Chris Littlechild

Chris Littlechild

Chris is a lifelong fan of all things strange and wonderful. He first visited a Ripley's Odditorium at the age of 10 and, more than two decades later, this London-based writer had the pleasure of visiting the magnificent Odditorium in Orlando while on his honeymoon. Chris now delights in sharing the strangest stories from around the world with eager readers. He has a particular affinity for animal-related and historical oddities and is an ardent horror fan. He'll never shy away from the grisliest and most unbelievable of stories, such as that of legendary blood-bather Countess Bathory.

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Tamagotchi Turns 25: How the 90s Kid’s Favorite Took the World by Storm
Pop Culture
Chris Littlechild

Tamagotchi Turns 25: How the 90s Kid’s Favorite Took the World by Storm

The creators won an Ig Nobel Prize in Economics for diverting millions of work-hours into the care of virtual pets.

10 Facts You'll Vant to Know About Bela Lugosi
People
Chris Littlechild

10 Facts You'll Vant to Know About Bela Lugosi

Before he could deliver any lines in his iconic accent for "Dracula," he first had to learn how to speak English.

The Hellish History Of St. Patrick's Purgatory
Vintage & Historical
Chris Littlechild

The Hellish History Of St. Patrick's Purgatory

Saint Patrick’s involvement with the grisly gateway to Hell, dates back quite a long time.

The Curious Creature Crew of Sputnik 9
Science & Technology
Chris Littlechild

The Curious Creature Crew of Sputnik 9

Sputnik 9 orbited the Earth with one of the most incredible (and furry) crews ever assembled!

The Iron Maiden: Torture Device Or Sin-Cleanser?
Vintage & Historical
Chris Littlechild

The Iron Maiden: Torture Device Or Sin-Cleanser?

Whether the Iron Maiden of Nuremberg was really used or not is impossible to say, but the strength of the legend around it speaks for itself.

The 17th-Century Plan to Trade With Aliens on the Moon
Vintage & Historical
Chris Littlechild

The 17th-Century Plan to Trade With Aliens on the Moon

Early astronomer John Herschel reported seeing winged people inhabiting the Moon through his telescope.

The Origins Of Santa's Milk And Cookies
Vintage & Historical
Chris Littlechild

The Origins Of Santa's Milk And Cookies

The giving of milk and cookies is said to have its origins not in gifts to Santa’s reindeer, but to the horse of the Norse god Odin!

The Privileged And Exploited Story Behind 'A Christmas Carol'
Vintage & Historical
Chris Littlechild

The Privileged And Exploited Story Behind 'A Christmas Carol'

A Christmas Carol was written to make Dickens' views on the sorry state of Victorian society more palatable to his audience!

The Terrible Tale of Hans Trapp, the Christmas Scarecrow
Vintage & Historical
Chris Littlechild

The Terrible Tale of Hans Trapp, the Christmas Scarecrow

He became the dreaded Christmas scarecrow: adorned in straw as a disguise, waiting on lonely roads for a victim.

Unlocking The Life Of The King Of Handcuffs, Harry Houdini
People
Chris Littlechild

Unlocking The Life Of The King Of Handcuffs, Harry Houdini

Houdini shared his sinking ship escape secrets in seminars for American soldiers during World War I!

Swirling Pinstripe backdrop
Ripley's Cartoon of the Day

Sunday Cartoon! - February 2, 2025

Cartoon of the Day

NASA has an Office of Planetary Protection, just in case we ever find life on other plants.

Ripley's Cartoon of the Day

Robert Ripley began the Believe It or Not! cartoon in 1918. Today, Kieran Castaño is the eighth artist to continue the legacy of illustrating the world's longest-running syndicated cartoon!

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