An 18th-century Massachusetts judge with a peculiar objection to death, and a water-powered railway in England highlight this entry of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not.

Photo © Copyright charles

And in the second segment, you’ll hear all about Billy Marshall, a long-lived, ne’er-do-well Scotsman who sired dozens of children with his 17 wives all while he was A.W.O.L. Believe it or not!

Photo: Wikipedia

Ripley began his popular Believe It or Not franchise as a comic strip in 1918. Over time, it grew to include this series, and a half-hour radio program which ran from 1935-2004. Ripley also hosted two dozen short Believe It or Not films in 1930-1931.

A Believe It or Not television series premiered March 1, 1949 with Ripley as host. He appeared in approximately 12 episodes before succumbing to a heart attack on May 27, 1949. He was 58 years old.

Series Episode Log

Note: Although 415 episodes were made, the series is numbered from 1 to 416. There doesn’t seem to be an episode numbered 273.

xx/xx/xx 1 Egyptian Shoe
xx/xx/xx 2 Cliff Railway
xx/xx/xx 3 Grave Robber
xx/xx/xx 4 Death’s Head Moth
xx/xx/xx 5 Church Steeple
xx/xx/xx 6 Witch Doctor
xx/xx/xx 7 King’s Reward
xx/xx/xx 8 Iron Man
xx/xx/xx 9 Engaged Only Once
xx/xx/xx 10 Bono the Dwarf
xx/xx/xx 11 Inhuman Monarch
xx/xx/xx 12 Lord Brooks
xx/xx/xx 13 Considerate Uncle
xx/xx/xx 14 Killed by Bashfulness
xx/xx/xx 15 Remarkable Woman
xx/xx/xx 16 Weaponless Duel
xx/xx/xx 17 Billy Dixon
xx/xx/xx 18 King Olaf
xx/xx/xx 19 Unusual Pony
xx/xx/xx 20 Never Bitten
xx/xx/xx 21 Empty Grave
xx/xx/xx 22 Thrifty Nephew
xx/xx/xx 23 Preston Hall
xx/xx/xx 24 Dunder Rock
xx/xx/xx 25 Exploding Casket
xx/xx/xx 26 Church Inspired by a Footstool
xx/xx/xx 27 Dancing Corpses
xx/xx/xx 28 Strange Vigil
xx/xx/xx 29 Man of Letters
xx/xx/xx 30 When Will He Die
xx/xx/xx 31 World’s Richest Heiress
xx/xx/xx 32 Greatest Lover
xx/xx/xx 33 Moon Gate
xx/xx/xx 34 King of Punishment
xx/xx/xx 35 Town Clock
xx/xx/xx 36 19th Century Superman
xx/xx/xx 37 Ye Old Sun Inn
xx/xx/xx 38 Odd Place to Live
xx/xx/xx 39 Singing Sailors
xx/xx/xx 40 Fateful Phone Call
xx/xx/xx 41 Funny Election
xx/xx/xx 42 Actof Courage
xx/xx/xx 43 Floating Christmas Present
xx/xx/xx 44 Fish Story
xx/xx/xx 45 Choosy Thief
xx/xx/xx 46 Strange President
xx/xx/xx 47 Strange Death
xx/xx/xx 48 Unusual Temple
xx/xx/xx 49 Unusual Purchase
xx/xx/xx 50 Odd Way to Live
xx/xx/xx 51 Strange Death Wish
xx/xx/xx 52 Largest Clan in Scotland
xx/xx/xx 53 The Nervous Bulls
xx/xx/xx 54 The Oath That Came True
xx/xx/xx 55 Private Property
xx/xx/xx 56 Life in Chains
xx/xx/xx 57 Strange Sport
xx/xx/xx 58 Don’t Turn Your Back on a Fight
xx/xx/xx 59 Odd Lady
xx/xx/xx 60 Prophesy
