Ripley Entertainment Inc.'s Blog, page 203
May 8, 2020
The Hair-Raising Truth About Troll Dolls
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
From a must-have 90s toy to a blockbuster flick—Trolls are a hit! These little guys and gals were in everyone’s back pocket. Loving, adorable, and, of course, naked—the history of the trolls is far more intricate than their fluffy hairdos. And by intricate, we mean mischievous, evil, and terrifying. Let’s head under the bridge…
During this time at home, there’s no doubt that we have all picked up on a few new hobbies or crafts. From tie-dye to puzzles to even baking our own bread, we’ve all definitely tried something new. And back in the 1950s, a man named Thomas Dam was doing something very similar. This Danish fisherman was often out of work and decided to occupy his time with his talent of carving wood figures!
Like any good dad, he loved carving small gifts for his wife and children. In fact, it was his wife who truly recognized the potential behind his work. She encouraged Dam to take his art out on the town and sell the figures door-to-door. Soon enough, his small at-home hobby became a full-time job! Dam’s work truly took off when he was asked to make a window display for a department store at Christmas time.
One of the characters in this window display was a cute little wooden troll. Passers-by decided to take the term “window shopping” to a literal level and were soon looking to purchase Dam’s little dolls.
By the end of the 50s, Dam had opened his very own factory for these trolls alone! And obviously, with this much production, efficiency was key! Dam transformed his wooden troll carving method over to a far more economical choice—rubber trolls!
Of course, he stuck to his roots, stuffing them all with wood shavings. Dam was selling more than 10,000 trolls in Denmark each year proving that there was something to be said and done about these friends from under the bridge.
The smiling dolls that Dam created were lovable, adorable, and innocent—certainly the opposite of what trolls were known for in Scandinavian Folklore.
Scandinavian Folklore
As you know, it’s hard to nail down mythological creatures and stories and their origins, but there are a few common denominators when it comes to trolls. In Scandinavian mythology, trolls dwelled on the edges of society, in dark forests, and under bridges. Unlike the innocence of our pink on-screen troll friend, Poppy, the trolls in this mythology were far more mischievous. They harassed and kidnapped women and sometimes possessed magical powers that they certainly used for evil rather than good! On occasion, trolls were even described as man-eaters. Either way, you wouldn’t want to encounter these menacing creatures on your daily stroll.
Mythological trolls typically were the farthest thing from cute. With their massive noses, unruly hair, and truly disgusting toes and fingernails, Scandinavian trolls were no force to be reckoned with. In fact, the word “troll” means fiend or demon. So, where do our troll dolls come into play?
Dam’s Good Luck Trolls
Dam’s Good Luck Trolls, as they were then known, were inspired by these ugly little creatures who played tricks on humans. Dam transformed their ugly and wrinkly faces of these mythological trolls into those smiley toys at the top of our pencils or in our Happy Meals.
If you really think about it, our dolls with electrified hair and wide eyes could be interpreted as features of terror. But somehow, Dam transformed these scary evil creatures, and their exaggerated features into a doll that’s actually so ugly, it’s cute.
So, there you have it. Before Poppy & Branch were breaking it down to Can’t Stop the Feeling, the trolls from under the bridge were wreaking havoc in Scandinavian Mythology.
Deep Fried Delicacy Or Deadly Murder Hornet?
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
This Week
[May 3-9th, 2020] An iron-clad snail, murderous deep-fried delicacy, first-time flush, and the rest of the week’s weird news from Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
The Inspiration Behind Iron Man?
A team at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has made a breakthrough in snail science—solving the mystery of a strange volcano-dwelling snail. Yes, a snail that can survive in near-impossible conditions, like underwater volcanic vents, white-hot temperatures, high pressure, and low oxygen. This ability is due to its unique iron shell, a mystery unraveled by the Hong Kong team after they decoded the snail’s genome for the first time ever. Believe It or Not!, this is the only living creature known to incorporate iron into its skeleton. The team believes studying this iron-clad snail could reveal the secrets of evolution and unlock “huge potential” for tech and medicine.
Believe It or Not! this is the only living creature known to incorporate iron into its skeleton.
