Ripley's

''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' is an American franchise founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims. Originally a newspaper panel, the ''Believe It or Not'' feature proved popular and was later adapted into a wide variety of formats, including radio, television, comic books, a chain of museums and a book series.

The Ripley collection includes 20,000 photographs, 30,000 artifacts and more than 100,000 cartoon panels. With 80-plus attractions, the Orlando, Florida-based Ripley Entertainment, Inc., a division of the Jim Pattison Group a Canadian global company with an annual attendance of more than 12 million guests. Ripley Entertainment's publishing and broadcast divisions oversee numerous projects, including the syndicated TV series, the newspaper cartoon panel, books, posters and games.

Syndicated feature panel

Ripley first called his cartoon feature, originally involving sports feats, ''Champs and Chumps'', and it premiered on December 19, 1918, in ''The New York Globe''. Ripley began adding items unrelated to sports, and in October 1919, he changed the title to ''Believe It or Not''. When the ''Globe'' folded in 1923, Ripley moved to the ''New York Evening Post''. In 1924, the panel began being syndicated by Associated Newspapers, (formed as part of a cooperative that had included the ''Globe''). That same year, Ripley hired Norbert Pearlroth as his researcher, and Pearlroth spent the next 52 years of his life in the New York Public Library, working ten hours a day and six days a week in order to find unusual facts for Ripley.

Other writers and researchers included Lester Byck. In 1930, Ripley moved to the ''New York American'' and was picked up by the King Features Syndicate, being quickly syndicated on an international basis.

Ripley died in 1949; those working on the syndicated newspaper panel after his death included Paul Frehm (1938–1978; he became the full-time artist in 1949), and his brother Walter Frehm (1948–1989); Walter worked part-time with his brother Paul and became a full-time Ripley artist from 1978 to 1989. Others who assisted included Clem Gretter (1941–1949), Bob Clarke (1943–1944), Joe Campbell (1946–1956), Art Sloggatt (1971–1975), Carl Dorese, and Stan Randall. Paul Frehm won the National Cartoonists Society's Newspaper Panel Cartoon Award for 1976 for his work on the series. Clarke later created parodies of ''Believe It or Not!'' for '' Mad'', as did Wally Wood and Ernie Kovacs, who also did a recurring satire called "Strangely Believe It!" on his TV programs. Other strips and books borrowed the Ripley design and format, such as Ralph Graczak's '' Our Own Oddities'', John Hix's ''Strange as It Seems'', and Gordon Johnston's ''It Happened in Canada''. The current artist is John Graziano and current researcher is Sabrina Sieck.

At the peak of its popularity, the syndicated feature was read daily by about 80 million readers, and during the first three weeks of May 1932 alone, Ripley received over two million pieces of fan mail. Dozens of paperback editions reprinting the newspaper panels have been published over the decades. Recent ''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' books containing new material have supplemented illustrations with photographs.

''Peanuts'' creator Charles M. Schulz's first publication of artwork was published by Ripley. It was a cartoon claiming his dog was "a hunting dog who eats pins, tacks, screws, nails and razor blades". Schulz's dog Spike later became the model for ''Peanuts Snoopy.

Books

Some notable books:
*''Believe It or Not!'' by Ripley The Big Little Book (1931)
*''Ripley's Believe It or Not'' (1929), reprinted in 2004
*''Ripley's Mammoth Book of Believe It or Not'' (1953)
*''Ripley's Giant Book of Believe It or Not'' (1976)
*''Ripley's 35th Anniversary Believe It or Not'' (1954)
*''Ripley's 50th Anniversary Believe It or Not'' (1968)
*''Ripley's Believe It or Not Special Edition 2012'' (2011)

A series of paperback books containing annotated sketches from the newspaper feature:
*''Ripley's Believe It or Not 1st Series'' (1941)
*''Ripley's Believe It or Not 2nd Series'' (1948)
*''Ripley's Believe It or Not 3rd Series'' (1954)
*''Ripley's Believe It or Not 34th Series'' (1982)