xx/xx/xx 61 To Catch a Thief
xx/xx/xx 62 No Robes
xx/xx/xx 63 Odd Sack of Mail
xx/xx/xx 64 Mountain That’s a City
xx/xx/xx 65 Prophesy of Love
xx/xx/xx 66 Scotish Wife Killer
xx/xx/xx 67 About Face
xx/xx/xx 68 Smooth Operator
xx/xx/xx 69 Carry a Tune
xx/xx/xx 70 Man of His Word
xx/xx/xx 71 The Vow
xx/xx/xx 72 Young Sailor
xx/xx/xx 73 Insane Schoolteacher
xx/xx/xx 74 Tell-Tale House
xx/xx/xx 75 Comedy of Errors
xx/xx/xx 76 No Time to Write Books
xx/xx/xx 77 To Kill a Turtle
xx/xx/xx 78 Nut on Numbers
xx/xx/xx 79 Argument Led to War
xx/xx/xx 80 Sad Day for a Railroad
xx/xx/xx 81 Knight from Tennessee
xx/xx/xx 82 Fish That Disappeared
xx/xx/xx 83 Strange Marriage Ceremony
xx/xx/xx 84 Pink Lady
xx/xx/xx 85 Human Computer
xx/xx/xx 86 Strange Will
xx/xx/xx 87 Man of God-Western Style
xx/xx/xx 88 Mama’s Boy
xx/xx/xx 89 Cargo of Bad Luck
xx/xx/xx 90 Boredom Costs a Fortune
xx/xx/xx 91 First Ice Man
xx/xx/xx 92 Longest Love Letter
xx/xx/xx 93 Fought Nature
xx/xx/xx 94 Blind Sightseer
xx/xx/xx 95 Poetic Justice
xx/xx/xx 96 Longest and Shortest Wedding in History
xx/xx/xx 97 Theory of Child Education
xx/xx/xx 98 Perfumed House
xx/xx/xx 99 Hidden Treasure
xx/xx/xx 100 Work of Art
xx/xx/xx 101 Self-Centered Man
xx/xx/xx 102 Fatal Family
xx/xx/xx 103 Strange Defense
xx/xx/xx 104 Machine of Death
xx/xx/xx 105 Church Disaster
xx/xx/xx 106 Builder of Roads
xx/xx/xx 107 Physical Handicap
xx/xx/xx 108 Cruel Trick of Nature
xx/xx/xx 109 Baby Commander
xx/xx/xx 110 Two Lives
xx/xx/xx 111 Killjoy
xx/xx/xx 112 Misplaced Building
xx/xx/xx 113 Great Talent (2)
xx/xx/xx 114 Dream Came True
xx/xx/xx 115 Wedding Ceremony (2)
xx/xx/xx 116 Free Criminal
xx/xx/xx 117 Hidden Treasure (2)
xx/xx/xx 118 One Track Mind
xx/xx/xx 119 Woman’s Hats
xx/xx/xx 120 Ink Blot Test
xx/xx/xx 121 Strange Omen
xx/xx/xx 122 Dog Betrays King
xx/xx/xx 123 Unlikely Death
xx/xx/xx 124 Sleepy Head
xx/xx/xx 125 Fainting Pastor
xx/xx/xx 126 Church Beginnings
xx/xx/xx 127 Canadian Joan of Arc
xx/xx/xx 128 Trick on Nappy
xx/xx/xx 129 Literary Award
xx/xx/xx 130 Prophesy (2)
xx/xx/xx 131 True Romance
xx/xx/xx 132 Castle of Warning
xx/xx/xx 133 Dress a Harem
xx/xx/xx 134 Modern Warfare
xx/xx/xx 135 Cheated Death
xx/xx/xx 136 Patriot in Exile
xx/xx/xx 137 Never Grew Up
xx/xx/xx 138 Moonlighting Doctors
xx/xx/xx 139 Soldier Works Magic
xx/xx/xx 140 Greatest One Man Job
xx/xx/xx 141 Loyal Soldier
xx/xx/xx 142 Sight of Terror
xx/xx/xx 143 Never Never Gate
xx/xx/xx 144 Unfacts
xx/xx/xx 145 Grateful Soldiers
xx/xx/xx 146 Courages Queen
xx/xx/xx 147 Shyest Women in the World
xx/xx/xx 148 Horrible Past
xx/xx/xx 149 Marriage Test
xx/xx/xx 150 Cow’s Gold Teeth
xx/xx/xx 151 Makes a Point
xx/xx/xx 152 Home Sweet Home
