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Ripley's Believe It or Not

19 episodes · 1935–1944 · NBC, Blue, CBS, Mutual · Historical

Play Ripley's Believe It or Not on Radio Days

Robert Ripley brought his newspaper panel of oddities to radio. These broadcasts run from 1935 to 1944 on NBC, the Blue Network and CBS, with sponsors including the Bakers of America.

Sources: Wikipedia: Ripley's Believe It or Not!; RadioGOLDINdex

Episodes

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1935

• Aviation Oddities December 1, 1935 · Blue · 29 min
  Ripley's topics are daring airplane stunts, a rainbow, "Wishing and Flying," Wiley Post's life story, the world's luckiest pilot and "A Rare Flying Duo." The opening tune is "Rigamarole."
• Man's Best Friend December 8, 1935 · Blue · 30 min
  Features include "Man's Oldest and Best Friend," "The Song That Made A King" and "Bozo, The Mind-Reading Dog," plus a phone call from Harriet Hilliard. The opening tune is "Swing Low, Sweet Harriet."

1936

• Bell of the Maiden April 12, 1936 · Blue · 30 min
  Ripley tells of "The Bell Of The Maiden" and of forgetfulness, with "The Absent-Minded Professor." The first tune is "Rhythm Saved The World."
• The Shah of Persia June 14, 1936 · Blue · 29 min
  Ripley tells of "The Charcoal Peddler Who Became A King," "The Inadequate French Cadet," some French facts, "The Thankful Boy Of The French Riots" and the smallest live "Believe It Or Not." The opening tune is "'Tain't No Use."
• Unusual Inventions June 21, 1936 · Blue · 29 min
  Ripley looks at odd inventions and "A Knitting Courtship," asks which is the world's greatest invention, and finds America's oldest new father and the hardest head. The first tune is "Who's Sorry Now?"
• Strange War Facts October 25, 1936 · Blue · 29 min
  The show deals with unusual wars, "The Capture Of Guam," "Three Strong Women" and a birth announcement for David Nelson. The opening tune is "Boston Tea Party."

1937

• Lou Gehrig October 9, 1937 · NBC · 30 min
  Ripley tells about coin-filled barrels, Queen Victoria and Ethiopia's king, Columbus's legacy, the first cowboys, killer Ray Hamilton, and the arm injury that ended his own baseball dreams. Lou Gehrig's career is the closing subject.

1938

• Lonely Heart February 5, 1938 · NBC · 30 min
  Ripley discusses a Chinese child's age, an Egyptian king and a French opera star, his grandest sight and the most amazing fire. The first tune is "Make Believe."
• Coming of Spring March 19, 1938 · NBC · 30 min
  Ripley's features: the "Crown Islands," a ship and its code, Austria's fall, two courageous people and "The White Horse Of Persia." The opening tune is "You're An Education."
• Titanic April 9, 1938 · NBC · 30 min
  Robert Sarnoff sits at his wireless for 72 hours straight while the Titanic sinks. Also: a strange counterfeiting case, a summerless year, a conflict that ended three decades before it began, and two lucky accidents involving a knife and a blown tire.
• Pierre Dufour May 3, 1938 · NBC · 30 min
  Ripley turns to echoes, a man who fathered a child in three centuries, the Sphinx's necklace, racing toads and "The Echo Man." The first tune is "I Fall In Love Every Day."
• Grave Robbers and Premature Burial May 17, 1938 · NBC · 30 min
  Ripley covers premature burial, a musical version of Tom Sawyer, a contest for echo men and the "Mudcap Band" from the Cardinals in St. Louis. The opening tune is "Bright Eyes."
• Song That Cannot Be Played in China September 26, 1938 · NBC · 30 min
  Features are "The Song That Cannot Be Played In China," "The Army Without Generals" and a T. W. Lawrence legend told by guest Lowell Thomas. The opening tune is "Tuli, Tuli, Tulip Time."
• Four Men of Munich October 3, 1938 · NBC · 30 min
  Ripley's subjects are the Munich conference's four men, the Yankees' bat-boy, and the writing of "Alice In Wonderland" from Charles Dodgson's story, with Rosenbach recalling buying its manuscript. Ripley then says he's off on a break, and everyone sings "Auld Lang Syne."

1940

• Live from Marineland February 23, 1940 · CBS · 30 min
  Ripley broadcasts from Marineland near St. Augustine, Florida, meaning to milk a porpoise, and one of his biographers says a shark almost went for him on this show. The opening tune is "I've Got My Eyes On You."
• Col. Stoopnagle November 22, 1940 · CBS · 27 min
  Topics include a woman with the strangest nose and a mad man at the Louvre. F. Chase Taylor explains how he became Colonel Stoopnagle and acts out "Public Nuisance #1," Mr. Bott.

1942

• South American Defense January 17, 1942 · Blue · 29 min
  The new season opens with Ripley's tales of the Americas, including honoring Simon Bolivar and the Inca "Powder Of Health." D'Artega gives all eleven of his first names.

1944

• The Medici Violin February 23, 1944 · Mutual · 14 min
  Ripley's two features are "The Gift For A Kiss" and "The Medici Violin."
• Cherrapunji and the Pillow of Dreams April 4, 1944 · Mutual · 15 min
  Ripley talks about the rainiest place on Earth and Jack Koch, who survived a 2,800-foot fall in 1931 when his parachute failed. He also says Buffalo Bill never saw a buffalo.