Old-time radio

Details for Ripley's Believe It or Not


Episode Data from OTRRP
Episode NameEpisode #Air DateNotes
Church Steeple51935-11-03
Aviation Oddities91935-12-01[G Plot] The first tune is, 'Rigamarole. ' Ripley's features are about great feats with airplanes, a 'rainbow,' 'Wishing and Flying' (a biography of Wiley Post), the luckiest airman alive and, 'A Rare Flying Duo.
Man's Best Friend101935-12-08[G Plot] The first tune is, 'Swing Low, Sweet Harriet. ' Ripley's features are about 'Man's Oldest and Best Friend,' 'The Song That Made A King,' a call from Harriet Hilliard and 'Bozo, The Mind-Reading Dog. '
Bell of the Maiden281936-04-12[G Plot] The first tune is, 'Rhythm Saved The World. ' Ripley's features are about, 'The Bell Of The Maiden,' forgetfulness, 'The Absent-Minded Professor.
Unusual Inventions381936-06-21[G Plot] The first tune is, 'Who's Sorry Now?' Ripley's features are about unusual inventions, 'A Knitting Courtship,' 'The World's Greatest Invention,' America's oldest new father, who has the hardest head? Robert Ripley, Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra, Harriet Hilliard (vocal), Ben Grauer (announcer).
Strange War Facts421936-10-25[G Plot] The first tune is, 'Boston Tea Party. ' Ripley's features are about unusual wars, 'The Capture Of Guam,' 'Three Strong Women,'
Lou Gehrig131937-10-09[G Plot] Ripley's features are about barrels of coins, Queen Victoria and the King of Ethiopia, the legacy of Columbus, 'Cockfighting and Education' (with Alfred Shirley), 'The First Cowboys,' 'The Saga Of Convicted Killer Ray Hamilton,' how a broken arm ended Ripley's career in baseball, the 'Carrie Nation' of women's baseball. Lou Gehrig's career in baseball.
Lonely Heart301938-02-05[G Plot] The first tune is, 'Make Believe. ' Ripley's features are about the age of a Chinese child, 'The Egyptian King and The French Prima Donna,' Ripley's grandest sight, the most fantastic fire.
Coming of Spring361938-03-19[G Plot] The first tune is, 'You're An Education. ' Ripley's features are about the 'Crown Islands,' the ship and the code, the fall of Austria, two courageous people and, 'The White Horse Of Persia.
France and Persia371938-03-26
Titanic381938-04-09[G Plot] The war that ended thirty years before it started. An unusual counterfeiting case. The year without a summer. Robert Sarnoff stays at his wireless set for 72 continuous hours as the Titanic sinks. A young boy gets a knife in his eye. . . and gets his vision corrected. The boy (now a man) is interviewed. Robert Merrill (not the singer) tells about his lucky accident. Another lucky accident: an exploding tire drove a pipestem down a man's throat. . . and gave him a tonsilectomy. In what country are animals forced to wear veils?
Craziest People401938-05-03[G Plot] The first tune is, 'I Fall In Love Every Day. ' Ripley's features are about echoes, 'The Three-Century Dad,' 'The Sphinx's Necklace,' racing and toads, 'The Echo Man' (don't miss him giving the system cue along with Ford Bond).
Echo Man421938-05-17[G Plot] The first tune is, 'Bright Eyes. ' Ripley's features are about 'The Premature Burial,' a musical Tom Sawyer, 'The Echo Men Contest,' the 'Mudcap Band' of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Tipi Tin - Three Russian Princes431938-05-24[G Plot] Robert Ripley tells the story of three Russian princes who are cursed by an Indian carpet, just as a fortune teller predicted.
Independence Days - What Monarch Became US Citizen501938-07-05[G Plot] The first tune is, 'Chansonette. ' Ripley's features are about 'The Foreign Queen Who Became A U. S. Citizen,' 'The Naming Of Canada,' 'Mortgaging The U. S. Capitol and the White House,' 'Backwoods Genius,' 'The Youngest Preacher' and the most valuable letter.
Danger Is My Business571938-08-22
Witchcraft611938-09-19
Guest - Lowell Thomas621938-09-26[G Plot] The first tune is, 'Tuli, Tuli, Tulip Time. ' Ripley's features are about 'The Song That Cannot Be Played In China,' 'The Army Without Generals,' 'The Legend Of T. W. Lawrence' (as recalled by guest Lowell Thomas).