Ripley Entertainment produces a range of books featuring unusual facts, news stories and photographs. In 2004 Ripley Entertainment founded Ripley Publishing Ltd, based in the United Kingdom, to publish new ''Believe It or Not'' titles. The company produces ''the New York Times'' bestselling '' Ripley's Believe It or Not! Annuals'', the children's fiction series ''Ripley's RBI'', an educational series called the ''Ripley's Twists'', the '' Ripley's Believe It or Not! Special Edition'' in conjunction with Scholastic USA and a number of other titles. At the height of his popularity Robert Ripley received thousands of letters a day from the public, and Ripley Entertainment continues to encourage submissions from readers who have strange stories and photographs that could be featured in ''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' books and media.

The people whose items are featured in such books as ''Strikingly True'' have what Edward Meyer, Vice President of Exhibits and Archives at Ripley Entertainment Inc., describes as an obsession: "Whatever it is they're after, it is so important to them that all the rest of the world can go on without them. They want to make something that makes them immortal, makes them a little different than you and me". Despite the wide range of true and unbelievable art, sculpture, photographs, interactive devices, animal oddities, and recycled objects contained within the Ripley's collection, rarely considered are alien or witchcraft-type stories, which are, according to Meyers, difficult to prove. To be included in Ripley's Believe It or Not books, museums, or television shows, items must undergo scrutiny from Ripley's staff and be 100% authenticated.

Comic books

In 1953, Harvey Comics published the first ''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' comic book, titled ''Ripley's Believe It or Not! Magazine'' and lasted for four issues until March 1954.

From 1965 until 1980, Gold Key Comics published the second ''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' comic book, lasted for 94 issues.

In 2002, Dark Horse Comics published the third ''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' comic book, written by Haden Blackman an lasted for three issues and later collected in a trade paperback published by Dark Horse in May 2003 entitled ''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' ()

In 2015, Zenescope published a two issue comic edited by Terry Kavanagh.

Radio

On April 14, 1930, Ripley brought "Believe It or Not" to radio, the first of several series heard on NBC, CBS and the Mutual Broadcasting System. As noted by the website Ripley On Radio, Ripley's broadcasts varied in length from 15 minutes to 30 minutes and aired in numerous different formats. When Ripley's 1930 debut on ''The Collier Hour'' brought a strong listener reaction, he was given a Monday night NBC series beginning April 14, 1930, followed by a 1931–32 series airing twice a week. After his strange stories were dramatized on NBC's ''Saturday Party'', Ripley was the host of ''The Baker's Broadcast'' from 1935 to 1937. He was scheduled in several different 1937–38 NBC timeslots and then took to the road with popular remote broadcasts. ''See America First with Bob Ripley'' (1938–40) on CBS expanded geographically into ''See All the Americas'', a 1942 program with Latin music. In 1944, he was heard five nights a week on Mutual in shows with an emphasis on World War II. ''Romance, Rhythm and Ripley'' aired on CBS in 1945, followed by ''Pages from Robert L. Ripley's Radio Scrapbook'' (1947–48).

Robert Ripley is known for several radio firsts. He was the first to broadcast nationwide on a radio network from mid-ocean, and he also participated in the first broadcast from Buenos Aires to New York City. Assisted by a corps of translators, he was the first to broadcast to every nation in the world simultaneously.

As the years went on, the show became less about oddities and featured guest-driven entertainment such as comedy routines. Sponsors over the course of the program included Pall Mall cigarettes and General Foods. The program ended its successful run in 1948 as Ripley prepared to convert the show format to television.

Films, television, Internet, and computer game

The newspaper feature has been adapted into more than a few films and TV shows.