First Flush
For the first time in US Supreme Court history, a toilet flush was heard during oral arguments. Lawyer Roman Martinez was addressing the court in regard to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act when the porcelain interruption was heard. The now infamous flush occurred Wednesday, May 6th, when the court made history this by allowing arguments to be held via conference call for the first time (maybe now, also the last time). Luckily for the flusher, the origins of the sound remain undetermined.
LISTEN: Toilet flush during U.S. Supreme Court oral argument (h/t @nicninh) pic.twitter.com/He3QGMzvJI
— Jeremy Art (@cspanJeremy) May 6, 2020
Inked Isolation
“I’m bored in the house, and I’m in the house bored” was trending on TikTok for a reason. What are we all to do? Instead of cutting bangs or baking bread, Chris Woodhead of East London has tattooed himself every day that he has been quarantined. As of today, that’s 53 new tattoos for Chris. Luckily, Chris is a tattoo artist by trade and will likely not regret his decision, although he might chew up a lot of real estate by the end of this. He is taking isolation as an opportunity to learn new tattooing techniques and study the body’s healing process.
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A post shared by Chris Woodhead (@adverse.camber) on Apr 16, 2020 at 6:39am PDT
Pucker Up
Andrea Ivanova of Bulgaria has had at least 20 hyaluronic acid lip injections and believes she has the biggest lips in the world. The 22-year-old, who has been dubbed a “real-life Barbie,” began her transformation in 2018.
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A post shared by Andrea Ivanova (@andrea.andrea345) on May 7, 2020 at 9:40am PDT
Coming to America: Murder Hornets
Native to Asia, the giant, deadly, and endearingly named ‘murder hornet’ can rip the heads off honeybees by the thousands. Now, they have been spotted in the U.S. for the first time. Vespa mandarinia were spotted in Washington state recently and, in scarier news, their venom is uniquely dangerous to humans. Stings from these hornets are responsible for about 50 deaths in Japan each year. These killer insects made headlines in 2013 when a series of attacks in China injured hundreds of people and killed 28. Believe It or Not! the hornet has a redeeming quality—some Japanese mountain villages consider them a delicacy when deep-fried.
Believe It or Not! this hornet has a redeeming quality—some Japanese mountain villages consider it a delicacy when deep-fried.
May 7, 2020
Johnny Appleseed Is Just A Myth, Right?
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
American tall tales cover the exploits and misadventures of colorful characters, from Brer Rabbit to Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, and more. Amid the folkloric frenzy is one of the most singular individuals of all, Johnny Appleseed. According to legend, Johnny Appleseed roamed the frontier in rag-tag clothes planting apple orchards.
He wore a cooking pot on his head and walked barefoot. Moving west from Pennsylvania, he carried a leather bag filled with apple seeds, yet brought no knife or gun for protection. Every time he found a suitable spot, he planted a seed. He made plenty of friends along the way, earning praise from notables like William Tecumseh Sherman and (according to legend) Sam Houston.
But is there any truth to this tale of a nurseryman turned trailblazer? Keep reading to find out more about the unlikely, yet mostly true story of John Chapman, apple planter.
American Cider
Born on September 26, 1774, in Leominster, Massachusetts, John Chapman grew up in a very different nation than we live in today. The American Revolution was still about six months from starting, and the western edge of Pennsylvania was a remote frontier that only the hardiest settlers dared traverse.
Since Chapman’s birth fell 146 years before Prohibition, he grew up in a world where apples did more than keep the doctor away. They fermented into cider, the preferred drink of rural America. So popular was hard cider among the inhabitants of the frontier that the average settler drank 10.52 ounces per day. (Considering your average American drinks 20 ounces of water a day, that was a lot of cider!) In other words, Chapman grew up in a world where cider was as much a part of the dining table as bread or meat.
This fact also means that the apple seeds Chapman carried in his leather satchel—yes, he did carry one—were for trees that produced bitter fruit. The kind perfect for making cider. Not the sweet, shiny red varieties we crunch on today. Chapman’s choice of “spitters” (because that’s what you did after taking a bite) was as much about practicality as it was about a delicious beverage.
A Brief History of Apples
To better understand why Chapman planted “spitters,” it’s essential to know a bit about the history of apple cultivation and how the frontier impacted its evolution. Apples originated in the area known as modern-day Kazakhstan. They owed their rise in popularity, however, to the Romans. In ancient times, the Romans perfected the art of grafting apples to attain the same edible fruit from every tree.
