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Ripley, Robert (LeRoy), 1890 - 1949

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 22 February 1890 - 27 May 1949

Biography

Robert Le Roy Ripley was born on 22nd February 1890 in Santa Rosa, California.

Robert Ripley, as he was known, was a very successful American cartoonist, entrepreneur and amateur anthropologist, known for creating Ripley's Believe It or Not! newspaper panel series and radio and television shows which feature odd facts and the bizarre and strange from around the world. During the 1930s he hosted a series of Believe It or Not! theatrical short films for Warner Bros. Pictures & Vitaphone.

In 1933 Ripley opened his first museum in Chicago, the ‘Odditorium’. The concept was so success that successive Odditoriums opened in San Diego, Dallas, Cleveland, San Francisco, and New York City. During this time Ripley was voted the most popular man in America by the New York Times and received an honorary degree from Dartmouth College.

In 1948, the year of the 20th anniversary of the Believe it or Not! cartoon series, the radio show was replaced with a television series. Ripley completed only thirteen episodes before he died of a heart attack on 27 May 1949 at the age of 58.

Found in 12 Collections and/or Records:

Bob Wallace as ‘Old Funny Face’ Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.12
Scope and Contents

‘Believe it or Not’ he swallows his nose, homeliest man on earth. Colour illustration of man’s face with his bottom lip covering his nose. Face in white with navy shading on red and navy background and white and red type.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Bob Wallace Character Impersonations Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.13
Scope and Contents

‘Believe it or Not’, the children’s delight, Pop Eye the sailor. Colour illustration of bust and waist of man dress as Popeye in the centre in white and navy over a red and black background with a navy footer and red and white type.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Enquirer Printing Company Collection

 Collection
Reference code: NFA0125
Scope and Contents

This collection of printed material produced by the Enquirer Job Printing Company contains American sideshow and freak show posters mainly from the Ripley’s ‘Believe it or Not’ franchise and a poster sampler that was taken around by salesmen from the company.

Dates: 1869; c1930 - 1949

Freaks and Oddities as Cartooned by Robert L. Ripley Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.1
Scope and Contents

The armless knife thrower. ‘Believe it or Not’. Colour illustration of armless man throwing knifes at a lady stood against a white board with his right foot, orange and brown background.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Hollywood Oddities Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.3
Scope and Contents

Girl with a radio mind, she sees all, knows all. ‘Believe it or Not’. Colour illustration of bust of woman on profile holding a glass ball blindfolded on light blue and black background with black and white type.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

International Congress of Oddities Presenting ‘Believe it or Not’ Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.15
Scope and Contents

A mighty congress of strange people oddities, freaks and wonders from all parts of the glove featuring oddities as cartooned by Ripley and as exhibited at the World’s Fair. White, red and green type on white and red backgrounds with green border.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Look at Life Presents Big Baby Bertha and Slim Jim Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.11
Scope and Contents

‘Believe it or Not’. ‘The Mrs’ Big Bertha 540 lbs. ’The Mr’ Slim Jim 68 lbs. Colour illustration of fat lady in stripy orange and white dress and slim man wearing a black suit, tail coat and monocle dancing on orange and white background and orange, white and blue type.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Medusa Child of the Sea Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.4
Scope and Contents

Featured with the Ripley Road Show ‘Believe it or Not’. Colour illustration of mermaid on a beach with people staring a her. Figures on white with orange background and navy outline and shading and navy and white type.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

New York World’s Fair Museum Presents ‘Believe it or Not’ Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.6
Scope and Contents

Weight 540 lbs. Subject as cartooned by Robt. L. Ripley. Colour illustration of fat lady standing in a short dress. Figure in white with black outline and green dress and green and black background.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

New York World’s Fair Museum Presents ‘Believe it or Not’ Prince Ramachandi, Hindu Quarter Man Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.7
Scope and Contents

Subjects as cartooned by Robt. L. Ripley. P. T. Barnum’s Greatest Oddity. Colour illustration of man torso and waist on a round table wearing a red fez and smoking a cigar on yellow background.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

See Snookie the Famous Hollywood Movie Chimpanzee Poster, c1930 - 1949

 Item
Reference code: 178R45.17
Scope and Contents

‘Believe it or Not’ as chimpanzee was convicted in court at South Bend Ind. for smoking a cigarette! Colour illustration of chimpanzee in a suit in court showing the judge and the jury on brown and mustard colour background.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Sideshow and Freak Show Posters, c1930 - 1949

 Series
Reference code: 178R45
Scope and Contents

Posters of sideshow and freak show performers printed by the Enquirer Job Printing Company, in Cincinnati, USA, many of which for Leroy Robert Ripley's Believe it or Not franchise.

Dates: c1930 - 1949

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 11
Collection 1
 
Subject
Fat people 4
Animals 3
Knife throwing 3
Circus 2
Clowning 2