Alice in Wonderland631938-10-03[G Plot] The first tune is, 'Change Partners. ' Ripley's features are about 'The Four Men Of Munich,' the bat-boy of the Yankees, 'The Saga Of Charles Dodgson and Alice Lidell' (and how 'Alice In Wonderland' came to be written), Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach recalls his purchase of the story's manuscript. Ripley announces that he's leaving the air to go on 'vacation' and the cast sings, 'Auld Lang Syne. ' Ripley did leave the air until March 31, 1939.
Texas Night651939-04-07[G Plot] The first tune is, 'Hold Tight. ' Ripley's features are about the origin of April's Fools Day, Albania, 'Claiming The Suez Canal,' Governor Leo O'Daniel (of Texas) introduces the quadruplets born in his state, 'A Brave Little Texan.
Warden's Pardon771939-06-30[G Plot] The first tune is, 'This Is It. ' Ripley's features are about, 'The Cabin Boy and The Prisoner,' 'One Good Tourniquet,' uniform traffic laws.
Captain and the Slave781939-07-06
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Mother Goose Stories1939-08-11[G Plot] The first tune is, 'The Man With The Mandolin. ' 'Believe It Or Nots' about 'Mother Goose. ' B. A. Rolfe has trouble pronouncing the name of the second tune. A hero (Richard Brooks) dove into the Monongahela river to save a drowning boy. . . even though he was blind!
Dramas of the Deep911940-02-23[G Plot] The program is also known as, 'See America First. ' The program originates from The University Of Miami, Robert Ripley broadcasts from St. Augustine Florida, at 'Marineland. ' This broadcast is described in one of Ripley's biographies as the show in which he was almost attacked by a shark while he was on the air. He was planning to milk a porpoise! The first tune is, 'I've Got My Eyes On You. '
10th Annual National Air Carnival1940-05-31
Guest - Col. Stoopnagle1940-11-22[G Plot] The woman with the most unusual nose in the world. The crazy man in the Louvre and what was in a statue. B. A. Rolfe plays, 'Flying Down To Rio. ' F. Chase Taylor tells how he broke into radio and became, 'Colonel Stoopnagle. ' The Colonel then portrays 'Public Nuisance #1,' Mr. Bott.
South America11942-01-17[G Plot] Ripley tells stories of the Americas. A program includes a tribute to Simon Bolivar and the story of 'The Powder Of Health' of the Incas. If you've ever wondered what was 'D'Artega's' first name, he reveals all eleven of them!
Emperor of Brazil Helped Develop the Telephone21942-01-24[G Plot] Ripley tells strange tales from South of the border. How the Emperor of Brazil helped develop the telephone. The strange story of the last Emperor of Mexico and a strange Indian melody.
Maya31942-01-31
Beri Beri Cure1942-05-02[G Plot] Ripley tells a strange story about a Chilean ship, a deadly disease and a tidal wave! Also, the story of how the natives in the Brazilian jungle, listening to a viola in 1901, made possible the invention of radio! Chiquita Juarez, D'Artega and His Orchestra, George Hicks (announcer), Robert Ripley, Serita Arera.
Ashurbanipal of Assyria11944-01-17
Manuel Rosas - Argentina Dictator21944-01-18[G Plot] Ripley's features are about 'The Fortune Teller and The Little Girls Of Martinique,' a portrait of Mongolia, 'The Richest Man In The World.
Catherine the Great31944-01-19
Hypnotic Lake, Russia41944-01-20
Emporer Franz Joseph's Pen51944-01-21
The Temple of Neptune61944-01-24
Monte Cassino Monastery71944-01-25
The Appian Way81944-01-26
Monrovia, Liberia91944-01-27
Brunswick, Germany111944-01-31
Japanese Naval Base at Truk121944-02-01
The Marshall Islands131944-02-02
The Marshall Islands131944-02-02
Wilhelmshaven, Germany141944-02-03
The Oak Tree in Alouville, France151944-02-04
First Russian Town to Have Street Lights161944-02-07
John Paul Jones' Home in Riga, Latvia171944-02-08
King Boris of Bulgaria181944-02-09
Volcano in the Kurile Islands191944-02-10
The Hospital Built By Dog's Teeth201944-02-11
Finland's Peace Bid211944-02-14
Bay of Biscay221944-02-15
Lake Peipus, Estonia241944-02-17
Tibet251944-02-18
King Ludvig's Castle261944-02-21
The Bridge Built Underwater271944-02-22
The Horn of Plenty281944-02-23[G Plot] Ripley's features are about, 'The Gift For A Kiss,' 'The Medici Violin.
