Believe it or Not! Ten Things You Didn't Know About Robert Ripley

Every American of a certain age is familiar with the syndicated newspaper cartoon, "Ripley's Believe it or Not!". Robert Ripley (1890-1949) and his trusted researcher and assistant, Norbert Pearlroth (1893 -1983), created a comic strip which catered to the bizarre "truths" of the world.(1,2,3) People worldwide could not get enough of his extraordinary facts. Many people thought his works were all hoaxes and tried to "out" him, although a successful outing has never been officially documented.

"I make a living out of the fact that truth is stranger than fiction", he used to say. Robert Ripley's life mimicked his unbelievable cartoon, radio, and television broadcasts many times over. Here are ten things you probably didn't know about Robert Ripley:

1) He was the first cartoonist to become a millionaire.(4)

2) This Santa Rosa, California native was a self taught artist who sold his first cartoon to LIFE magazine, and quit high school shortly thereafter.(5)

3) He played pro baseball until he injured himself during a spring training game with the Giants in 1913, at age 23. (4)

4) He amassed extensive collections of automobiles and boats but never learned to drive or swim.(4)

5) He became so popular in the 1930's and 1940's, through his Believe It or Not cartoons and radio shows, that he received more mail than President Roosevelt and Santa Clause! (2)

6) In 1937, he gave a 12 year old fan his first break in the newspaper world by paying for and publishing a cartoon about the boy's dog. That boy was Charles Schulz and his dog was the inspiration behind world beloved Snoopy! (1,4)

7) He was a world traveler, visiting more than 200 countries, and on one trek around the globe traveled by plane, boat, camel, horse and donkey! (4)

8) He was fascinated by all things Chinese. (4)

9) Although his research assistant, Norbert Pearlroth, spent 6 days a week from open to close at 10pm in the New York Public Library from 1923 to 1975 (52 years!), Ripley left him only $5,000 in his will. He did, however, put Pearlroth's son through college.(1,3)

10) Ripley kept a pet boa constrictor. (5)

Ripley was a fascinating man whose legacy continues to fascinate the world many times over. Today, there are 35 Ripley's Believe It or Not museum franchises, called "Odditoriums" worldwide, including 19 in the United States. (1) His syndicated cartoon is now owned and published by The Jim Pattison Group, a private Canadian entertainment firm, and a team of writers now does Norbert Pearlroth's job. (1, 2)

Sources:

1) "Ripley's Believe It or Not!", Wikepedia

2) "Robert Ripley", Wikepedia

3) "Norbert Pearlroth", Wikepedia

4) Tim R. O'Brien, "Robert Ripley, the Believe it Or Not! Icon, Created His First Believe it Or Not! Cartoon in 1918", ezinearticles.com

5) Robert L. Ripley, AKA LeRoy Ripley, nndb.com/people/293/000113951/