Ripley Entertainment Inc.'s Blog, page 393
August 25, 2017
August 24, 2017
Ham the Space Chimp: The World’s First Ape in Space
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Three months before Alan Shepard became the first American human in space, the U.S. launched a chimpanzee astronaut. His name was Ham.
For two years, number 65, as he was known (officials were worried that bad publicity might result from the death of a named chimp), was given intensive training at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. He was taught to push a lever within five seconds of seeing a flashing blue light.
Mercury-Redstone 2 launching Ham into space.
On January 31, 1961, the chimp, dressed in a mini space suit, was launched aboard a Mercury-Redstone rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. During his sub-orbital flight, computers on the ground measured normal vital signs, letting mission control know their brave chimp was alive. During the mission, the Mercury capsule lost pressure, but Ham was saved by his space suit.
He performed his tasks admirably and his capsule touched down safely in the Atlantic at the end of the 16-minute flight. Though he pulled his lever just slightly slower in space than he did on Earth, this feat proved that human motor control was possible in space. Only when he had safely returned to Earth with nothing worse than a bruised nose was he renamed Ham.
Ham safely aboard the retrieval vessel.
Ham joined the ranks of fruit flies and dogs in the pantheon of space test animals. The space chimp’s mission paved the way for Alan Shepard’s pioneering flight above the Earth’s atmosphere in 1961 and Ham went on to live a comfortable existence in U.S. zoos until his death in 1983—even finding time to appear on film with another national hero, Evel Knievel.
Ripley’s Slot Machine Is Really out of This World!
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Believe it or not, we’ve had several Ripley’s slot machines! Yup, who would have thunk?
Mikohn Gaming Ripley’s Slot Machine
Created by the game design whiz, Olaf Vancura, when he was with Mikohn Gaming, the slot machines were once—and still are—some of the most popular amongst players. Why? Well, you could dive right into what made Mr. Robert Ripley so darn popular: his comics! Yup, the slot machines were embellished with his comics and even featured some of our world-renown oddities; however, one of the major features of the game was its bonus round centered around trivia questions. The questions came specifically from our archives and Mikohn Gaming. Always at the forefront of innovation and being “different” from the rest, we were the first slot machine to make trivia a part of the gaming experience.
And how can we forget about the animated parrot named Rip? His witty personality gave instructions and most importantly guided you through your decision-making process.
“Awww, believe it or not, you’re wrong! Try again!”
AGS’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Slot
Another slot machine favorite is the AGS’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not!. What made this game unique was the ability to answer multiple-choice questions about Ripley’s favorites, like the tallest man in the world, or questions about science and history! AGS went ahead and stuck to what made Ripley slots so unique: trivia. Now, adding a new twist to it was its “Assist Features”. Just like “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire”, the slot machine offered three lifelines, and would even cross out the wrong response so that you could answer the second or third time wisely!
Ripley’s Digital Slot Machine
In this day and age, when technology lives in the palms of our hands, we knew we had to bring a little special to all of our fans.
Introducing the newest social slot experience, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Slots. The Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Slots app is a free social casino featuring premium Vegas slots combined with great trivia. It’s true; we’re bringing the slot floor to you.
Just like our original Ripley’s Slots, you can now experience the excitement of playing real Vegas-style slots with bonuses including our one-of-a-kind trivia! You can play both 5×4 and 5×3 slots.
To learn about the incredible game features click here!
So tell us, what are some of your favorite casino games? Let us know in the comments below. Oh, and don’t forget to answer the trivia question. You never know, you might just win a little something!
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August 23, 2017
How Simon the Cat Earned A Military Medal
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
After the end of World War II, a conflict was brewing in China. The HMS Amethyst, an armed frigate in the British Navy was sent to patrol the Yangtze River, offering to help keep the peace as the communist revolution unfolded.
Stopping at a port in Hong Kong, 17-year-old Geroge Hickinbottom spotted a weak and malnourished kitty. Simon couldn’t have been more than a year old, and likely wouldn’t survive on his own, so Hickinbottom smuggled Simon aboard.
The HMS Amethyst
The crew’s affection for Simon grew quickly as the now vital cat hunted rats aboard the ship, and got into all kinds of entertaining mischief. Simon liked to leave rats he’d killed in sailors’ bunks and often slept in the captain’s hat. Lieutenant Commander Bernard Skinner, the ship’s captain, took an immediate liking to Simon, who would lounge in the captain’s cabin, jumping up to take naps on the commander’s open maps.
Yangtze Incident
On a mission to relieve the HMS Consort of its duty in the north Yangtze, the HMS Amethyst came under attack from Chinese Liberation Army gun batteries. One of the very first shots tore through the captain’s cabin, gravely injuring Simon, and killing Lieutenant Commander Skinner. The ship scrambled to send peace calls, but the newly formed People’s Republic of China considered the treaties signed with the British invalid, as they were negotiated by the old government.
