Dear Mr.Ripley:
Treasures from the Ripley’s Believe It or Not® Archive
Curated by Mark Sloan, Roger Manley and Michelle Van Parys
Alexandre Patty walking downstairs on his head, May 1928
Zelma George of Canton, Ohio, could simultaneously write different sentences with each hand forwards, backwards, upside-down, and backwards upside-down, January 1948
Robert Ripley rose to global fame in the 1920s with his syndicated Believe It or Not! cartoon, becoming a celebrated chronicler of the odd and unusual. At its peak, the cartoon reached 80 million readers daily, published in 337 newspapers across 17 languages. Ripley also hosted popular radio and TV shows and reportedly received over a million letters annually for two decades.
The exhibition Dear Mr. Ripley: Treasures from the Ripley’s Believe It or Not!® Archives showcases original materials—from photographs and letters to affidavits—submitted by fans to validate Ripley's claims. These items, often created by amateurs, document human feats, strange talents, and quirky creations.
Ripley's work captivated a public facing the Great Depression and war, offering escapism and fascination. This exhibition revisits that era, illustrating the timeless appeal of wonder and oddity, with stories like a blindfolded car repair, coin-balancing tricks, and hats made of human hair capturing the imagination of a bygone time.
WORKS
100
DIMENSIONS
11 x 14 to 20 x 24 (inches)
SPACE REQUIREMENTS
Aprox. 300 linear feet (91,44 linear meters)
INQUIRIES
exhibitions@curatorial.org
626.577.0044