```Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas' is a beloved holiday tale that has been embraced by over 700 Toys R Us stores in the U.S. and Canada,'' said Tim Rothwell, senior vice president, licensing, merchandising and retail development, Universal Studios Consumer Products Group. ``I am pleased with the level of execution and commitment that Toys R Us has demonstrated in support of `The Grinch.' This holiday fantasy becomes reality at Toys R Us.''

``The well known recognition and popularity of `The Grinch' makes it the ideal property for Toys R Us to use as a cornerstone to launch our holiday season,'' said Warren Kornblum, executive vice president, worldwide marketing and brand management, Toys R Us, Inc. ``Beginning in November, we will be transforming our stores into `Whobilation Headquarters,' with the most aggressive visual merchandising display in our company's history. Customers who shop at Toys R Us are going to be `wowed' from the moment they enter the store by the unbelievable displays and visual elements featuring `The Grinch.'''

Toys R Us is offering customers the opportunity to experience the fun and excitement of ``The Grinch'' by using it as their featured event for this holiday season. Whoville will be recreated in every Toys R Us store in North America with ``Grinch'' themed feature shops and customized signage and banners portraying imagery from the film throughout all areas of the store. A wide variety of ``Grinch'' products from plush, figurines, candy, ornaments and interactive games will be available.

Customers at the Herald Square store in New York City will be greeted at the 34th Street entrance with 8' high, three dimensional film characters including ``The Grinch'' over the front doors. Floor to ceiling themed window graphics highlighting the key characters from the film will be prominently positioned on all store windows.

A national Toys R Us Scan & Win Sweepstakes offers customers the unique opportunity to win a Grand Prize of $1,000,000. Game pieces will be featured in Toys R Us newspaper circulars, Visa billing statements, Women's Day Magazines and Carol Wright mailers. Customers may bring the game piece to their local Toys R Us stores to be scanned at any of the store's price scanners to see if they've won. In addition to the Grand Prize, other prizes include $250,000 or $50,000 in Visa credits, Dodge Caravans, trips to Universal Studios theme parks, $1,000 Toys ``R'' Us shopping sprees, Toysrus.com shopping sprees, and other great prizes. The Toys R Us promotion will be supported with national television advertising spots and print ad circulars reaching over 250 million customers. Also, beginning in mid-October, the Toys R Us website will feature ``The Grinch'' merchandise at www.toysrus.com.

The delightfully off-kilter world of ``Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas'' comes to spectacular life on the big screen from Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment. Director Ron Howard (``Apollo 13'') and producer Brian Grazer (``The Nutty Professor'') create a hilarious and charming new live-action comedy fantasy starring Jim Carrey as ``The Grinch.''

Aided by a stellar team including the artistry of Academy Award�-winning special make-up effects designer Rick Baker, production designer Michael Corenblith and costume designer Rita Ryack, ``Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas'' brilliantly re-creates the magical town of Whoville and its unique inhabitants. The film also stars Molly Shannon, Christine Baranski, Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor and Bill Irwin.

Toys R Us, the world's leading resource for kids, families and fun, currently operates 1,553 stores worldwide: 707 toy stores in the United States, 469 international toy stores, including franchise stores; 201 Kids R Us children's clothing stores; 137 Babies R Us stores; and 39 Imaginarium stores. The company also sells merchandise on its Internet sites at www.toysrus.com, www.babiesrus.com and www.imaginarium.com and through mail order catalogs.

Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is a division of Universal Studios, a diversified entertainment company and worldwide leader in motion pictures, television, home and location based entertainment. Universal Studios is a unit of The Seagram Company Ltd., a global entertainment and beverage company.

[Posted 9/18/2000]