GETTING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH
AMERICAN MOVIE CLASSICS' NEWEST RISING STAR...
"CUDDLES," THE SHE-CREATURE
(A Hot Air Balloon Unlike Any Other)

      When American Movie Classics decided to immortalize one of Hollywood's biggest stars as the official "Spokes-monster" of MonsterFest '99 - The Biggest Scare Ever, the premiere cable network tirelessly searched Tinseltown's cobweb-encrusted film vaults, looking for the perfect candidate to represent this unparalleled television event - a week long celebration of monster movies capped by a weekend marathon leading up to Halloween.

      After a lengthy audition process, it became clear that one of hollywood's greatest, though most temperamental, starlets had been overlooked for far too long. AMC vowed not to make the same mistake that the Academy had made back in 1956, when the commanding presence of' "The She-Creature" lit up screens across the country, yet failed to capture the coveted Oscar. Therefore,   American Movie Classics early this year commissioned the creation of a monsteriffic hot air balloon in her likeness. thereby honoring a true "movie classic" in the style befitting her greatness.

      "Cuddles." as she is affectionately known in film circles, began her present journey to stardom in Bristol, England, where 40% of the world's hot air balloons are made. But unlike most hot air balloons, Cuddles is that rare, one-of-a-kind, special-shape balloon which has been designed and hand-made for her debut voyage across the United States beginning September, 1999. Between Labor Day and Halloween, Cuddles will travel some 25,000 miles and visit 18 major cities before arriving as the guest of honor at Salem, Massachusetts' annual Halloween festival, one of the world's largest and longest-running.

NAME:
"Cuddles," The She-Creature

BIRTHPLACE:
Bristol, England

ADOPTED HOMETOWN:
Bethpage, New Yolk - home of American movie Classics.

PARENTS:
American Movie Classics and Cameron Balloons (who also  designed and built the Breitling Orbiter 3, the first balloon to successfully circumnavigate the globe) 

GESTATION  PERIOD:
Approximately six months from initial design through maiden voyage

HEIGHT: WEIGHT:
More than 80 feet tall (nearly nine stories) More than 1,100  pounds when empty.

WIDTH & MASS:
Cuddles balloons up to a whopping 6.000 pounds when fully inflated More than 70 feet wide 120.000 cubic feet of  air when fully inflated

CONSTRUCTION:
More than 2,350 yards of rip-stop nylon, with nearly 1.300 yards used just to create 'Cuddles'" amazingly huge appendages

HOLDS:
Approximately 5,000 pounds of hot air

EATS:
Propane fuel - approximately 35 gallons per hour

PROPELLED BY:
A 15-foot-high flame that heats the air within her "envelope" and sends her soaring through the air

HER TEETH:
Nearly 6 feet long

HER MOUTH:
A full 13 feet wide - enough to easily devour a small family

HER BASKET:
Hand-woven wicker with padded floor and sides, detailing, it measures 42" by 58", with a floor-to-railing height of 45" and a capacity of up to four passengers,  plus the pilot

HER TRAINER:
Cuddles chief pilot is Daniel Cave, one of the country's most experienced at flying special-shape balloons.   Backup  pilots are Beth Wright-Smith, Carolyn and Russ Grantham.

HER EXTENDED FAMILY:
A ground crew of 3-5 trained balloonists managed by crew chief Jane Cave are required to help Cuddles become airborne.

MAIDEN VOYAGE: September 1st, 1999 - somewhere over Albuquerque.  New Mexico. the ballooning capital of the world

       Overall, Cuddles' size ranks her somewhere between that of an average apartment building and Yankee Stadium - this girl is big!  Throughout her journey, which will cover some 25,000 miles, hundreds of people will ride Cuddles - some will fear her, some will tame her, but no one who sees her will ever forget her. She is a HUGE star in the truest sense of the word, and now, thanks to World Balloon and American Movie Classics, Cuddles will travel the country on her first-ever national tour, allowing millions of new fans to see her in a whole new light.

 AMERICAN MOVIE CLASSICS is the premiere 24-hour movie network featuring award-winning original productions about the world of American film. With one of the finest, most comprehensive libraries of classic films from the 1930s through the 1980s and a diverse blend of original series, documentaries and interstitials, the service offers in depth informationon timeless and contemporary Hollywood classics. Through the network's multiple platforms - AMC's website  http://www.amctv.com/, AMC's original broadband programming and AMC Magazine -- the entertainment provider informs passionate movie fans about the history behind the films. AMC is available in 71 million homes.