xx/xx/xx 153 Water Drill
xx/xx/xx 154 Good Manners
xx/xx/xx 155 Hates Money
xx/xx/xx 156 Possessed by His Name ( Missing Ending)
xx/xx/xx 157 Toothache
xx/xx/xx 158 Up to Date Church
xx/xx/xx 159 Last Reward
xx/xx/xx 160 Grearest Clothes Horse
xx/xx/xx 161 Strange Way to Die
xx/xx/xx 162 Living Library
xx/xx/xx 163 Useless Guard
xx/xx/xx 164 Costliest Tree
xx/xx/xx 165 Dark Secret
xx/xx/xx 166 Inherited His Own Fortune
xx/xx/xx 167 Opera Singer
xx/xx/xx 168 Nothing to Govern
xx/xx/xx 169 Man Who Couldn’t Sleep
xx/xx/xx 170 Oldest Language
xx/xx/xx 171 Act of Patriotism
xx/xx/xx 172 Condemned a River
xx/xx/xx 173 Game of Chess (2)
xx/xx/xx 174 Queen for a Day
xx/xx/xx 175 Couldn’t Say No
xx/xx/xx 176 Bloody Oath
xx/xx/xx 177 Prayer Answered
xx/xx/xx 178 Great Talent
xx/xx/xx 179 Strange Criminal Code
xx/xx/xx 180 Strange Decision
xx/xx/xx 181 Prince’s Cruelity
xx/xx/xx 182 Labor of Love
xx/xx/xx 183 To Kill a Spy
xx/xx/xx 184 Fate
xx/xx/xx 185 Most Trusting Man
xx/xx/xx 186 Tragic Love Story
xx/xx/xx 187 Deathbed Wish
xx/xx/xx 188 Queen with Short Memory
xx/xx/xx 189 Ruler in Jail
xx/xx/xx 190 Debt Payed
xx/xx/xx 191 Greatest Nerve
xx/xx/xx 192 Experience in Death
xx/xx/xx 193 Stone Cutter
xx/xx/xx 194 Ritual of Pain
xx/xx/xx 195 Bar Bill
xx/xx/xx 196 Destined for Disaster
xx/xx/xx 197 Never Forgot
xx/xx/xx 198 Glimpse of Life
xx/xx/xx 199 Attitude About Clothes
xx/xx/xx 200 Strange Army
xx/xx/xx 201 Not as Friends
xx/xx/xx 202 King Wanted to Be a Dancer
xx/xx/xx 203 Way of Mourning
xx/xx/xx 204 Act of Faith
xx/xx/xx 205 Overcame Handicap
xx/xx/xx 206 Vote Getter
xx/xx/xx 207 Showing off New Husband
xx/xx/xx 208 Villiage That Murdered Itself
xx/xx/xx 209 Gauge of Railroads
xx/xx/xx 210 How the White House Got Its Name
xx/xx/xx 211 King That Rode Piggyback
xx/xx/xx 212 General’s Secret
xx/xx/xx 213 How Many Happy Days
xx/xx/xx 214 Table Manners
xx/xx/xx 215 Typographical Error
xx/xx/xx 216 A Lifetime by 20
xx/xx/xx 217 Prolific Poet
xx/xx/xx 218 Island Made of Soap
xx/xx/xx 219 Shook Hands with Foot
xx/xx/xx 220 Handkerchief Moody
xx/xx/xx 221 Unwritten Book
xx/xx/xx 222 Eternal Silence
xx/xx/xx 223 Ponderous Book
xx/xx/xx 224 Walk to Russia
xx/xx/xx 225 Most Distinguished Doctor
xx/xx/xx 226 Help Wanted Ad
xx/xx/xx 227 Holy Beach
xx/xx/xx 228 Most Expensive Dress
xx/xx/xx 229 Shell Had His Number
xx/xx/xx 230 Sock Escape
xx/xx/xx 231 Fish Tale
xx/xx/xx 232 Slept Through Term
xx/xx/xx 233 Costly Bombardment
xx/xx/xx 234 Before the Fact
xx/xx/xx 235 One Vote
xx/xx/xx 236 Real Cinderella Story
xx/xx/xx 237 Paid National Debt
xx/xx/xx 238 Discovered on a Camel
xx/xx/xx 239 Court Trial
xx/xx/xx 240 Lighthouse on Cotton
xx/xx/xx 241 Mystery Ship
xx/xx/xx 242 Priceles Barrel
