Latest news with #Ripley's
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Experience: I've made the longest chain of chewing-gum wrappers in the world
I don't know what to put it down to, but I've always been a collector, a completist, a statistician – and maybe a little competitive. As a schoolboy in Canada, I was fascinated by the Guinness Book of Records and Ripley's Believe It Or Not!. I would memorise the records and amaze my friends by quoting them. Little did I know then that in 1994 I would break a world record and feature in the book I adored as a young boy, all thanks to my childhood hobby – making paper chains out of chewing-gum wrappers. I learned how to do it in 1965, aged 14, after seeing the older kids in the playground folding their gum wrappers into neat, long chains. I took to it pretty quickly, and entered a competition to see who could make the longest in the class. I won that, and then I made the longest one in the school. Suddenly, all the kids in my neighbourhood were saving their gum wrappers for me to add to my chain. They even captioned my 1967 yearbook photo: 'Got any gum wrappers?' I never realised how unique my chain was until almost 25 years later. In 1992, my wife, Deborah, and I were visiting the Ripley's museum in Ontario. We saw a giant gum-wrapper chain hanging from the ceiling as part of one of the exhibits. As we stared up at it, we were both thinking the same thing: my chain is much bigger. Deborah nudged me and said: 'You'd better do something about that.' I spoke to the manager, and he put me in touch with Ripley's vice-president of acquisitions. He was impressed by my chain, but told me there was a Guinness World Record holder who had a longer one. My competitive nature kicked in. I went to the Wrigley's purchasing department and asked them to supply me with Juicy Fruit wrappers – my favourite flavour. They gave me 5,000 to begin with, then 10,000 more. Before long, I blew past the 7,400ft (2.25km) record and reached 10,000ft. I became the Guinness World Record holder for the longest gum wrapper chain in the world – at 12,105ft – in March 1994, and I have officially broken my own record eight times since. So far, no one has come close to beating me. The second-longest chain I'm aware of belongs to a fellow in Germany whose chain is 17,000ft. I connect with other chain-makers via my website and I call them my 'chain gang'. There are roughly 50 of us and we share photos of our chains and the lengths we've reached. According to the latest official measurement, my chain is 23.226 miles (37.4km) long. Getting the chain measured is quite an undertaking. Every five years, land surveyors come over, and two witnesses have to independently verify the length. It takes many hours. In March this year, they recorded that my chain was made of 2,963,789 wrappers. There have been plenty of exciting moments since I started 60 years ago. For example, when I reached the 10-mile mark, I was featured in a book called Weird Virginia and they dubbed me the 'World's Greatest Wrap Artist'. That was fabulous. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion In 2010, the president of Ripley's Entertainment invited me to New York so he could sign the 3 millionth link to the chain in Times Square in front of the press. It was such a thrilling day. I got my brother-in-law to help me load the chain into a van and drive it all the way to the city, where we set it up in a big auditorium in front of all the cameras. Recently, I learned I was a hit on TikTok – a video about me got 7.5m views. Some people wrote: 'Get a life! What is wrong with you?' To that, I say: I have a life. I'm retired now but I had a successful career as an operations manager of four businesses, which took me all over the world, including to the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Germany. I am a busy and fulfilled person. One day, I'd love to be able to say my chain is as long as a marathon (26.2 miles) – I'm only three miles off. After that, it would be poetic to reach 28 miles, which is the length of Virginia beach in the US, where I've lived with my wife since 2002. It's the largest pleasure beach in the world. The chain will keep growing as long as my hands keep working. To have something to show for your time on this earth is very gratifying. As told to Lara Olszowska Do you have an experience to share? Email experience@
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kim Kardashian's $4.8 million Met Gala dress drama: How Marilyn Monroe's iconic gown was damaged forever
's Iconic Birthday Dress Revisited The $4.8 Million Dress: A Piece of History Damage to the Iconic Gown: The Aftermath The Dress Remains at Ripley's Museum The 2025 Met Gala brought together the world's biggest stars at the Metropolitan Museum in New York on Monday evening. Celebrities from Hollywood and beyond strutted down the blue carpet, flaunting stunning designer outfits that fit the event's extravagant theme. But, as grand as these looks were, none could quite outshine the jaw-dropping outfit worn by a reality TV star three years 2022, the Met Gala's theme was "In America: An Anthology of Fashion," which invited celebrities to wear outfits that embodied a piece of American history. Reality TV star Kim Kardashian had a brilliant idea. She made a grand entrance in the iconic sequinned dress once worn by Marilyn Monroe, which was famously donned by the actress at President John F. Kennedy's birthday celebration in 1962. Marilyn's sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday" to the President in that dress not only sparked a scandal but also became one of pop culture's most defining original gown, crafted from sheer, skin-toned marquisette fabric and adorned with over 2,500 hand-sewn rhinestones, was designed by Jean Louis and sketched by Bob Mackie. In 2016, Canadian billionaire Jim Pattison acquired it at auction for an eye-popping $4.8 million. The dress was then kept in the Ripley's Believe It or Not museum. For the 2022 Met Gala, Kim Kardashian received special permission from Ripley's to wear the iconic piece, and she certainly turned heads while doing original gown was designed specifically for Marilyn Monroe, and it's said she was 'sewn into' it, highlighting the flawless fit. The dress was intended to be worn just once. However, with Kim Kardashian's body type and measurements differing greatly from Marilyn's, the gown naturally stretched when worn for a second time. In 2024, a photo shared by a Marilyn Monroe fan club exposed the full extent of the damage, showing holes, stretched fabric, and tears throughout the insiders claimed the damage to the dress was permanent, a statement Kim Kardashian strongly denied. Ripley's also responded, stating, "Great care was taken to preserve this piece of pop culture history. With input from garment conservationists, appraisers, and archivists, the garment's condition was a top priority." Despite these claims, the damage was visible, and the dress remains on display at Ripley's museum.
Listly
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Listly
Best Things to Do in Pattaya: Exploring Thailand's Coastal Playground
Pattaya's cabaret shows, like the Alcazar and Tiffany's, are world-famous for their dazzling performances, colourful costumes, and incredible artistry. These shows are a must-see for their celebration of Thai culture and entertainment. For a more quirky experience, visit unique museums such as Ripley's Believe It or Not! and the Museum of Illusions. Ripley's offers a mix of oddities, interactive exhibits, and fun attractions, while the Museum of Illusions provides mind-bending experiences with optical illusions and creative installations. Both are great for families and those looking for something out of the ordinary.