On the Road to Mandalay291944-02-24
The Pearl Diver301944-02-25
San Marino's Eight Man Army311944-02-28
Pskov, Russia321944-02-29
The King of the Admiralty Islands331944-03-01
Stuttgart, Germany341944-03-02
Anzio, Itay351944-03-03
The City Hall of Cognac361944-03-06
Odessa, Russia371944-03-07
The Reveille Bird381944-03-08
Burma391944-03-09
Hannover, Germany401944-03-10
The Light Tower of Puritan421944-03-14
The Palace431944-03-15
Hainan, China441944-03-16
Augsburg, Germany451944-03-17
Bessarabia, Romunia461944-03-20
The Kingdom Without a King471944-03-21
Volcanos481944-03-22
The Barbers of Manipur491944-03-23
Frankfort, Germany501944-03-24
Gregory Abbott Hosts a Show Devoted to Witchcraft611947-08-04[G Plot] Gregory Abbott hosts a show devoted to witchcraft, including one of the strangest witchcraft trials ever.
Artistic Show621947-08-05[G Plot] Gregory Abbott hosts an artistic show, including the story of Hogarth the painter and Fielding the writer and the Portrait Of A Ghost.
Presidents 1947-08-06[G Plot] Gregory Abbott tells a story about George Washington and his mother's horses, how Abe Lincoln first met Jefferson Davis, how FDR was annoying the Germans at the age of eleven.
Most Patient Man641947-08-07[G Plot] Gregory Abbott tells the story of the most patient man in the world and the largest cab fare in history.
Chinese Junk651947-08-08[G Plot] Bob Ripley is broadcasting from his junk, the Mon Lei, in Albany, New York. He describes his Chinese junk and people in the Albany area tell their own 'Believe It Or Nots.
Lightning Brings Girl to Life1947-10-28[G Plot] Where is sneezing a crime punishable by death? A drama about a dead little girl who was brought back to life by lightning! Robert Ripley (host), Gregory Abbott (announcer), Bob Miehle (writer), George Lefferts (writer).
Offenbach1461947-12-08[G Plot] Gregory Abbott tells a strange story about the composer Offenbach and the song written on the shirt of a beggar.
Louisiana Swamps - Missing Son1471947-12-09[G Plot] Gregory Abbott tells a story about the Louisiana swamps and a missing son.
India1481947-12-10[G Plot] Bob Ripley tells strange stories about India, including the $10-million-dollar chicken.
Thieves1491947-12-11[G Plot] Gregory Abbott tells about honor among thieves. A robber once accepted his victim's check. After 37 years, the robber himself was robbed by his onetime victim.
Chicken Catcher1501947-12-12[G Plot] Gregory Abbott tells about the most fantastic Rube Goldberg type contraption ever used to catch a chicken.
Douglas Macarthur2711948-05-10[G Plot] How Douglas MacArthur won an important battle for the Japs and was made a hero by them. Ripley speaks from Tokyo from the radio studio Tokyo Rose used to use.
Cruel Japanese Emperor2721948-05-11[G Plot] Gregory Abbott tells about a cruel Japanese Emperor of the past who valued his vase collection more than the lives of his subjects. Ripley describes the devastation still visible as he broadcasts from Hiroshima.
Golden Cathedral of Quito2731948-05-12[G Plot] Gregory Abbott tells how the fabulous Golden Cathedral of Quito, Ecuador was built, with gold donated by an Indian slave.
Bad Luck2741948-05-13[G Plot] Gregory Abbott tells a story about a young man with a burning curiosity who ran into a streak of bad luck.
Hawaiian God Pele2751948-05-14[G Plot] Gregory Abbott tells a story of old Hawaii and the volcano god Pele. The program includes a message from Ripley shortwaved from Hawaii.