What is grafting, and why did it prove so valuable? Grafting involves taking a section of a stem, with buds, from a particular type of tree, and then inserting it into the stock of another tree. It’s integral to the apple cultivation process because these trees are “extreme heterozygotes.” In other words, when apple seeds get planted, they display random, unpredictable genetic characteristics.
To get the next generation of Fuji apples, for example, breeders must graft Fuji stems onto already-planted trees. The advantages of this method include knowing which type of fruit you’ll get as well as relying on a root base that’s already well-established.
Apples initially came to colonial America as graftings, and they faced unique challenges in the New World. For one, the soil proved less hospitable, and so these newly transplanted apple trees struggled to grow. For another, early American settlers lacked the workforce to care for orchards of grafted trees properly. That’s where Chapman came into the picture.
Developing Hardy American Apple Varieties
By circumventing apple grafting and merely planting seeds, Chapman made it possible for American settlers to establish orchards that didn’t require much upkeep. Sure, the fruit wasn’t consumable raw, but it made for a delicious drink when fermented. In the process, Chapman also sowed the seeds for a new kind of American apple.
In The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s View of the World, Michael Pollan credits Chapman with helping to create the “hardy American apple.” Why? By refraining from grafting, Chapman permitted apple trees to adapt and thrive in their new environment. As Pollan notes, “From Chapman’s vast planting of nameless cider apple seeds came some of the great American cultivars of the 19th century.”
Unfortunately, much of Chapman’s work fell to the Prohibition ax in 1920. That’s when FBI agents mercilessly destroyed apple orchards across the nation to prevent locals from brewing homemade hooch. The beverage is only now beginning to recover in popularity stateside. What’s more, American orchards are still in the process of re-establishing the crop of spitters needed to craft the finest ciders.
There is, however, one remaining 176-year-old tree located in Nova, Ohio. It was planted by Chapman and continues to bear tart green apples perfect for cider making and applesauce.
The Man Behind the Myth
So, how much of the Johnny Appleseed myth is correct apart from the seed planting and the leather satchel? Chapman did wear threadbare clothes and walk barefoot. His choice of headwear, a tin pot, has never been verified, though.
He refused to ride a horse and was a vegetarian because he believed in the Church of Swedenborg (a.k.a. the New Church). According to just about every account out there, Chapman took no precaution against the dangers of the frontier, forsaking the weapons most men and women carried.
Historians also point out that Chapman avoided grafting because he deemed it painful for trees and, therefore, against his religious beliefs. The Church of Swedenborg was based on the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg. These beliefs included the worship of nature because of a belief that everything on earth corresponded to a spirit in the afterlife.
The Cultivation of a Legend
Chapman also proved a shrewd businessman. He planted trees where he reasoned settlers would next move, thereby laying claim to the land and the crop that would result. Yet, even amid this entrepreneurial activity, there was still a clear religious motivation. Chapman believed the seeds he planted represented the word of God.
When he died in 1845 at the age of 70 years old, Chapman was a wealthy man who boasted an orchard franchise spanning the nation. As early as 1806, he was nicknamed “Johnny Appleseed,” and the name has stuck to this day.
By Engrid Barnett, contributor for Ripleys.com
May 6, 2020
The U.S. Army Camel Corps
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
On March 3, 1855, Congress allotted $30,000 to the War Department to purchase camels and dromedaries for military purposes. The move was a radical one and proved to be rather successful—that is until the camels were turned into circus attractions at the onset of the Civil War. Many were later set loose and roamed the American Southwest for decades.
Secretary of War Jefferson Davis secured the money for the idea, which had been percolating for years among a couple of military officials. Within a few months of receiving funding, Major Henry C. Wayne of the Quartermaster Department and Lieutenant David Dixon Porter sailed across the world to find the best camels for the job. The men spent five months traveling to Tunisia, Malta, Greece, Turkey, and Egypt before finally settling on two Bactrian, 19 dromedaries, 19 Arabian, one Tunis, one Arabian calf, and one Tuili or “Booghdee” camels.
