It comes from the archives of Gary Kurtz, the producer of the first two Star Wars films. A 1930s Graflex camera will also be on display alongside the lightsaber.
Photo © Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Believe it or not, Ripley’s 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. I am so excited to display it in Branson during BransonCon so fans can see one of the most important and famous movie props of all time!” – said John Dixon, General Manager, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Branson.
The lightsaber will be displayed at the newly renovated Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium located at 3326 76 Country Blvd. for a limited engagement. The exhibit will be open to the public starting on Friday, March 6, 2020, and will run through Sunday, March 22, 2020.
SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR BRANSONCON!
Ripley’s Branson is pleased to be a sponsor of the BransonCon, and as a special thank you to congoers, they can receive 50% off admission to Ripley’s Branson if they show their armband. BransonCon runs March 6 – 8, 2020.
RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT! BRANSON ODDITORIUM
Ripley’s Branson just completed its largest renovation in 10 years. Renovations include an all-new lobby, exhibits, and upgrades to many galleries inside.
Ripley’s collection and strikingly themed attractions are fun for the entire family. Adults and children alike become immersed in hands-on interactive games, historical artifacts, incredible art, animal oddities, pop-culture memorabilia, and stories of people and places that are incredibly hard to believe, but undeniably true.
Ripley’s Branson is open daily at 9:30 am. Sunday – Thursday, the last ticket is sold at 6 pm. On Friday & Saturday, the last ticket is sold at 8 pm.
For more information about Ripley’s in Branson, please visit Ripleys.com/Branson or Facebook.com/RipleysOdditoriumBranson.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
John Dixon
General Manager
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium Branson
dixon@ripleys.com
Office: (417) 337-5300 ext. 4610
Suzanne Smagala-Potts
Public Relations Manager
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
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. family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 15 million people visit its 100-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 countries around the world. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the second-largest privately held company in Canada. Learn more about Ripley’s Believe It or Not! by visiting Ripleys.com and following them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
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.