Film

* Ripley hosted a series of two dozen ''Believe It or Not!'' theatrical short films between 1930 and 1932 for Warner Bros. Vitaphone. A 2-DVD release featuring 24 of these theatrical shorts is available in the United States beginning March 16, 2010, from Warner Home Video, through their Warner Archive manufacture-on-demand program. Directors on the shorts included Murray Roth (on the first five), Roy Mack and Alfred J. Goulding (latter half of second season). Leo Donnelly assisted later on commentary. The titles of the series were all numbered accordingly:
**No. 1 / Vitaphone No. 1005, released May 4, 1930
**No. 2 / Vitaphone No. 1038, June 11, 1930
**No. 3 / Vitaphone No. 1053, August 31, 1930 (Film Daily review date)
**No. 4 / Vitaphone No. 1067, released September 5, 1930
**No. 5 / Vitaphone No. 1093, released September 12, 1930
**No. 6 / Vitaphone No. 1109, November 5, 1930
**No. 7 / Vitaphone No. 1148, January 5, 1931 (features Medal of Honor recipient Daniel R. Edwards)
**No. 8 / Vitaphone No. 1172, February 20, 1931
**No. 9 / Vitaphone No. 1189, released May 2, 1931
**No. 10 / Vitaphone No. 1197, released July 5, 1931
**No. 11 / Vitaphone No. 1211, released July 12, 1931
**No. 12 / Vitaphone No. 1267, released September 1931 (with extensive travelogue footage of Egypt)
**No. 2-1 / Vitaphone No. 1282, released November 5, 1931 (focuses on Algeria, Egypt and Morocco)
**No. 2-2 / Vitaphone No. 1294, released December 3, 1931
**No. 2-3 / Vitaphone No. 1304, released December 1931
**No. 2-4 / Vitaphone No. 1320, released January 2, 1932 (features child actor Billy Hayes visiting "Believe It or Not Land")
**No. 2-5 / Vitaphone No. 1336, released March 20, 1932
**No. 2-6 / Vitaphone No. 1346, released March 13, 1932
**No. 2-7 / Vitaphone No. 1361
**No. 2-8 / Vitaphone No. 1362
**No. 2-9 / Vitaphone No. 1363, April 23, 1932
**No. 2-10 / Vitaphone No. 1364, April 23, 1932
**No. 2-11 / Vitaphone No. 1412, released June 1932
**No. 2-12 / Vitaphone No. 1427, July 1932
* He also appeared in a Vitaphone musical short, ''Seasons Greetings'' (1931), with Ruth Etting, Joe Penner, Ted Husing, Thelma White, Ray Collins, and others.
* Ripley's short films were parodied in a 1939 Warner Bros. ''Merrie Melodies'' cartoon titled ''Believe It or Else''. Released on June 25, 1939, directed by Tex Avery and written by Dave Monahan, it featured a running gag in which Egghead (a prototype Elmer Fudd) appeared to declare, "I don't believe it!" On November 5 of the same year, another Avery documentary parody, ''Fresh Fish'', was released. Written by Jack Miller, this cartoon's running gag was a two-headed fish that kept swimming onto the screen to ask, "Pardon me, but can you tell me where I can find Mister Ripley?"
* 20th Century Fox produced another film short titled ''Acquitted by the Sea'', released on September 27, 1940, produced by Truman Talley and directed by Earl Allvine. This told an unusual story involving the ''Titanic''.

Possible film

In October 2004, Paramount Pictures announced plans for a film that would chronicle the life of Robert Ripley. The film was to be produced by James Jacks and his Alphaville Films company, associated with Paramount. Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski were hired to write the script. Jacks explained: "It's about the exploits of Robert Ripley, one of the most popular newspaper cartoonists in the '30s and '40s, who was well known for going around the world and looking for oddities and getting into adventures while doing so. We want to make a series of movies that, if not quite the truth, are the adventures that should have happened. We want to turn it into an ''Indiana Jones'', a goofy version, as played by Johnny Depp. When they saw we had the writers from ''Larry Flynt'', they thought that we wanted to make the kinky version, but we saw a chance to do a Spielberg-type movie with one of their characters".

