Few franchises have captured the world’s fascination with the bizarre, unusual, and extraordinary like Ripley’s Believe It or Not. What started as a newspaper feature in the early 20th century has become a global phenomenon, encompassing books, museums, television shows, and more. Each iteration presents strange but true stories that challenge our understanding of the world and leave us marvelling at the wonders around us. This article delves into the incredible history, unique attractions, and continuing legacy of Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
The Origins of Ripley’s Believe It or Not
Ripley’s Believe It or Not story began with one man—Robert Ripley. Born in 1890 in Santa Rosa, California, Ripley was fascinated with the odd and unexplained from a young age. He started his career as a sports cartoonist, but his real break came in 1918 when he published Champs and Chumps, featuring strange sports-related facts. This idea evolved, and by 1919, his cartoons began featuring oddities from around the world, ultimately transforming into what we now know as Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
Ripley’s approach was simple: he collected bizarre facts, curiosities, and records from his travels and compiled them into comic strips. The oddities he discovered fascinated people, and soon, the cartoon series was syndicated in hundreds of newspapers worldwide. Ripley’s passion for exploring the strange and unknown allowed him to present a new and exciting way to see the world—whether it was through discovering unusual cultural practices, natural phenomena, or human feats of endurance.
Expansion into Books and Television
The success of the newspaper cartoons was just the beginning. As Ripley’s fame grew, so did the public’s appetite for more. In 1929, the first Ripley’s Believe It or Not book was published, compiling the best oddities and facts from his collection. The book was a massive hit, propelling the brand into other media forms.
In the 1940s, Ripley’s Believe It or Not expanded into radio, bringing the strange stories directly to listeners. Robert Ripley hosted the show, using his engaging personality to narrate the unusual facts. The show’s success made it clear that the world was curious about the bizarre. Ripley’s Believe It or Not reached new heights in the following decades with television shows, most notably the 1980s TV series hosted by actor Jack Palance. These shows visualized the strange phenomena that had previously only existed in print, creating an even more immersive experience for the audience.
Ripley’s Odditoriums: Museums of the Unusual
One of the most popular attractions associated with Ripley’s Believe It or Not is the “Odditoriums.” These museums, scattered across the globe, house collections of strange artefacts, interactive exhibits, and extraordinary displays that challenge the imagination. Visitors to the Odditoriums can expect to see everything from shrunken heads and two-headed animals to intricate models made from matchsticks and outlandish works of art.
The first Odditorium opened in Chicago in 1933, and it quickly became a hit with the public. Ripley’s collection of oddities was showcased, offering people a chance to see the incredible objects and facts they had read about in his cartoons. Since then, Ripley’s Odditoriums have expanded to major cities worldwide, including New York, Orlando, London, and Dubai, attracting millions of visitors annually.
What sets these museums apart is their dedication to preserving the extraordinary. Each exhibit tells a story, whether it’s about a person who survived the impossible, a rare animal species, or a natural phenomenon that defies explanation. Walking through an Odditorium is like going through the unknown, where the line between fact and fiction is constantly blurred.
The Most Famous Oddities from Ripley’s Believe It or Not
Throughout its long history, Ripley’s Believe It or Not has showcased countless oddities, but some are so iconic that they remain etched in the public’s memory. Here are a few of the most famous:
- The Great Wall of China Visible from Space – One of Ripley’s most well-known claims was that the Great Wall of China is the only artificial object visible from space. While this has been debunked, the statement became widely associated with Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
- Robert Wadlow, the World’s Tallest Man – Standing at an incredible 8 feet 11 inches, Robert Wadlow holds the record for the world’s tallest man. His life and legacy were prominently featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not, fascinating readers with the extremes of human physiology.
- Shrunken Heads – The display of authentic shrunken heads in Ripley’s Odditoriums continues to captivate visitors. These heads, originating from the Indigenous tribes of the Amazon, were once used in rituals and are some of the most curious artefacts on display.
- Lazarus the Two-Headed Calf – Ripley’s collection features numerous animals with rare genetic mutations, but perhaps the most famous is Lazarus, a two-headed calf. This rare specimen symbolizes the strange and unusual wonders of the natural world.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not and Popular Culture
Over the years, Ripley’s Believe It or Not has embedded itself into the fabric of popular culture. The brand has become synonymous with the extraordinary, from its iconic museums and television shows to its numerous book series. “Believe It or Not” has entered everyday language, often used to describe something unbelievable yet true.
Hollywood has also embraced Ripley’s fascination with the bizarre. In 2009, a movie based on Robert Ripley’s life was developing, with rumours of Jim Carrey set to portray the eccentric cartoonist. Although the movie has not yet materialized, it is a testament to how deeply the concept of Ripley’s Believe It or Not resonates with audiences.
The Legacy of Ripley’s Believe It or Not
Even though Robert Ripley passed away in 1949, his legacy lives on through the ongoing popularity of Ripley’s Believe It or Not. The brand has expanded beyond cartoons, books, and television, making its way into interactive attractions, video games, and social media. Today, it continues to capture the imaginations of people of all ages by presenting the unbelievable and the strange.
What makes Ripley’s Believe It or Not enduringly popular is its ability to remind us that the world is a whole of wonders. Whether it’s the extremes of human achievement, natural oddities, or cultural curiosities, Ripley invites us to step outside our everyday experiences and consider the incredible stories surrounding us. The phrase “Believe It or Not” challenges us to maintain a sense of wonder and scepticism about the world, asking us to explore the boundaries of what we think is possible.
Conclusion
Ripley’s Believe It or Not is a testament to the human desire to explore the unknown and marvel at the strange. From its humble beginnings as a newspaper cartoon to becoming a global brand, Ripley’s has maintained its core mission of presenting the bizarre, the odd, and the unbelievable. Through its museums, shows, and books, Ripley’s Believe It or Not inspires awe and wonder, proving that sometimes, reality is stranger than fiction.