xx/xx/xx 243 Saves His Brother’s Life
xx/xx/xx 244 The Word Restaurant
xx/xx/xx 245 Hanging Judge
xx/xx/xx 246 Expensive Cab Ride
xx/xx/xx 247 Feat in Lifting
xx/xx/xx 248 Man in the Gold Mask
xx/xx/xx 249 Spectacular Walk
xx/xx/xx 250 Costliest Minute in History
xx/xx/xx 251 Motherhood
xx/xx/xx 252 Unconscious Bride
xx/xx/xx 253 Bald Headed Joke
xx/xx/xx 254 Soldier of Fortune
xx/xx/xx 255 Thumbs Up
xx/xx/xx 256 King’s Appetite
xx/xx/xx 257 19 Year Duel
xx/xx/xx 258 Secret of the Sealed Book
xx/xx/xx 259 Well Paid Poet
xx/xx/xx 260 Strange Religious Celebration
xx/xx/xx 261 Book Treated Like a King
xx/xx/xx 262 Remarkable Memorial
xx/xx/xx 263 Strange Nuptials
xx/xx/xx 264 Stubbed His Toe on 10 Billion Dollars
xx/xx/xx 265 How California Got Its Name
xx/xx/xx 266 Cheese Won a Naval Battle
xx/xx/xx 267 Golden Mummy
xx/xx/xx 268 Oldest Song in the World
xx/xx/xx 269 First Man to Eat His Hat
xx/xx/xx 270 First President of the U S A
xx/xx/xx 271 Whale Swallows Man
xx/xx/xx 272 Fire Destroys Bridge
xx/xx/xx 274 World’s Worst Thug
xx/xx/xx 275 King David’s Wealth
xx/xx/xx 276 Mystery House
xx/xx/xx 277 Strange Fish
xx/xx/xx 278 Bagpipes
xx/xx/xx 279 Manhatten
xx/xx/xx 280 Lot of Lip
xx/xx/xx 281 Fell out of a Plane
xx/xx/xx 282 Too Much Land
xx/xx/xx 283 How the Tank Got Its Name
xx/xx/xx 284 Wedding at Knifepoint
xx/xx/xx 285 Bloody War
xx/xx/xx 286 Double Pay
xx/xx/xx 287 Butterfly
xx/xx/xx 288 Royal Wedding Target
xx/xx/xx 289 Ship of the Dead
xx/xx/xx 290 Length of True Love
xx/xx/xx 291 Dangerous Clams
xx/xx/xx 292 Small Fish
xx/xx/xx 293 Death News Item
xx/xx/xx 294 Thanksgiving Fast
xx/xx/xx 295 Deadly Stone
xx/xx/xx 296 Donkey’s Mine
xx/xx/xx 297 Distance Runner
xx/xx/xx 298 Bullet Found Its Mark
xx/xx/xx 299 Invasion of Normandy
xx/xx/xx 300 King Plenty
xx/xx/xx 301 Margin of Defeat
xx/xx/xx 302 Convicted of Murder
xx/xx/xx 303 Anniversary
xx/xx/xx 304 Whiskers Caused a War
xx/xx/xx 305 Human Lighthouse
xx/xx/xx 306 Big Reward
xx/xx/xx 307 Mad Tzar
xx/xx/xx 308 Strange Scrifice
xx/xx/xx 309 How Bridge Got Its Name
xx/xx/xx 310 Wasteful Man
xx/xx/xx 311 Shrieking Statue
xx/xx/xx 312 John Payne ( Part)
xx/xx/xx 313 Death Sentence
xx/xx/xx 314 Built a House
xx/xx/xx 315 Half a Cent Started a War
xx/xx/xx 316 Hangman’s Noose
xx/xx/xx 317 Scare a Tree
xx/xx/xx 318 Not Very Popular in America
xx/xx/xx 319 Reduce Divorce Rate
xx/xx/xx 320 Dangerous Act
xx/xx/xx 321 Knew How to Live
xx/xx/xx 322 Weird Death Watch
xx/xx/xx 323 Tub of Butter
xx/xx/xx 324 Life and Death Decision
xx/xx/xx 325 Jilted a King
xx/xx/xx 326 Smart Wig
xx/xx/xx 327 Human Top
xx/xx/xx 328 Milking a Cow
xx/xx/xx 329 Late Revenge
xx/xx/xx 330 Executed Four Times
xx/xx/xx 331 600 Eyebrows
