Ripley’s Believe It or Not! San Francisco Pays Tribute to Michael Jackson as Historic Wax Figure is Re-Introduced

21. Aug, 2009 Comments Off

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (Aug. 20, 2009) – The wax figure that Michael Jackson unveiled himself in San Francisco at the Guinness World Records Museum 25 years ago has come home and is now on display at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum.

Michael Jackson in San Francisco

On June 9, 1984, at the height of The Thriller Madness, Jackson visited the Guinness World Records Museum on The Fisherman’s Wharf. As Jackson climbed into the front window of the museum next to the wax figure, crowds numbering more than 5,000 lined the streets. Jefferson Street was closed and helicopters flew overhead, marching bands were playing on the corner. Jackson mania was everywhere.

On cue, Jackson tore away the paper that had been covering the window, revealing both himself and the wax figure to the crowd. When the Guinness museum closed in 1994, the figure was moved to the Niagara Falls Guinness and later to the Ripley’s art department in Orlando, Fla. where it was reconditioned before its trip back to San Francisco.

The historic figure is one of only two wax figures of Michael Jackson created from an actual life mask. It was sculpted by Oscar winning Hollywood makeup/special effects artist Rick Baker. The second wax figure, an exact replica of this one, was one of Michael Jackson’s prized possessions and was on display at his Neverland Ranch for years. It is now a part of the Jackson estate.

Current Ripley’s Believe It or Not! manager and 36 year veteran of the company, Ian Iljas was in charge of the Guinness museum the day Jackson visited. “It was a very special day for all of us who were involved. The crowds were amazing that showed up to catch a glimpse of him,” Iljas recalls. “The wax figure was very popular for years and I’m very excited to be able to bring it back home to San Francisco.”

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 70-plus attractions in 11 countries each year. In addition to its 30 Believe It or Not! museums, 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.