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Holly and Jack Palance hosted "Ripley's Believe it or Not". Source: Facebook/Fabulous Films & Stars (May be subject to copyright) |
The book
Jack Palance was not my initial exposure to “Ripley’s Believe it or Not”. That actually occurred earlier, when I took this book out of the library at St. Joseph’s School in Coaldale. It was full of cartoons, compiled from a comic strip called “Ripley’s Believe it or Not”.
Jack Palance was not my initial exposure to “Ripley’s Believe it or Not”. That actually occurred earlier, when I took this book out of the library at St. Joseph’s School in Coaldale. It was full of cartoons, compiled from a comic strip called “Ripley’s Believe it or Not”.
The book explained that Robert Ripley collected the stories of oddities and wrote about them in his comic strip. Of course, once the comic strip took off, people would send in their own stories.
It was a neat book. I liked it so much, I ended up buying another “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” paperback at Coles Books in the Wooidward’s Mall. I recall it having a shiny gold cover, and I am pretty sure it is in a box in my garage.
So, when I heard Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial was airing this show called “Ripley’s Believe it or Not”, I had an idea what it would be about.
The show
When I tuned in for the first time, “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” was similar to a couple other newsmagazine shows on TV at the time. “That’s Incredible” and “Real People” aired odd, interesting, inspiring and unique true stories, and "Ripley's Belie it or Not" had the same vibe.
When I tuned in for the first time, “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” was similar to a couple other newsmagazine shows on TV at the time. “That’s Incredible” and “Real People” aired odd, interesting, inspiring and unique true stories, and "Ripley's Belie it or Not" had the same vibe.
“Ripley’s Believe it or Not” was hosted by Jack Palance who had this really unique voice, perfect for narration. It was deep and authoritative, perfect for explaining the odd and different.
Wikipedia reveals season one aired in the 1982-1983 season and Catherine Shirriff, a Canadian actress, was Palance’s co-host. I have no recollection of that whatsoever. My suspicion is that “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” was like some other U.S. network TV shows, that aired in the States but no Canadian network picked them up. Often, if they were successful, they would be on peasant vision the next year.
In my first memory of “Ripley’s Believe it or Not”, Jack Palance’s co-host was Holly Palance, who was his actual daughter. That was Grade 9, so the 1983-1984 season.
Holly Palance would be co-host for two season, 1983-1984 and 1984-1985. Then I read in “TV Guide” she would be replaced for the fifth, and what would turn out to be final season, in 1985-1986, by singer Marie Osmond.
The content
On Sunday nights, I did my homework in front of the TV while “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” and “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” played on, so sometimes my attention was divided.
On Sunday nights, I did my homework in front of the TV while “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” and “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” played on, so sometimes my attention was divided.
Wikipedia reminded me of some interesting stories, such as an Indian man with the longest fingernails; the Komodo Dragon; the running of the bulls in Pamplona; the origin of Sid Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood; the Hindenburg; the Hatfield-McCoy feud; sewage treatment using worms; a man juggling bowling balls, flaming swords, and a chainsaw with two apples; Edgar Allan Poe’s fear of being buried alive; giant vegetables; Mount Rushmore; Hiroshima; the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre; Pygmies human teeth sharpening; the fortress at Masada; and so so much more.
You can see, the show covered everything.
The other thing they did was show actual Robert Ripley “Believe it or Not” comic strips on the show. I even recall them noting a segment they did was based on one of the cartoons.
Local content
The show itself spawned an odd imitation that only appeared on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial. It was a commercial for a farm implements dealership in Taber owned by Bruce Millikan. The narrator was discussing the selection and deals being offered.
The show itself spawned an odd imitation that only appeared on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial. It was a commercial for a farm implements dealership in Taber owned by Bruce Millikan. The narrator was discussing the selection and deals being offered.
Then Bruce Milliken himself appeared on the screen, in a dimly lit room and, doing his best Jack Pallance imitation, bellowed, “Believe it or Not.” He even had a raised eyebrow, like Palance’s, painted on his face as he said the famous words.
It was so cheesey but so cool all at the same time.
Parting thoughts
While I was looking at the content of all those old episodes, I realized “Riplley’s Believe it or Not” and the stories it shares, is not much different from what I do for a living. We share stories of an endless variety that inform and entertain.
While I was looking at the content of all those old episodes, I realized “Riplley’s Believe it or Not” and the stories it shares, is not much different from what I do for a living. We share stories of an endless variety that inform and entertain.
Maybe that’s why I liked it in the first place.
I also find, after all these years, when I sometimes tell a story about something fantastical, I will utter, “Believe it or not.”
And I can see Jack Palance looking straight at me through the TV saying it.
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