The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-04-09
BELIEVE IT OR
NOT CREATOR
NETS MILLION
Robert L. Ripley to Make
Huge Fortune Out of
Famous Feature.
SIGNS FOR RADIO WORK
Drawings, Vaudeville and
TalkieS Pile Up Cash
for Wizard.
Picture on Page One, Section Two.
4, 2 f,,, 90 C,,,1,so5

BIZ Times Special
NEW YORK, April 9.-Believe 1t
or not, Robert L. Ripley now is the
highest paid American entertainer.
The artist who creates the BE
live 1t or Not" drawings for The
Times and several hundred other
newspapers has been elevated into
the more-than-a million dollars-a-
year income class by contracts for
radio and motion picture appear
a1ceS now in effect.
The tremendous popularity of his
Believe 1t or Not" drawings, now
printed simultaneously in five Ian
gusgeS in the United States, Can
ada, Central and South America,
Europe and South Africa, make him
the highest paid newspaper cartoon
list.
A contract Just closed with the
National Broadcasting Company's
Red network makes him one Of the
highest paid air entertainers, a rival
Of Amos n Andy who are his close
friends.
Signs for Talkies
Warner Brothers have signed him
for talking shorts at one of the
highest salaries ever paid for such
work.
In addition to these sources OF
revenue, Ripley has royalties from
his books, best sellers" from
lecture and vaudeville engagements
and from sale Of various rights" to
exploitation of his name and work.
Ripley, native Californian, began
his dizzy climb to fame as an artist
and entertained more than 20 years
ago, but it was not until three years
ago that he began earning more
than the President of the United
States.
And his whole career hinges on
what literally was a lucky break,
for it was a broken arm which ended
his career as a professional baseball
player and sent him looking for
work as newspaper artist. During
his diamond career he had tryout
with the New York Giants.
VIII Visit Russia
The rtist-millionaire is prepar-
ing to leave on another of his an
nual world tours, his objective this
year being Russia, one Of the few
countries he has not visited, in
search of material for his Believe
It or Not" series. There are labels
of hotels in sixty-nine countries on
his baggage.
Ripley is unmarried. He lives at
the New York Athletic Club. 1t
takes five secretaries to handle his
mail, larger than that of any indi-
vidual in the United States, not eX-
cepting that OF the President or any
movie star.
Two other secretaries are at work
constantly, verifying the things used
in Believe It or Not" But Ripley
does all his selecting and drawings
himself.
There will be no duplication Of
material in the Believe It or Not"
air or movie series. Ripley claims
to have so many recollections of
strange lands, strange people and
curious facts stored away in his files
that he could broadcast his BE
lieve It or Not" "queeriosities" for
the next ten years without repeating
viii Go on Radio
During the forthcoming series OF
Believe 1t or Not" half hour en-
tertainments, Ripley promises to dig.
deep into his storehouse of oddities
and bring forth collection Of some
Of the strangest facts ever heard
over the radio.
The unbelievable truths about
certain musical selections, in par
ticular, will be told probably for the
first time.
So that his nonmusical listeners
will understand fully every point he
makes, a modern orchestra will ac-
company Ripley on his weekly jour
neys and play the scores Of the
various songs he mentions.
The premiere broadcast will be
held Monday, April II, at 7:30 p. m,
over the National Broadcasting
Company's red network Of eight
New York state and New England