''Ripley's Believe It or Not'' is an American television series that was broadcast on NBC from March 1, 1949, through October 5, 1950.

Format

''Ripley's Believe It or Not'' was an adaptation of the radio program ''Believe It or Not'', which was broadcast in various iterations on four networks from April 14, 1930, through September 3, 1948. Episodes of the TV program initially featured dramatizations of content of

Robert Ripley LeRoy Robert Ripley (February 22, 1890 – May 27, 1949) was an American cartoonist, entrepreneur, and amateur anthropologist, who is known for creating the '' Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' newspaper panel series, television show, and radio sho ...

's syndicated ''Believe It or Not'' newspaper comic feature. Each early episode featured a live reenactment of an almost unbelievable incident along with films that Ripley took during his travels. Ripley was the host until his death on May 27, 1949.

Bugs Baer Bugs may refer to: * Plural of Bug (disambiguation), bug Arts, entertainment and media Fictional characters * Bugs Bunny, a character * Bugs Meany, a character in the ''Encyclopedia Brown'' books Films * Bugs (2003 film), ''Bugs'' (2003 film), a ...

was the host on the May 31, 1949, episode.

Robert St. John Robert William St. John (March 9, 1902 – February 6, 2003) was an American writer, broadcasting, broadcaster, and journalist. Soyer was a member of the Writers and Artists for Peace in the Middle East, a pro-Israel group. In 1984, he signed a ...

later became the permanent host. Ming and Ling, "The Chinese Hillbillies", appeared on episodes along with Peggy Corday and Fritz De Wilde. Guests on the program included Charles Velo, who set an endurance record of riding a bicycle for 85 hours and 12 minutes. The premiere episode featured

Kuda Bux Kuda Bux (15 October 1905 – 5 February 1981, born Khudah Bukhsh) was an Indian magician and firewalker. Biography Khudah Bukhsh was born in Akhnur, Kashmir in 1905, to an ethnic Kashmiri family.When he was thirteen, he left home to lear ...

riding in a bicycle race while he was blinded by having "putty, lead foil, cotton, and yards of bandages" over his eyes. Highlights of other episodes included the story behind " Taps", the bugle call played at military funerals. Beginning January 4, 1950, the format shifted to presentation of "mystery and horror yarns said to be based on authentic records". Episodes broadcast in the revised format included "Murder in Duplicate" (January 25, 1950) and "The Dead Will Speak" (September 12, 1950).

Production

Douglas Storer was the packager. Producers included Richard Hurdle, Roger Muir, and Harry Herrmann. Directors included Herrmann and Richard Goode. Writers included Ben Kagen, Bill Alley, and Sam Cauter. Sponsors included

Motorola Motorola, Inc. () was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois. It was founded by brothers Paul and Joseph Galvin in 1928 and had been named Motorola since 1947. Many of Motorola's products had been ...

and Ballantine Beer. The program originated from WNBT. The program was initially broadcast on Tuesdays from 9:30 to 10 p.m. Eastern Time. It was moved to Wednesdays from 10 to 10:30 p.m. E. T. in July 1949, and it remained in that slot through September 1949. In October and November 1949 it appeared at various times. In January 1950 it was moved to Wednesdays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. E. T.; during May 1950 it was seen on Thursdays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. E. T. When it was canceled, it was replaced by '' The Peter Lind Hayes Show''.

Critical response

A review in the trade publication ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' said that in the premiere episode Ripley was "pretty wooden" and "plenty uncomfortable". It added that the episode had too many segments, which resulted in diminished treatment of each element. Some of Ripley's explanations, the review said, "were sketchy and incomplete". Overall, the review indicated that much needed to be done to improve the program. A review of the January 25, 1950, episode in the trade publication ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' complimented the acting, direction, and camera work, although it noted one "grisly bit which might well have been omitted by imaginative direction."

Audience measurement experiment

The August 24, 1949, episode of ''Ripley's Believe It or Not'' was used by Schwerin Research Corporation and NBC as the first in a series of tests related to TV programs. The trade publication ''

'' reported, "the system is claimed to give prospective sponsors a method to test program ideas in advance and current sponsors a way of testing effectiveness of their shows and commercials." Prior to the episode's broadcast, 2,000 New York City residents who owned TV sets received ballots to be used in the survey. A "split-signal system" made small numbers on the screen visible only to viewers in New York City, so that the numbers on the screen would "cue viewers when to note their reactions". Another component of the project had 300 people in a studio viewing a kinescope of the program.

References

{{Reflist 1949 American television series debuts 1950 American television series endings 1940s American reality television series 1950s American reality television series NBC original programming Ripley's Believe It or Not! television series