In November 2005, Tim Burton was attached to direct the film, with Jim Carrey starring as Robert Ripley. Filming was to begin in October 2006, for a 2007 release. Paramount hinted that the film, if successful, could be the start of a ''Ripley's'' film series. In addition to Jacks, Sean Daniel and Richard D. Zanuck were to serve as producers for the film. Zanuck spent six weeks in China to scout filming locations for the project.

In June 2006, Paramount delayed the start of production on the film for at least a year because its projected budget went over the allowed $150 million. Carrey had waived his entire upfront salary to help keep costs low, but the project remained over budget. Burton and Carrey also wanted to have Alexander and Karaszewski make changes to the film's script to focus more on Ripley's ''Believe It or Not'' column. Carrey was adamant on avoiding what happened with his previous project '' Fun with Dick and Jane'', which required reshoots and additional editing as a result of beginning production without a script. Filming had been scheduled to begin in China in November 2006. Although Paramount could have delayed production to spring 2007, the film was delayed further to allow Burton to film ''Sweeney Todd''.

In December 2006, Burton and Carrey approved writer Steve Oedekerk to rewrite the script. Oedekerk had worked with Carrey on several previous projects. Production was to begin in China in winter 2008, for a 2009 release. Later in January, Zanuck said he was no longer involved with the project, and that he was unaware that it was proceeding. Oedekerk's draft was completed in June 2007, and was approved that month by Paramount, Burton, and Carrey. At that time, Carrey hoped to have production finished by summer 2008. Later that month, Paramount was searching for a new director.

In October 2008, Chris Columbus pitched an idea for the film that was approved by Carrey and Paramount. Columbus' idea involved scrapping the previous China-based storyline entirely. Negotiations were underway that month to hire Columbus as director, with plans to hire a writer afterwards. Paramount planned to release the film in 2011, and hoped that it would be the start of a ''Ripley's'' film series. In January 2011, Eric Roth was hired to write the script, with Carrey still attached to star. Ken Atchity and Chi-Li Wong joined the project as producers, alongside Jacks and Daniel.

Television

* The first ''Believe It or Not'' TV series, a live show hosted by Ripley, premiered on the NBC television network on March 1, 1949. Shortly after the 13th episode, on May 27, Ripley died of a heart attack and several of his friends substituted as host, including future ''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' president Doug Storer. Robert St. John served as host from the second season until the series ended on October 5, 1950.
* A revival of the original series, titled ''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'', aired from 1982 to 1986 on the ABC television network. Based on three pilots/specials conceived, produced and directed by Ron Lyon and Jack Haley, Jr. (1980–81), the series was a Haley/Lyon/Rastar production in association with Columbia Pictures Television. Featuring film star Jack Palance who hosted the popular series throughout its run, the series had three different co-hosts, who appeared from season to season, initially actress Catherine Shirriff followed by Palance's daughter, Holly Palance, later singer Marie Osmond. The 1980s series reran on the British and American versions of the Sci-Fi Channel during the 1990s; it last aired on NBCUniversal's horror/suspense-themed cable channel Chiller.
* A Canadian animated series, ''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'', was produced for Fox Family in 1999 by Cinar (now WildBrain), and followed the adventures of "Michael Ripley", Robert Ripley's nephew. The show was aimed at a younger audience, and would often feature Michael going around the world.
* Another revival, once again titled ''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'', aired from 2000 to 2003, produced by Columbia TriStar Television and shown on TBS. Hosted by actor Dean Cain, executive-produced by Dan Jbara and co-executive-produced by Dennis Lortz, the series took a slightly more sensationalistic approach to its subject matter and "premiered as the highest-rated original series on cable" at that time. The series was cancelled in October 2003 after four seasons. Like the previous syndicated live-action series, this latest edition was later aired on The Biography Channel, Chiller and Decades for reruns.
* In 2006, the Philippines made a local adaptation of ''Ripley's Believe it or Not!'' with a local host. ABC 5 (now known as TV5) was the first to make it with Raymond Bagatsing as host. The show however was short-lived.
* In 2008, GMA Network bought the rights and revived ''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' in the Philippines. This time Chris Tiu of the Ateneo Blue Eagles was chosen as host. It is part of the ''Bilib Ka Ba? Nights/Araw-araw'' (''Do You Believe? Nights/Daily'') programming block of the network which premiered on August 18, 2008 and lasted until September 22, 2010.
* In 2012, a composite parody of ''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' and ''Guinness World Records'' dubbed ''The Guinness O'Ripley Enormous Book of Curiosities, Oddities, and World Records'' served as the focus of the ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' episode " Squirrel Record", in which the title character assists his friend Sandy Cheeks in breaking the records within.
* Another revival titled ''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'', produced by Texas Crew Productions, with Bruce Campbell as the host, premiered on the Travel Channel in 2019.

