World-Famous Tower To Pay Tribute To

The World’s Most Famous Sailor Man January 16-18, 2004

To kick off the yearlong celebration of Popeye the Sailor Man’s 75th Anniversary, the Empire State Building will illuminate its world-famous tower lights green during the weekend of Jan. 16-18, 2004, sunet to midnight each night, as a tribute to the sailor’s enormous love of spinach. This special lighting represents one American icon, the Empire State Building, saluting another American icon, Popeye.

As part of the festivities, the Popeye costumed character will also meet and greet visitors in the main lobby of the Empire State Building from 10:30 to 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 16. This event is open to the public and is fun for kids of all ages.

In 2004, the mighty mariner will be honored through an array of exciting initiatives timed to his 75th anniversary. This will include an all-new, state-of-the-art, CGI animated special to be aired on television and released on DVD this holiday season, a wide range of new merchandise and several engaging events and promotions.

Countless fans worldwide have embraced Popeye since his introduction to the public on Jan. 17, 1929 in Thimble Theatre, Elzie Crisler Segar’s then 10-year-old comic strip. Introduced as a minor walk-on character, Popeye quickly eclipsed the older characters in popularity and he eventually became the strip’s star. With Popeye came a host of new, offbeat and famous characters, including his “goil,” Olive Oyl, Swee’pea, the “infink” Popeye adopted, J. Wellington Wimpy, the world’s most hamburger-obsessed moocher, and Bluto, Popeye’s combative competitor for Olive Oyl’s distracted affection.

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