The camels cost about $250 each. They were loaded on the ship Supply on February 15, 1856, and arrived in Indianola, Texas, on May 14 following a difficult three-month journey involving heavy storms. After a few weeks of rest on dry land, Wayne led the heard 120 miles away to San Antonio and eventually Camp Verde, where the animals would begin their new lives in a corral nearly identical to the ones in which they lived in Egypt and Turkey.
Wayne quickly proved how useful the camels could be. He demonstrated that they could haul supplies significantly better than horses and mules. For example, it took mule-drawn wagons almost five days to travel to San Antonio and back with 1,800 pounds of oats. The camels made the same trip in just two days with more than twice the amount of oats.
Wayne and civilian drovers taught soldiers how to work with and care for the camels. The hardest thing for the men to get accustomed to was the animal’s odor. While they didn’t stink any more than horses or mules, the smell was unusual and not something they were familiar with.
By 1857, the heard had grown to 70 strong after Porter traveled again to Egypt to bring back more camels for the program. When James Buchanan became president later that year, he made some changes in the administration, and Wayne was forced to return to Washington, D.C.
The camels sat idle for some time before they were employed to help survey land for a wagon road from Fort Defiance in the New Mexico Territory to the Colorado River near the California and Arizona border. Edward Fitzgerald Beale, the former Superintendent of Indian Affairs for California and Nevada, was tasked to lead the survey. He strongly opposed including the camels in his envoy, yet he relented under the command of the new Secretary of War, John B. Floyd.
The camels initially struggled in their new roles after languishing for months at Camp Verde. But they eventually proved their value by traveling much farther and faster than horses and mules while carrying 700-pound loads. They easily navigated hazardous terrain, didn’t require much drinking water, were impervious to the heat, and “delighted” the men with their captivating personalities. At one point, they were used to locate a watering hole, saving the lives of the entire crew.
Beale’s opinion about the animals completely changed during the four-month, 1,200-mile journey. He was continually impressed by their abilities. Even crossing the Colorado River was not a problem for the animals (meanwhile, two horses and 10 mules drowned).
The camels were later used by Beale’s business partner Samuel A. Bishop to haul freight to his ranch near Fort Tejon, Calif. When Bishop was threatened by Mohave Indians, his men rode the camels to deter them, making it the only time the ungulates were used in combat.
The camels were also used to carry supplies to Army outposts, deliver the mail, and rescue snowbound travelers. However, the animals were unsuccessfully paired against mules to test their speed for an express service. The Army determined they were good for hauling goods but not if they had to do so quickly.
The camel program ended during the start of the Civil War. Confederate troops overtook Camp Verde on Feb. 28, 1861, and abused the camels after using them to transport salt and deliver mail near San Antonio. Several died.
The remaining camels in California and the ones from Camp Verde were eventually sold at auction because caring for them became too costly. They turned into circus attractions, were relocated to zoos, or worked as pack animals for miners and prospectors.
Unfortunately, their novelty soon wore off and many camels were set free in the deserts and plains of the Southwest. It’s believed the last of the U.S. Army camels died in 1934 in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. The camel named Topsy was reportedly 80 years old. However, people reported sightings of the animals in desert areas for many years after, with verified reports in the 1940s and one in 1956.
By Noelle Talmon, contributor for Ripleys.com
Source: The U.S. Army Camel Corps
May 5, 2020
Tombstone Tourism Is Booming
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
A curious thing is happening at some of the oldest urban cemeteries in the United States. They’ve become havens for cabin-fevered city-dwellers. Thousands of cooped up people are flocking to them each week for a dose of fresh air. And families are bringing their children to release a little energy. Since occupants are six-feet under, following the strictures of social distancing proves a cinch.
The new wave of visitors is quickly succumbing to the strange charms of “tombstone tourism.” Also known as taphophilia (the “love of cemeteries”), the activity has always had a loyal constituency. The Facebook “Taphophilia” page alone has more than 10,000 followers. Yet, it’s not what we’d call a mainstream American activity. Until now.
While diehard tombstone tourists have always felt at home in cemeteries, social distancing is bringing out a new crowd.
The Rise in Tombstone Tourists
From empty subway stations to deserted attractions like Paris’s Place de la Concorde and NYC’s Times Square, social distancing comes with an eerie lack of crowds. Where people once thronged, now empty sidewalks greet observers. Metropolises the world over have become ghost towns in the wake of COVID-19. Some now refer to the phenomenon as the “Great Empty.”