xx/xx/xx 332 Wedding Ceremony
xx/xx/xx 333 Long Reign
xx/xx/xx 334 How Much Is a Million
xx/xx/xx 335 Treachery of Kings
xx/xx/xx 336 Unusual Coincidence
xx/xx/xx 337 Don’t Rely on Doves (2)
xx/xx/xx 338 Unusual Incident
xx/xx/xx 339 Spectacles of Death
xx/xx/xx 340 Courage of a Woman
xx/xx/xx 341 Tax Your Belief
xx/xx/xx 342 Nothing to Wear
xx/xx/xx 343 White Pigeons
xx/xx/xx 344 Kills with Gold
xx/xx/xx 345 Marriage Racket
xx/xx/xx 346 Ballet Star
xx/xx/xx 347 Soldier Painter
xx/xx/xx 348 Fortune for a Letter
xx/xx/xx 349 Game of Chess
xx/xx/xx 350 Pit of Fire
xx/xx/xx 351 Everlasting Mourning
xx/xx/xx 352 Name a Tower
xx/xx/xx 353 People Who Eat Under Water
xx/xx/xx 354 Castle Distroyed by a Kiss
xx/xx/xx 355 Silent Groom
xx/xx/xx 356 Cruel Prctical Joke
xx/xx/xx 357 Strange Rainfall
xx/xx/xx 358 For the Sake of Art
xx/xx/xx 359 Cure for Blindness
xx/xx/xx 360 Emperor in Hot Water
xx/xx/xx 361 Flies Save a City
xx/xx/xx 362 First Love
xx/xx/xx 363 12 Year Old Girl
xx/xx/xx 364 Marriage Rite
xx/xx/xx 365 Animal Pack
xx/xx/xx 366 King Died a Beggar
xx/xx/xx 367 Silly Statement
xx/xx/xx 368 Executed Because He Was Strong
xx/xx/xx 369 Weird Prophesy
xx/xx/xx 370 Nice Profit
xx/xx/xx 371 Saw Death in the Future
xx/xx/xx 372 Unusual Love Story
xx/xx/xx 373 Incredible Professor
xx/xx/xx 374 100 Crippled Daughters
xx/xx/xx 375 Shoemaker Becomes a King
xx/xx/xx 376 Golden Galley
xx/xx/xx 377 Mad Monarch’s Revenge
xx/xx/xx 378 Killed Himself for His Regiment
xx/xx/xx 379 Hot Bath Makes a King
xx/xx/xx 380 Castle Owned by the Devil
xx/xx/xx 381 Strange Library
xx/xx/xx 382 Unusual Food Handlers
xx/xx/xx 383 Word Meanings
xx/xx/xx 384 Stroke of Lightning
xx/xx/xx 385 Worth Her Weight in Gold
xx/xx/xx 386 Seductive Murderess
xx/xx/xx 387 Died of Double-Trouble
xx/xx/xx 388 Indestructible Pilgrim
xx/xx/xx 389 Best Dressed Women
xx/xx/xx 390 Killed by a Prophesy
xx/xx/xx 391 Towed a Whale
xx/xx/xx 392 Victory Castle
xx/xx/xx 393 Waist More Then Height
xx/xx/xx 394 Deadly Gateposts
xx/xx/xx 395 Bridge of Death
xx/xx/xx 396 Man Bites Crock
xx/xx/xx 397 Well of Death
xx/xx/xx 398 Strange Wound
xx/xx/xx 399 Home Run Show
xx/xx/xx 400 Corpse Stops a Mutiny
xx/xx/xx 401 Couldn’t Change Fate
xx/xx/xx 402 Married His Wife
xx/xx/xx 403 Saw Husband Die Twice
xx/xx/xx 404 Crime Detection
xx/xx/xx 405 Strange Treasure Hunt
xx/xx/xx 406 Foundling
xx/xx/xx 407 Ruled by an Empty Chair
xx/xx/xx 408 His Own Wedding
xx/xx/xx 409 Lollypop Temple
xx/xx/xx 410 Tempted Fate
xx/xx/xx 411 House of Unhappy Marriages
xx/xx/xx 412 Scorn of an Angry Woman
xx/xx/xx 413 Elaborate Funeral
xx/xx/xx 414 Woman Invited Herself
xx/xx/xx 415 Never Too Late
xx/xx/xx 416 Turned Down a Gold Mine