Internet and games

* In 2006, the Ripleys.com website held a "Dear Mr. Ripley" contest in which contestants submitted "unbelievable" stories and with a public vote selecting a winner. The submissions included stories about a two-faced kitten, a car hurdler, a painting on human flesh canvas, a snake swallowing a golfball, an unopened deck of cards in a thin-necked bottle, a collector of Converse shoes with over 400 pairs, a man who survived a dumptruck falling on him, a painting made of nail polish, a child who played sports while hopping on a pogo stick, and a tongue swallower. The winners were announced on December 15 the same year.
* In 2003, a Ripley's Believe It or Not! pinball machine was released.
* The point and click adventure computer game '' Ripley's Believe It or Not!: The Riddle of Master Lu'' was published and developed by Sanctuary Woods and released in 1995.

Museums

When Ripley first displayed his collection to the public at the Chicago World's Fair in 1933, it was labeled Ripley's Odditorium and attracted over two million visitors during the run of the fair (in an apparent promotional gimmick, beds were provided in the Odditorium for people who "fainted" daily). That successful exhibition led to trailer shows across the country during the 1930s, and Ripley's collections were exhibited at many major fairs and expositions, including San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas, and Cleveland. In New York City, the famed Times Square exhibit opened in 1939 on Broadway. In 1950, a year after Ripley's death, the first permanent Odditorium opened in St. Augustine, Florida. The Odditorium is housed in the Castle Warden, built in 1888 by an associate of Henry Flagler, President of the Florida East Coast Railway.

, there are 28 Ripley's ''Believe It or Not!'' Odditoriums around the world. Odditoriums, in the spirit of ''Believe It or Not!'', are often more than simple museums cluttered with curiosities. Some include theaters and arcades, such as the ones in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Others are constructed oddly, such as the Orlando, Florida Odditorium which is built off-level as if the building is sinking.

Asia

Alphabetical, by country or district:
* Shanghai, China (closed) – This Ripley's museum was located at Huangpu River.
* Victoria Peak, Hong Kong (closed) – There was an Odditorium in The Peak, opened in 1998 and closed on March 20, 2005.
* Jakarta, Indonesia (closed) – This Ripley's museum, called the "Fun Odditorium", was located in the Pondok Indah Mall complex. It was the largest Ripley's Odditorium in the world (). It opened on September 28, 1995 and closed in the late 1990s.
* Kuwait City, Kuwait (closed) – This Ripley's museum was located in the Hadiqat Al Sheaab Amusement Park.
* Genting Highlands, Malaysia – This Ripley's museum was located in the First World Plaza. It reopened as Ripley's Adventureland located on level 4 in SkyAvenue.
* Mandaluyong, Philippines (closed) – This Ripley's museum was in the Shangri-La Mall in Ortigas.
* Jeju Island, South Korea (closed) – This Ripley's museum is located at the Jeju Jungmun resort.
* Pattaya, Thailand – This Ripley's museum is in Royal Garden Plaza in Pattaya. It appears as if an airplane has crashed into it.
* Dubai, United Arab Emirates – This Ripley's museum is located in Global Village features a mirror maze and a moving 4D theater.

Europe

Denmark

* Copenhagen – This Ripley's museum is a smaller one located close to the city hall and next to a museum of Hans Christian Andersen.