Yet, other unlikely places have seen a dramatic influx of visitors in recent weeks, urban cemeteries. In Brooklyn, the 182-year-old Green-Wood Cemetery has extended its visiting hours and opened all four gates to accommodate the flood of guests. (Usually, only two are needed.)
Green-Wood Cemetery || CC Beyond My Ken
In Detroit, the grounds of many cemeteries also remain open. Visitor numbers have soared. Some Detroit residents say they’ve visited many city cemeteries over the past few weeks, finding them less crowded and safer than other alternatives, like city parks.
In Pennsylvania, cemeteries like Laurel Hill in Philadelphia and West Laurel in Bala Cynwyd witnessed visitor surges of more than 43 percent in just two weeks. According to Nancy Goldenberg, president and CEO of both Pennsylvania cemeteries, people visit because they need more space. And there is often a lack of alternatives. Many urban parks are either dangerously crowded or closed to the public. Cemeteries represent a picturesque Plan B.
Richard J. Moylan, President of Green-Wood, notes, “We recognize the role Green-Wood plays in so many lives, not just as a place of remembrance, but one of solace in an ever-uncertain world. Therefore we are dedicated to staying open and accessible during this time so you may continue to find peace in our landscape—as generations before us have.”
Cemeteries: The Perfect Spot for Social Distancing
Some historic cemeteries are incurring added costs to keep their gates open and staffed with personnel. Yet, they value the positive impact they’re having. After all, people crave extra space and solace right now. Beautiful historic cemeteries can provide both.
Officials note that they understand the importance of maintaining social distancing. They’ve taken measures to ensure the safety of visitors. These precautions include wearing masks, gloves, and keeping a distance from passersby.
As Molly Cusick recently noted on Instagram, “600,000 souls and not a one from which we must socially distance.” Others, like @glenn_electric, chimed in, “Social distancing—six feet under. Feels safe.”
Of course, the surge of visitors comes at a time when cemetery operations have seen an unfortunate and overwhelming uptick. How are cemeteries rising to meet the challenge? By carefully blocking off areas during funerals and enforcing strict six-foot separation measures.
For many cemeteries, the most active space right now is the crematory. Fortunately, for Green-Wood, the crematory is located in a separate building away from the public. This geographic distance has made the cemetery’s job a little easier.
Of course, social distancing hasn’t worked out well at some cemeteries. In Ohio, the Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati remains closed. Why? To stem the flow of thousands of new visitors. As for New Orleans, historic cemeteries have also been closed to all but mourning families.
A Historic Pastime
On closer inspection, parks and cemeteries have a lot in common. After all, many cemeteries are also certified arboretums. Examples of this include Laurel Hill, West Laurel Hill, and Green-Wood cemeteries.
Some, like Green-Wood, were engineered as “park cemeteries.” In other words, they function like parks, offering places for pedestrians to stroll and families to picnic. With 478 acres of open space and more than 7,000 trees, including blooming magnolias in the springtime, there are few better spots to capture a few moments of peace.
History attests to this fact. When Green-Wood first opened nearly 200 years ago, New Yorkers flocked there. Prospect Park and Central Park didn’t yet exist. So, residents got their nature fix at the cemetery. Records show that during the 19th century, more than half a million visitors frequented it each year. Green-Wood, as it turns out, was once the second most-visited site in the United States after Niagara Falls.
A New Crew of Taphophiles
A time-honored and largely forgotten pastime, taphophilia is making a comeback in the United States. In recent weeks, visitor numbers to historic urban cemeteries have soared. As America’s most-treasured historic cemeteries continue to attract new fans, they offer valuable lessons about resilience.
Some newfound taphophiles note feeling a bittersweet connection to those who died during the last pandemic that hit America from 1918 through 1920. Their graves prove a stark, yet comforting reminder that we’ve been here before and will triumph against this invisible enemy.
Will the tombstone tourism trend persist once social distancing comes to an end? You’d need a crystal ball to answer that question. Nonetheless, many people now regularly visiting these locations describe their early taphophile experiences as spiritually uplifting and hopeful.
By Engrid Barnett, contributor for Ripleys.com
Source: Tombstone Tourism Is Booming
May 4, 2020
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