100 Crippled Daughters374
12 Year Old Girl363
19th Century Superman
19 Year Duel257
600 Eyebrows331
About Face
Actof Courage
Act of Faith204
Act of Patriotism171
A Lifetime By 20216
Animal Pack365
Anniversary303
Argument Led to War
Attitude About Clothes199
Baby Commander109
Bagpipes278
Bald Headed Joke253
Ballet Star346
Bar Bill195
Before the Fact234
Best Dressed Women389
Big Reward306
Billy Dixon
Blind Sightseer94
Bloody Oath176
Bloody War285
Bono the Dwarf
Book Treated Like a King261
Boredom Costs a Fortune90
Bridge of Death395
Builder of Roads106
Built a House314
Bullet Found Its Mark298
Butterfly287
Canadian Joan of Arc127
Cargo of Bad Luck89
Carry a Tune
Castle Distroyed By a Kiss354
Castle of Warning132
Castle Owned By the Devil380
Charles Symingson
Cheated Death135
Cheese Won a Naval Battle266
Choosy Thief
Church Beginnings126
Church Disaster105
Church Inspired By a Footstool
Cliff Railway
Comedy of Errors
Condemned a River172
Considerate Uncle
Convicted of Murder302
Corpse Stops a Mutiny400
Costliest Minute in History250
Costliest Tree164
Costly Bombardment233
Couldn't Change Fate401
Couldnt Change Fate
Couldn't Say No175
Courage of a Woman340
Courage's Queen146
Court Trial239
Cow's Gold Teeth150
Crime Detection404
Cruel Practical Joke356
Cruel Prctical Joke
Cruel Trick of Nature108
Cure for Blindness359
Dancing Corpses
Dangerous Act320
Dangerous Clams291
Dark Secret165
Deadly Gateposts394
Deadly Stone295
Deathbed Wish187
Death News Item293
Death Sentence313
Deaths Head Moth
Debt Payed190
Destined for Disaster196
Died of Double-Trouble387
Discovered on a Camel238
Distance Runner297
Dog Betrays King122
Donkey's Mine296
Donkeys Mine
Don't Rely on Doves2
Dont Turn Your Back on a Fight
Double Pay286
Dream Came True114
Dress a Harem133
Dunder Rock
Egyptian Shoe
Elaborate Funeral413
Emperor in Hot Water360
Empty Grave
Engaged Only Once
Eternal Silence222
Everlasting Mourning351
Executed Because He Was Strong368
Executed Four Times330
Expensive Cab Ride246
Experience in Death192
Exploding Casket
Fainting Pastor125
Fatal Family102
Fate184
Fateful Phone Call
Feat in Lifting247
Fell Out of a Plane281
Fire Destroys Bridge272
First Ice Man91
First Love362
First Man to Eat His Hat269
First President of the USA270
Fish Story
Fish Tale231
Fish That Disappeared82
Flies Save a City361
Floating Christmas Present
For the Sake of Art358
Fortune for a Letter348
Fought Nature93
Foundling406
Free Criminal116
Funny Election
Game of Chess349
Game of Chess349
Gauge of Railroads209
General's Secret212
Glimpse of Life198
Golden Galley376
Golden Mummy267
Good Manners154
Grateful Soldiers145
Grave Robber
Grearest Clothes Horse
Greatest Clothes Horse160
Greatest Lover
Greatest Nerve191
Greatest One Man Job140
Great Talent178
Half a Cent Started a War315
Handkerchief Moody220
Hanging Judge245
Hangman's Noose316
Hates Money155
Help Wanted Ad226
Hidden Treasure99
His Own Wedding408
Holy Beach227
Home Run Show399
Home Sweet Home152
Horrible Past148
Hot Bath Makes a King379
House of Unhappy Marriages411
How Bridge Got Its Name309
How California Got Its Name265
How Many Happy Days213
How Much Is a Million334
How the Tank Got Its Name283
How the White House Got Its Name210
Human Computer85
Human Lighthouse305
Human Top327
Incredible Professor373
Indestructible Pilgrim388
Inherited His Own Fortune166
Inhuman Monarch
Ink Blot Test120
Insane Schoolteacher
Invasion of Normandy299
Iron Man
Island Made of Soap218
Jilted a King325
John Payne (Part)312
Killed By a Prophecy390
Killed By a Prophesy
Killed By Bashfulness
Killed Himself for His Regiment378
Killjoy111
Kills With Gold344
King David's Wealth275
King Died a Beggar366
King of Punishment
King Olaf
King Plenty300
King's Appetite256
Kings Reward
King That Rode Piggyback211
King Wanted to Be a Dancer202
Knew How to Live321
Knight From Tennessee
Labor of Love182
Largest Clan in Scotland
Last Reward159
Late Revenge329
Length of True Love290
Life and Death Decision324
Life in Chains
Lighthouse on Cotton240
Literary Award129
Living Library162
Lollypop Temple409
Longest and Shortest Wedding in History96
Longest Love Letter92
Long Reign333
Lord Brooks
Lot of Lip280