Almost everyone aboard the bridge was injured, and as crewmen were being attended to in the infirmary, it too was struck by enemy shells. The Amethyst was held under enemy shelling for 10 days, with rescue attempts by other ships proving too dangerous. A small force was able to escape to shore, narrowly avoiding enemy fire.
Simon crawled his way on deck and was taken to the medical bay by the crew. They removed the shrapnel and treated his burn, but did not expect him to make it through the night. During the ten-day siege, Simon recovered, and returned to work catching rats, helping raise crew morale as repeated attempts at rescue ended in failure.
The ship eventually managed to re-float itself by using hammocks and bedding to fill holes below the water line. The ship slipped downriver under a cover of darkness. As news reached the United Kingdom of the ship’s escape, Simon became an instant celebrity. He received thousands of letters and was even issued a “cat officer” to handle his mail. The Navy awarded him several medals, including the Dickin Medal, the highest award offered to service animals!
August 22, 2017
Inside the Chimbu Tribe’s Skeletal Body Paint Ritual
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Ripley books are no stranger to unbelievable body painting, like that of Italian artist Johannes Stötter, but the curious camouflage featured in Shatter Your Senses! takes us off the grid!
Living in a remote mountain region of Papua New Guinea, as much as 7,800 feet above sea level, little is known about the Chimbu tribe. Only first making contact with the Western world in 1934, they have largely remained a mystery—making their skeletal body paint even more fascinating.
Combined with dance, the paint jobs of Papua New Guinea’s Chimbu tribe were originally intended to intimidate enemies. Today, they are now part of an event called a “Sing Sing,” where nearby clans gather to celebrate the rituals and traditions of their cultures.
Despite the tribe’s relative obscurity, these cultural festivals have allowed us to take a peek into the mystique of the Chimbu skeletons:
Chimbu skeleton dancers prepare themselves for a Sing Sing by painting bones and skulls on their bodies.
Between 60 and 100 tribes contribute to the festivities, including those who take part as skeleton dancers.
Taking their name from the Pidgin word for a music party, a Sing Sing is a festival or gathering of various clans, tribes or villages in Papua New Guinea with the aim of sharing indigenous tradition and culture.
The Chimbu primarily speak Kuman—one of the over 800 languages of Papua New Guinea.
Sensing You Want More?
Filled with remarkable photos and over 1,500 all new—all true—stories to immerse yourself in, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Shatter Your Senses! is the newest book in the bestselling series from Ripley Publishing—so incredible you won’t believe your eyes…or ears…or nose!
Spark your senses here, on the blog, weekly for a feature from the 2018 annual, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Shatter Your Senses! and follow us on social media for a chance to win a copy, among other unbelievable prizes!
Source: Inside the Chimbu Tribe’s Skeletal Body Paint Ritual
August 21, 2017
5 of the Most Absurd Animal Athletics From Around the World
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
The animal kingdom boasts some very impressive athletic abilities. They are incomparable to even the fastest, strongest, fiercest human. Even Usain Bolt could not outrun your average house cat, who can reach nearly 30 miles per hour with no grueling training. But, when you have man and beast competing together you get greatness—and some of the world’s weirdest sports.
Ferret Legging
Ferret legging is a test of endurance…or simply the ability to have your bits bitten and do it with a smile. Also known as ferret-down-trousers and put ‘em down, competitors must place two live ferrets down their pants, which are tied at the ankles and belted tightly at the waist. The competitor, going commando, then stands before judges, enduring the misery of the ferrets’ razor-sharp claws and teeth. The person who stands the longest wins.
Kaninhop
Kaninhop was invented in Sweden in the early 1980s and involves adorable bob-tailed bunnies bouncing their way around obstacle courses consisting of several jumps of varying height and length.
Worm Charming
Each year, the small English village of Willaston hosts the World Worm Charming Championships, where competitors convince as many worms as they can to rise to the Earth’s surface. Also known as fiddling or grunting, coaxing earthworms is no easy task. While the exact method differs from wormer to wormer, the basic idea is to create vibrations in the ground.
Pigeon Rolling
Parlor roller pigeons are a flightless breed of pigeon that can roll and somersault backward at great speeds across the ground, traveling hundreds of feet. Like a gymnast’s floor routine, these birds compete and are judged on factors like their form and appearance. Rolling 200 to 300 ft. is considered good, but the record is a lengthy 662 feet!
Makepung
Makepung is a unique buffalo racing tradition that originated in Bali, Indonesia. Enjoyed by the Kaliakah Villagers, buffalo pairs are teamed together with their jockeys for a wild ride—saddling up wood plows to take on 125 meters of wet rice fields! Makepung translates to “romp” in English, but this fierce competition is far from that!
Now, go wake up your ferret (they sleep for about 20 hours a day!) and let’s get to business (a group of ferrets is called a business). You could be a champion ferret legger and not even know it! Know of any other Olympic-worthy critters? Let us know in the comments!
Source: 5 of the Most Absurd Animal Athletics From Around the World
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