Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is a famous American franchise founded by Robert Ripley, who built his fame by exploring and documenting bizarre events and extraordinary objects that often seem to defy reality. Ripley’s story begins in 1918, when Robert Ripley, then a young sports cartoonist, created a comic strip titled “Champs and Chumps,” in which he described unusual sports feats. The success was immediate, and the strip was soon renamed “Believe It or Not!” Ripley, known for his adventurous spirit and insatiable curiosity, traveled far and wide to discover incredible stories to tell his audience. Despite his globetrotter status, many of the information published in his strips were the result of research by his assistant, Norbert Pearlroth, who spent entire days at the New York Public Library digging through old books and articles. Ripley’s strips became so popular that in 1933 the first permanent exhibition, called the “Odditorium,” was inaugurated at the Chicago World’s Fair. This event marked the beginning of a series of permanent exhibitions around the world, each featuring a collection of curiosities, bizarre artifacts, and natural wonders. Among the most well-known objects displayed in various Odditoriums are a statue of a man 2.72 meters tall, a piece of rock from Mars, and a replica of an Egyptian tomb. In the 1930s, Ripley expanded his franchise into the world of radio, with broadcasts that brought his bizarre stories to an even wider audience. His radio programs became extremely popular, and Ripley was the first to broadcast live from the middle of the ocean and to connect Buenos Aires to New York via radio. Over the decades, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! has become synonymous with everything extraordinary and incredible. In addition to permanent exhibitions, the brand has produced books, television programs, comics, and even interactive attractions. Ripley’s philosophy, which celebrated uniqueness and the unusual, continues to live on through these media, inspiring generations of curious and bizarre enthusiasts. Ripley’s influence also extends to popular culture. During the Great Depression, Ripley was so famous that he was voted one of the most popular people in America, surpassing celebrities like James Cagney and Franklin D. Roosevelt. His ability to find wonders in the ordinary world and present them in a fascinating way made his work a reference point for those who seek to challenge conventions and see the world with new eyes.