Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2000

Release #431-00

 
Contact: Sunny Mindel/Curt Ritter 212-788-2958

MAYOR GIULIANI CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF MADAME TUSSAUD'S

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today celebrated the grand opening of Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum at 234 West 42nd Street in Times Square. The 85,000-square-foot Museum features six themed, interactive environments showcasing nearly 200 lifelike wax figures of New York's notable "movers and shakers," along with the world's most popular film, television, music, political, historical, social and sports celebrities.

The Mayor was joined by a star-studded cast at this evening's grand opening, including Tony Bennett, Donald Trump, Katie Couric, Dan Rather, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Evander Holyfield, Patrick Stewart, Al Roker, Liz Smith and RuPaul.

"Today we celebrate the continued rebirth of the New Times Square," said Mayor Giuliani. "Thanks to New Yorkers with vision and imagination, now when you look around 42nd Street and Times Square you notice the tremendous strides that have been made as a result of sensible cooperation between the City, the State and private industry. To date, nearly a billion dollars in private investment has been committed to the revitalization of 42nd Street, which has once again made Times Square a great place family entertainment."

The City contributed $13 million for the necessary condemnation efforts for the site on which the AMC Theaters and Madame Tussaud's Museum are located. Overall the City has contributed $62 million towards the redevelopment of 42nd Street. The Museum, which will create more than 150 new jobs, is expected to attract more than one million visitors per year.

Some of the exhibits visitors to the Museum will see include:

 

www.nyc.gov


Go to Press Releases | Giuliani Archives | Mayor's Office | NYC.gov Home Page
Contact Us | FAQs | Privacy Statement | Site Map