Robert Ripley. Photo courtesy of PBS American Experience.
Robert Ripley was, by trade, a cartoonist.
In 1922 his newspaper editor sent Ripley on a cruise around the world to pen illustrations from far off lands.
Edward Meyer, the Vice President of Exhibits and Archives for Ripley Entertainment, says that the man who would become synonymous with the odd and unexpected was as amazed by the subjects of his travels as the readership.
"Because he was not formally educated himself everything fascinated him," Meyer says. "So he's writing with a 'Gee, golly!' sort of attitude of shock and surprise."
Ripley, who had to abandon a promising baseball career due to a bad injury, started out drawing sports cartoons. The “Believe It or Not” comic would eventually take him around the world several times and even become a multi-media franchise that made Ripley a radio star and an early face on television.
“He’s actually voted the most popular man in America at the height of his career,” Meyer says.
Robert Ripley is profiled on the PBS series “American Experience” on January 6.
Listen to the interview: Edward Meyer on The Steve Fast Show
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