The Netherlands

* Amsterdam - The Ripley's Believe It or Not! Amsterdam museum opened on June 23, 2016, at the Dam Square, Dam 21, in a building that belongs to the Heritage of Amsterdam. It has more than 500 exhibits.

United Kingdom

* Blackpool – Located at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, this Ripley's museum is based in the popular holiday destination of Blackpool. It was located further north in the 1980s at a location adjacent to Central Pier.
* Great Yarmouth (closed) – There was an Odditorium in Great Yarmouth on the east coast of England. It opened in 1993 and closed in 1997. It is now an indoor miniature golf course that uses some of the leftovers from the Odditorium as scenery for the holes.
* London (closed) – This Ripley's museum was the world's largest and it opened on August 20, 2008, at the London Pavilion, 1 Piccadilly Circus, and closed on September 25, 2017. It housed over 500 exhibits. It was famed for its large collection of Marilyn Monroe's personal belongings and interactive exhibits over five floors, including a mirror maze and illusion tunnel.

North America

Canada

* Cavendish, Prince Edward Island – This Ripley's museum is located in a concentrated area of tourist attractions adjacent to the Prince Edward Island National Park. A lighthouse (the top broken) features the Ripley's sign. The museum is adjoined to a wax museum and also features a mini-golf attraction.

* Niagara Falls, Ontario – This Ripley's museum is shaped like a toppled over Empire State Building with King Kong standing on top of it. This is the second oldest Ripley's Museum in the world and is one of three in Canada. The museum was closed for major renovations between November 2015 and May 2016. The newly updated museum is the largest and most valuable museum for the company. Located across the street is a Ripley's 4D Moving Theatre, and up the street there is a Louis Tussaud's Wax Works which is owned by Ripley's.
* Toronto, Ontario – The Ripley's Aquarium of Canada opened in October 2013 next to the CN Tower and Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The structure boasts the longest underwater tunnel in North America. The aquarium was originally set to open in Niagara Falls, Ontario, near Great Wolf Lodge in 2007, but relocated to Toronto.

Mexico

* Guadalajara – Opened in 1994, this Ripley's museum is a small one like Mexico City's location. It is near downtown.
* Mexico City – Opened in 1992, this Ripley's museum is shaped like a medieval castle and has 14 exhibition halls within it. This was the first of three locations to open in Latin America.
* Veracruz – Opened in 2011, this Ripley museum is small and available in a mall with the associated Veracruz Aquarium and Wax Museum, has 150 figures on display, and features a mirror maze and rotating tunnel.
* Cancún – Opened in 2021, this Ripley's museum is located in La Isla Mall and features a mirror maze and laser maze.

United States

= California

=
* Buena Park (closed) – This Ripley's Museum was located in Buena Park's E-Zone district on Beach Boulevard, close to Knott's Berry Farm. This is the location where Steve Sindad broke the world record for consuming ranch dressing, drinking 61 bottles worth (about 7 gallons). It opened in August 1990 and closed on March 30, 2009.
* Hollywood – This Ripley's Museum is on Hollywood Boulevard.
* San Francisco – This Ripley's Museum is located near Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco.

= Florida

=
* Key West (closed) – Opened on April 15, 1993 in the former Strand Theatre, this Ripley's Museum was located on Duval Street. It then relocated to the former Planet Hollywood building nearby on July 6, 2003. It closed permanently in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* Orlando – Opened in July 1992, this museum is located on the busy International Drive tourist corridor, and is built to appear as though it is dropping into a sinkhole.
* Panama City Beach – Opened in June 2006, this Ripley's Museum is at the intersection of Front Beach Road, Middle Beach Road, and Thomas Drive on Panama City Beach and is designed to look like a 1950s luxury cruise liner that has run aground on the beach. It also has a moving 4D theater.
* St. Augustine – This is the oldest Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum, located in the Castle Warden. It was purchased shortly after Ripley's death in 1949 and opened in 1950. Before becoming home to his vast collections from his many travels, "The Castle", as it is known, was once a hotel which played host to many famous guests, including Ripley and author/owner Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases