Franchise FAQ

can you franchise ripley's believe it or not

by Elena Nicolas Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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There are Ripley's Believe It or Not! museums in communities all over the world, including Niagara Falls, New York. Ripley's believe it or not! has transcended its beginnings as a syndicated feature panel in newspapers to become a global franchise including museums, several television series, and other attractions.

Franchise Overview
Initial capital required depends on the size and scope of the attraction, but is generally between $3.0 and $6.0 million USD. The site development fee is $75,000 USD. Ongoing royalty fees are the greater of a set minimum annual fee or 15% of gross revenues.

Full Answer

What is there to do at Ripley’s Believe It or not?

At Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, encounter unforgettable artifacts and interactive exhibits that must be seen to be believed! Seeing is believing at Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, where the unbelievable comes alive right before your eyes with hundreds of unusual artifacts and hands-on interactives.

When did Robert Ripley write believe it or not?

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Robert Ripley 's Believe It or Not (January 12, 1941). Ripley's Believe It or Not! is an American franchise founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims.

How many Ripley Entertainment attractions are there in the world?

With over 100 attractions around the world, Ripley Entertainment continues to grow through exciting new experiences, content, and books for all ages.

What did Kevin fast do on Ripley's Believe It or not?

Some of his most memorable was accomplished during the Ripley’s Believe It or Not roadshow in Ontario, Canada. At the Roadshow, Kevin Fast broke the WRA record for lifting the most people on a person’s back by powering up 22 women at the combined weight of 2000 pounds.

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Is Ripleys a franchise?

Ripley's Believe It or Not! is an American franchise founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims.

Who owns Ripley's Believe It or Not?

Ripley EntertainmentRipley's Believe It or Not! / Parent organizationRipley Entertainment Inc. is an entertainment and edutainment holding company owned by the Jim Pattison Group of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Why did Ripley's Believe It or Not close?

The Ripley's Haunted Adventure, Tomb Rider and Guinness World Records museum are closing to make way for a new Alamo museum.

How did Ripley get his money?

When Ripley first started out at the Globe and Commercial Advertiser in 1912, he made $25 a week. At the peak of his popularity in the 1930s, his syndicated column was earning him $7,000 a week and was read by more than 60 million people daily.

How much is Ripley worth?

Robert Ripley net worth: Robert Ripley was an American cartoonist and entrepreneur who had a net worth of $1 million....Robert Ripley Net Worth.Net Worth:$1 MillionDate of Birth:Dec 25, 1890 - May 27, 1949 (58 years old)Gender:MaleProfession:Entrepreneur, Businessperson, Cartoonist, ActorNationality:United States of America

What is the biggest Ripley's Believe It or Not?

The Ripley's San Antonio Highlights Guests will find only authentic, original and unbelievable exhibits in the San Antonio Odditorium, including locks of hair that belonged to Marilyn Monroe, a 23-foot Eiffel Tower made from toothpicks, a Japanese Kimono made from tea bags and a deer with eight feet on four legs.

Is the stuff in Ripley's real?

features ALL TRUE stories and exhibits. When you visit a Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium, you will see genuine artifacts, not just photos or replicas of exhibits. Yes, there are photos and a few replica items, but the majority of what you see is THE REAL THING!

Did Ripleys New York close?

Times Square has permanently closed, effective November 28, 2021.

Where is Ripley's building?

Ripley's Building (Ontario, Canada) | Amazing architecture, Unusual homes, Unusual buildings.

What is Ripley syndrome?

Seo Cheon-seok, a pediatric psychiatrist, said that South Korean President Park Geun-hye appears to have Ripley's Syndrome, a condition that involves confusing a false self for one's actual self and trying to maintain peace of mind.

Where is Ripley buried?

Ripley's grave is located in the Santa Rose Memorial Park, which encompasses the Odd Fellows Lot Cemetery and the Odd Fellows Lawn Cemetery.

What is the meaning of Ripley?

strip of clearing in the woodsRipley is a gender-neutral name with British origins. The name, Ripley, is an old English word meaning “strip of clearing in the woods”.

Who owns Ripley's entertainment?

Jim Pattison GroupRipley Entertainment / Parent organizationWith over 45,000 employees, 605 locations worldwide, and over $10.1 billion in sales, The Jim Pattison Group provides sound financial backing for the growth of Ripley Entertainment and our family of attractions.

How much of Ripley's Believe It or Not is real?

When you visit a Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium, you will see genuine artifacts, not just photos or replicas of exhibits. Yes, there are photos and a few replica items, but the majority of what you see is THE REAL THING!

Is Ripley's Aquarium ethical?

Ripley's Aquariums are fully accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The Accreditation Commission evaluates every zoo or aquarium to make sure it meets AZA's standards for animal management and care, including living environments, social groupings, health, and nutrition.

Why did Ripley's NYC close?

Ripley's Wax Museum, a fixtore of Times Square since 1948, has been closed, a victim of declining revenues and wavering faith in New York's attractiveness to tourists.

Believe It or Not!

Find out more about our Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, where for over 80 years we have been thrilling visitors with our unique brand of odd, unbelievable fun! LEARN MORE

GWR Attractions

Guinness World Records Adventure is a unique opportunity that utilizes high tech challenges verified by one of the world’s most trusted brands! LEARN MORE

How did Ripley die?

Shortly after the 13th episode, on May 27, 1949, Ripley died of a heart attack and several of his friends substituted as host, including future Ripley's Believe It or Not! president Doug Storer. Robert St. John served as host from the second season until the series ended on October 5, 1950.

How many panels are there in the Ripley collection?

The Ripley collection includes 20,000 photographs, 30,000 artifacts and more than 100,000 cartoon panels.

What is the Ripley Entertainment?

Ripley Entertainment produces a range of books featuring unusual facts, news stories and photographs. In 2004 Ripley Entertainment founded Ripley Publishing Ltd, based in the United Kingdom, to publish new Believe It or Not titles. The company produces the New York Times bestselling Ripley's Believe It or Not! Annuals, the children's fiction series Ripley's RBI, an educational series called the Ripley's Twists, the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Special Edition in conjunction with Scholastic USA and a number of other titles. At the height of his popularity Robert Ripley received thousands of letters a day from the public, and Ripley Entertainment continues to encourage submissions from readers who have strange stories and photographs that could be featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not! books and media.

What was the name of the cartoon that Ripley made?

Ripley's short films were parodied in a 1939 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon titled Believe It or Else. Released on June 25, 1939, directed by Tex Avery and written by Dave Monahan, it featured a running gag in which Egghead (a prototype Elmer Fudd) appeared to declare, "I don't believe it!".

What channel is Ripley's Believe It or Not on?

Like the previous syndicated live-action series, this latest edition moved to the Biography Channel for reruns, and continues to air today. In 2006, the Philippines made a local adaptation of Ripley's Believe it or Not! with a local host. ABC 5 (now known as TV5) was the first to make it with Raymond Bagatsing as host.

What is the Ripley's RBI?

The company produces the New York Times bestselling Ripley's Believe It or Not! Annuals, the children's fiction series Ripley's RBI, an educational series called the Ripley's Twists, the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Special Edition in conjunction with Scholastic USA and a number of other titles.

When did the belief it or not come out?

On April 14, 1930, Ripley brought "Believe It or Not" to radio, the first of several series heard on NBC, CBS and the Mutual Broadcasting System. As noted by the website Ripley On Radio, Ripley's broadcasts varied in length from 15 minutes to 30 minutes and aired in numerous different formats.

Why did Chandre Oraon's tail get removed?

Doctors, however, say that the tail is simply caused by a rare congenital defect, and have even offered to remove it for him. Chandre Oraon declined the offer, believing it is a gift from God.

Why do people touch Chandre Oraon's tail?

People travel for hundreds of miles to his home in Bengal, and queue for hours just for the opportunity to touch Chandre Oraon’s tail because they believe it will bring them blessings and good fortune.

Why did Cristerna want to become a vampire?

Cristerna wanted to re-invent herself as a “vampire” after suffering from a history of domestic abuse and has crafted a unique career for herself as an entertainer and a highly sought-after tattooist. In a sense, Cristerna discovered a way of becoming the immortal vampire she always wanted to be, after having life-sized wax statues created of her likeness, which are being featured in Ripley’s museums all over the world.

How many piercings did Elaine Davidson have?

Elaine Davidson earned the right to be called the “Most Pierced Woman” in the Guinness World Records and the Ripley’s Believe It or Not books by having a reported 6,925 piercings all over her body at the time of her wedding.

What was Robert Ripley's fascination with?

Robert Ripley was fascinated by people who are capable of doing and achieving incredible things, and strange discoveries from different cultures around the world, and loved to entertain the world with his findings through cartoon illustrations and photographs. To this day, the Ripleys website continues this tradition by offering a platform ...

How did Stalking Cat die?

Unfortunately, at the age of 54, Stalking Cat, who lived a troubled life, was discovered dead in his garage, with suicide being named as the cause of death.

Why did Avner alter his appearance?

After leaving the Navy in 1981 he began altering his appearance in accordance with Wynadot tradition, where the people alter their bodies to resemble their totems. In Avner’s case, this was a tiger after a Native American chief told him to follow the ways of the tiger.

A Horse Made of Chrome Car Bumpers

This mustang is made entirely from vintage 1950s and '60s chrome car bumpers. The sculpture was created by metallurgist Sean Guerrero to celebrate the Denver Broncos’ 1987 Super Bowl appearance. (Nevermind they lost to the New York Giants 39 to 20).

A Motorcycle Made of Bones

Created by Jesse Moore, of Orange City, Fla., this one-of-a-kind motorcycle is made entirely from animal bones. Most of the cycles’ parts are from cows that died naturally, but the feature pieces like the alligator fender and the turtle shell headlight, were made from bones of roadkill found on Florida’s less-traveled highways.

Capt. Jack Sparrow Made From Recycled Car Parts

The model of Capt. Jack Sparrow was created by Kreatworks, a company based in Bangkok, Thailand. The sculpture, made entirely of recycled car parts, measures over 8-feet high and weighs several hundred pounds.

A Redwood House

Len Moore originally got the idea to build his dream house after he took refuge in a burned-out redwood tree during a storm. From start to finish, it took four months to chisel out the interior. This section of trunk used to build the house contains more than 11,000 board-feet of lumber, enough to build a five-bedroom house.

A Goliath Bird-Eating Tarantula

With a leg span of 11 inches, bird-eating tarantulas are the largest spiders in the world. Native to the rainforest, these tarantulas are nocturnal and only rarely feed on adult birds. Rather, their diet normally consists of worms, insects, toads, and occasionally, lizards and snakes.

Contortionists

For centuries, contortionists have been entertaining people with their amazing flexibility. These performers have been known to cram their bodies into small spaces, squeeze their bodies through the head of a tennis racquet and bend in ways that most humans can’t. Guests can see photos of contortionists then try the art of eterology themselves.

Michelangelo's "David"

Sculpted in Florence, Italy, this reproduction of Michelangelo’s famous “David” is one of only two copies in the world carved to the exact specifications as the original: 17-feet high and weighing 10 tons and from one solid piece of Carrara marble excavated from the exact-same quarry as Michelangelo’s masterpiece.

How did Robert Ripley die?

There was also a television series of that name, featuring Robert Ripley himself as its host. It started in March, 1949, however Ripley died of a heart attack in May 1949, before the completion of the first season. Various friends of his then served as emergency substitute hosts.

What did Ripley say on the Tin?

Exactly What It Says on the Tin: The original show was about Ripley saying 'believe it or not' about the weird stuff in his collection. Licensed Pinball Table: Released by Stern Pinball in 2004. Click here.

How many books did Pearlroth cover?

Assigned to search for unusual material from the foreign-language press and in the books of the New York Public Library, Pearlroth performed his job "ten hours a day, six days a week" from 1923 to 1975, covering about 7,000 books each year.

What is the raison d'etre of the cartoon?

Its raison d'etre is chronicling people, places and events so bizarre that readers might well question the claims, hence the title. Advertisement: In 1918, Ripley got his own cartoon feature in the New York Globe. At first calling it "Champs and Chumps", he focused on depicting sport facts and trivia. Within a year, Ripley had expanded the facts ...

When was the first strip book published?

The first book collecting material from the strip was published in 1929, and several publications followed over the decades. The first radio version appeared in 1930 and ran in various formats until 1948. A few theatrical shorts were produced by the Warner Brothers Vitaphone in the 1930s.

Who is Robert Ripley's nephew?

A short-lived cartoon, featuring Robert Ripley's fictional nephew Michael (often just called "Rip") and companions Samantha and Cyril on globe-trotting adventures, was produced by Cinar and aired on what was then Fox Family from 1999-00. In 2010, a novel series for kids was published to promote the franchise, Ripley's Bureau of Investigation.

Who created Ripley's Believe It or Not?

A juggernaut of a franchise spanning books, films, cartoons, themed museums and even games, Ripley's Believe It or Not! was the brainchild of cartoonist LeRoy Robert Ripley (1890-1949). Its raison d'etre is chronicling people, places and events so bizarre that readers might well question the claims, ...

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Overview

Ripley's Believe It or Not! is an American franchise founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims. Originally a newspaper panel, the Believe It or Not feature proved popular and was later adapted into a wide variety of formats, including radio, television, comic books, a chain of museums and a book series.

Syndicated feature panel

Ripley first called his cartoon feature, originally involving sports feats, Champs and Chumps, and it premiered on December 19, 1918, in The New York Globe. Ripley began adding items unrelated to sports, and in October 1919, he changed the title to Believe It or Not. When the Globe folded in 1923, Ripley moved to the New York Evening Post. In 1924, the panel began being syndicated by Associated Newspapers, (formed as part of a cooperative that had included the Globe). That sa…

Books

Some notable books:
• Believe It or Not! by Ripley The Big Little Book (1931)
• Ripley's Believe It or Not (1929), reprinted in 2004
• Ripley's Mammoth Book of Believe It or Not (1953)

Radio

On April 14, 1930, Ripley brought "Believe It or Not" to radio, the first of several series heard on NBC, CBS and the Mutual Broadcasting System. As noted by the website Ripley On Radio, Ripley's broadcasts varied in length from 15 minutes to 30 minutes and aired in numerous different formats. When Ripley's 1930 debut on The Collier Hour brought a strong listener reaction, he was given a Monday night NBC series beginning April 14, 1930, followed by a 1931–32 series airing t…

Films, television, Internet, and computer game

The newspaper feature has been adapted into more than a few films and TV shows.
• Ripley hosted a series of two dozen Believe It or Not! theatrical short films between 1930 and 1932 for Warner Bros. Vitaphone. A 2-DVD release featuring 24 of these theatrical shorts is available in the United States beginning March 16, 2010, from Warner Home Video, through their Warner Archive manufacture-on-demand program. Directors on the shorts included Murray Roth (…

Museums

When Ripley first displayed his collection to the public at the Chicago World's Fair in 1933, it was labeled Ripley's Odditorium and attracted over two million visitors during the run of the fair (in an apparent promotional gimmick, beds were provided in the Odditorium for people who "fainted" daily). That successful exhibition led to trailer shows across the country during the 1930s, and Ripley'…

Inaccuracies

Authorities at the company insist that they thoroughly investigate everything and ensure their accuracy before they publish their research. This is emphasized on its television show, where they often say "If you see it on Ripley's, you can bet that it's real". However, two claims appearing in their books have been dubbed "myths" by MythBusters. One claim which had previously appeared in Ripley's books, concerning an accidental execution of 1,200 Turkish prisoners ordered under N…

See also

• Strange as It Seems, a rival publication
• Lumberwoods, a virtual "unnatural history" museum
• Museum of Jurassic Technology, an oddities museum

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