Sudbury shines in Ripley's cartoon

Ripley's Believe It or Not! cartoons are the longest-running cartoon in newspaper history.

In their 95th year, the cartoon is drawn 365 days per year.

Earlier this month, Sudbury was noted in the famous cartoon.

“Since 1964, A 30-foot-high Canadian nickel has stood on the grounds of the Dynamic Earth Science Centre in Greater Sudbury, Ontario,” reads the caption under a sketch of the giant coin. “A Big Nickel mining city!”

The cartoon appeared in about 160 newspapers in 42 counties in 17 languages, according to Edward Meyer, vice-president of exhibits and archives at Ripley's.

“The specific cartoon in question concerning Sudbury’s big nickel was chosen by our editors as a tribute to Science North and was deliberately published for syndication around the world (April 13), the day of their gala-premiere opening of the Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! travelling show,” he said.

“The framed version with commemorative plaque was presented publicly by myself, one of the editors of the cartoon, to (Science North CEO) Guy Labine ... April 13 in Sudbury at Science North.”

The daily cartoon is researched and written in London, England, before being edited in Orlando, then drawn in Tampa by artist John Graziano. it is published in New York City.

Graziano is one of seven artists to draw the panel since Robert Ripley.

The original artist began drawing newspaper cartoons in San Francisco in 1909. In 1912, he moved to New York, where he continued to illustrate. The first Believe It or Not cartoon appeared Dec. 19, 1918.

“Through the '20s, he changed papers several times, each time gaining fame and fortune,” Meyer said. “He was the first cartoonist to become a millionaire. In July 1929, the cartoon was picked up for syndication by King Features Syndicate, owned by William Randolph Hearst.

“The golden era of the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! cartoon was the 1930s-40s when Ripley became more popular than the president and a world-renowned celebrity — artist, public speaker, radio host, movie and later TV star and museum operator. He died in 1949.”