Ripley in China
In his early days as a sports cartoonist in San Francisco, Ripley spent hours exploring nearby Chinatown, developing a life-long love of Chinese culture. This silent film clip is from his 1932 trip to China.
Ripley Believe It Or Not Preview
Robert Ripley mesmerized the nation with his blend of homespun Americana, colorful exotica and freakish oddities. His “Believe It or Not!” franchise grew into an entertainment empire, expanding from newspapers to every form of “new media” in the 20th century: radio, film and, ultimately, television. "Ripley Believe It Or Not" premieres January 6, 2014 on PBS American Experience.
Ripley in Thailand
This silent film clip shows Robert Ripley's 1932 trip to Bangkok, Thailand where he visited the Wat Arun temple. Ripley referred to it as “The Temple of Broken Dishes” as it is decorated with fragments of porcelain dishware.
Ripley in India
In 1922, Ripley made his first trip to India in his “Ramble ‘Round the World” for the New York "Globe." This silent film clip is from his 1936 trip. It features Indian street scenes, followed by a leisurely boat ride along the Ganges.
Ripley in Kenya
In this silent film clip from his trip to Kenya in 1934, Robert Ripley joins a local man in bouncing on the springy land near Kenya’s “Underground Lake.” Ripley also tries a sample of a Kigelia tree, also known as the “sausage tree” due to its sausage-shaped fruit.
Ripley in a Rickshaw
In this silent film clip, Robert Ripley rides rickshaws ‘round the world. The first is during his trip to Thailand in 1932. Next up is his trip to China in 1932, where he takes a speedy ride on a village street, followed by a more leisurely one on the Great Wall of China. Two years later he hitches a ride in Durban, South Africa in 1934.
Ripley: Believe It or Not, Chapter 1
LeRoy Robert Ripley rose to fame during the Great Depression, transforming himself from a skinny, buck-toothed boy into an entertainer who mesmerized the nation with his razzle-dazzle blend of homespun Americana, colorful exotica and freakish oddities. Americans not only loved his bizarre fare, but were fascinated by the man himself.
Coming in Winter 2015
Watch a short video about what is coming to American Experience this January and February, with a message from Executive Producer Mark Samels. The season kicks off on January 6 with "Ripley: Believe It or Not," followed by "Klansville U.S.A.," "Edison," "The Big Burn," and "The Forgotten Plague."
Khrushchev's American Journey
In 1959, Nikita Khrushchev was the first Soviet leader to visit the United States. This archival film from the United States Information Service details Khrushchev's twelve day tour from Washington DC to New York, California, Iowa, and Pennsylvania.
Nikita Khrushchev Arrives in America
When Nikita Khrushchev became the first Soviet Premier ever to visit the U.S., celebrations ran high. So did tensions. "Cold War Roadshow" premieres November 18 on PBS.
Khrushchev Takes Manhattan
Sergei Khrushchev documented his father's 1959 American visit from behind the lens of his camera. Take a tour of 1950s New York City through the eyes of a 22-year-old Soviet visitor in this silent film clip.
Khrushchev Goes to Hollywood
During his trip to America in 1959, Nikita Khrushchev stopped by 20th Century Fox studios in Los Angeles to mingle with some of Hollywood's biggest stars. While there, he ranted about his canceled trip to Disneyland, met Marilyn Monroe, and watched the filming of a scene from "Can-Can." "Cold War Roadshow" premieres November 18, 2014 on American Experience PBS.
Khrushchev Visits IBM
During his American tour in 1959, Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev toured the IBM factory in San Jose, California. While visiting, the innovation Khrushchev was most fascinated by was not the computers, but rather the company's cafeteria. "Cold War Roadshow" premieres November 18 on American Experience PBS.
Inside Khrushchev's Airplane
Sergei Khrushchev documented his father's 1959 American visit from behind the lens of his camera. In this soundless video clip, we see Khrushchev and his advisors and family on his plane to America. See more in our video gallery on the "Cold War Roadshow" website.
Khrushchev's Cool Welcome in NY
Arriving in New York City in 1959, a hotbed of American capitalism, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev did not face a warm welcome.
A Popular Communist
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev tries his first American Hot dog during on his 1959 visit to the US, and the American public sees him as a more lovable, huggable type of guy. "Cold War Roadshow" premieres November 18 on American Experience PBS.
The Soviet Premier Wants to Mingle
On his 1959 visit to the US, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev requests to mingle with the common people. "Cold War Roadshow" premieres November 18 on American Experience PBS.
Touring D.C. With Khrushchev
Sergei Khrushchev documented his father's 1959 American visit from behind the lens of his camera. In this silent film clip, Khrushchev and his entourage tour the monuments and landmarks of Washington, DC.
Cold War Roadshow, Chapter 1
In 1959, Nikita Khrushchev became the first Soviet premier to visit the United States. Both Khrushchev and President Dwight Eisenhower hoped the visit would ease Cold War tensions between their two nations. "Cold War Roadshow" premieres November 18, 2014 on American Experience PBS.
Cold War Roadshow Preview
For twelve days in September 1959, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev traveled the United States from coast to coast, creating a media circus as hundreds of reporters followed his every move. Americans were fascinated by the communist leader and the trip served to ease Cold War tensions -- if only for a short time. "Cold War Roadshow" premieres November 18, 2014 on American Experience PBS.
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