Spoiler : Ripley, Robert L. (birth name was Robert LeRoy Ripley) Born in Santa Rosa, California 12/25/1893; died 5/27/1949 of a heart attack in New York City. After graduating from high school, Ripley tried to become a professional baseball player while drawing cartons for Tthe San Francisco Chronicle, The New York Globe newspapers, and King Features.

Spoiler : Ripley became famous for his syndicated newspaper column which began in 1918 featuring unusual facts that was later adapted to the radio program, Believe-It-Or-Not on the NBC and CBS Networks (1930-1948). Ripley appeared on screen in Vitaphone shorts featuring his Believe-It- Or-Not series (1932-1933). Host of radio programs beginning in 1930 with the following titles on the NBC, CBS and Mutual Radio Networks, Colonial Beacon Light (1930-1931); The Esso Program (1931-1932); Saturday Party on NBC (1933-1934); Baker's Broadcast (1935-1937); Rhythm And Ripley on CBS (1945). Host of Scramble presented by the Armed Forces, and The National Aeronautic Association (wartime program with an effort to get youths interested in careers in aviation).

Spoiler : Host of Ripley's Believe It Or Not on NBC-TV (1949). Following Ripley's death, Robert St. John took over as host of the program, which lasted another year. The last TV show was Ripley's Believe It Or Not, which was telecast from 1982 to 1986 on ABC with Jack Pallance as host.