Ripley’s is an incredibly entertaining and widely recognized network of brands, and has been going strong for more than one hundred years! Getting its humble start from Robert Ripley’s newspaper cartoons, Ripley Entertainment Inc. now spans the globe with all manner of media and storefronts. Their flagship property, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, has spawned books, shows, podcasts and in-person attractions. With no signs of slowing, Ripley's has chosen to bolster their in-house funhouse production with the addition of a Pro Series 5X10 CNC Router system from Industrial CNC.
Robert Ripley began his journey as a sports cartoonist, and in 1913, moved from California to New York City to draw for The New York Globe. On Dec 19th, 1918, “Champs and Chumps” was published as the first Believe It or Not! segment. This evolved into a love of sharing all things odds with the world. Mr. Ripley began fervently collecting photographs and accounts of unusually shaped vegetables, strangely colored animals, and miraculous sports feats to draw in his own style for various publications. He even took a trip around the world, documenting and revelling in all the oddities each culture had to offer, publishing his travel journal in the 1922 newspapers. Mr. Ripley’s clear passion for sports never seemed to wane either, as he went on to publish his Guide to American Handball in 1925, became NY state Handball champ in 1926, and wrote another book on boxing! It's also thanks to Robert that The Star-Spangled Banner was officially made into the national anthem. The same year, Ripley's newspaper cartoons and first book went worldwide. To this day, his original cartoons are still printed and distributed all over the world!
It wasn’t until 1933 that the first Odditorium debuted in Chicago, Illinois at the World’s Fair. This first iteration featured cartoons, live performers, and hundreds of strange artifacts. A few more temporary exhibits were built up and torn down until the first permanent museum opened in St. Augustine, Florida, which still operates to this day. The Ripley's brand is ever-expanding, and has dipped their toes into all manner of entertainment since this wild success. These ventures range from 5D theaters to aquariums to wax impersonations. They’ve even acquired the Guiness World Record name, and opened the doors for the public to set their own world record via their Attempt Arena. With more than one hundred attractions and one hundred million visitors since 1933, Ripley’s empire continues to expand. They believe in investing in the best tools to build their empire, and we believe their Pro Series System is the right choice!
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