Loyal Soldier141
Machine of Death104
Mad Monarch's Revenge377
Mad Monarchs Revenge
Mad Tzar
Makes a Point151
Mama's Boy88
Man Bites Crock396
Manhattan279
Man in the Gold Mask248
Man of God-Western Style87
Man of His Word
Man of Letters
Man Who Couldn't Sleep169
Margin of Defeat301
Marriage Racket345
Marriage Rite364
Marriage Test149
Married His Wife402
Milking a Cow328
Misplaced Building112
Modern Warfare134
Moon Gate
Moonlighting Doctors138
Most Distinguished Doctor225
Most Expensive Dress228
Most Trusting Man185
Motherhood251
Mountain Thats a City
Mystery House276
Mystery Ship241
Name a Tower352
Never Bitten
Never Forgot197
Never Grew Up137
Never Never Gate143
Never Too Late415
Nice Profit370
No Robes
Not As Friends201
Nothing to Govern168
Nothing to Wear342
No Time to Write Books
Not Very Popular in America318
Nut on Numbers
Odd Lady
Odd Place to Live
Odd Sack of Mail
Odd Way to Live
Oldest Language170
Oldest Song in the World268
One Hundered Sticks of Dynamite
One Hundered Sticks of Dynamite
One Track Mind118
One Vote235
Opera Singer167
Overcame Handicap205
Paid National Debt237
Patriot in Exile136
People Who Eat Under Water353
Perfumed House98
Physical Handicap107
Pink Lady84
Pit of Fire350
Poetic Justice95
Ponderous Book223
Possessed By His Name156
Prayer Answered177
Preston Hall23
Priceless Barrel242
Prince's Cruelty181
Private Property
Prolific Poet217
Prophecy2
Prophesy of Love
Queen for a Day174
Queen With Short Memory188
Real Cinderella Story236
Reduce Divorce Rate319
Remarkable Memorial262
Remarkable Woman
Ritual of Pain194
Royal Wedding Target288
Ruled By an Empty Chair407
Ruler in Jail189
Sad Day for a Railroad
Saves His Brother's Life243
Saw Death in the Future371
Saw Husband Die Twice403
Scare a Tree317
Scorn of an Angry Woman412
Scotish Wife Killer
Secret of the Sealed Book258
Seductive Murderess386
Self-Centered Man101
Shell Had His Number229
Ship of the Dead289
Shoemaker Becomes a King375
Shook Hands With Foot219
Showing Off New Husband207
Shrieking Statue311
Shyest Women in the World147
Sight of Terror142
Silent Groom355
Silly Statement367
Singing Sailors
Sleepy Head124
Slept Through Term232
Small Fish292
Smart Wig326
Smooth Operator
Sock Escape230
Soldier of Fortune254
Soldier Painter347
Soldier Works Magic139
Spectacles of Death339
Spectacular Walk249
Stone Cutter193
Strange Army200
Strange Criminal Code179
Strange Death
Strange Death Wish
Strange Decision180
Strange Defense103
Strange Fish277
Strange Library381
Strange Marriage Ceremony83
Strange Nuptials263
Strange Omen121
Strange President
Strange Rainfall357
Strange Religious Celebration260
Strange Scrifice308
Strange Sport
Strange Treasure Hunt405
Strange Vigil
Strange Way to Die161
Strange Will86
Strange Wound398
Stroke of Lightning384
Stubbed His Toe on 10 Billion Dollars264
Table Manners214
Tax Your Belief341
Tell Tale House
Tempted Fate410
Thanksgiving Fast294
The Nervous Bulls
The Oath That Came True
Theory of Child Education97
The Vow
The Woman With an Unusual Nose
The Word Restaurant244
Thrifty Nephew
Thumbs Up255
To Catch a Thief
To Kill a Spy183
To Kill a Turtle
Too Much Land282
Toothache157
Towed a Whale391
Town Clock
Tragic Love Story186
Treachery of Kings335
Trick on Nappy128
True Romance131
Tub of Butter323
Turned Down a Gold Mine416
Two Lives110
Typographical Error215
Unconscious Bride252
Unfacts144
Unlikely Death123
Unusual Coincidence336
Unusual Food Handlers382
Unusual Incident338
Unusual Love Story372
Unusual Pony
Unusual Purchase
Unusual Temple
Unwritten Book221
Up to Date Church158
Useless Guard163
Victory Castle392
Villiage That Murdered Itself208
Vote Getter206
Waist More Then Height393
Walk to Russia224
Wasteful Man310
Water Drill153
Way of Mourning203
Weaponless Duel
Wedding at Knifepoint284
Wedding Ceremony332
Wedding Ceremony332
Weird Death Watch322
Weird Prophecy369
Weird Prophesy
Well of Death397
Well Paid Poet259
Whale Swallows Man271
When Will He Die
Whiskers Caused a War304
White Pigeons343
Witch Doctor
Woman Invited Herself414
Woman's Hats119
Womans Hats
Word Meanings383
Work of Art100
Worlds Richest Heiress
World's Worst Thug274
Worth Her Weight in Gold385
Ye Old Sun Inn
Young Sailor