More about Santa Rosa in the summer of 1925. See INTRO for overview and index.
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 During the early 1920s Robert Ripley was making a name for himself at the New York Globe as a sports writer and cartoonist, but despite his success at one of the most prestigious newspapers in the world the Press Democrat oddly ignored this hometown boy who became a minor celebrity.
All that changed in July 1925 when the PD boasted Ripley would now “write for Press Democrat,” meaning that the paper was going to run his syndicated travel column, “Ripley’s Ramble.” The 75 article series can be viewed as a clear prototype of his Believe it or Not! comic strip which would feature facts meant to astonish, often drawn from his travels (or really, the travels of his researchers). In the teaser for the series the PD featured his friendship with a man from Santa Rosa, Peru, who supposedly gave Ripley an authentic shrunken head. There were no clues that was to be Luther Burbank’s last summer. In July 1925 his health seemed fine (for a 77 year-old) and the Press Democrat regularly printed small items about him receiving a steady procession of visitors. People came here from all over the country to shake his hand and get a garden tour – a busload of East Coast teachers enrolled in a program at UC/Berkeley, a batch of ministers, plain folks and all sorts of celebrities. Helen Keller stopped by for lunch. The PD was already blurbing that three months from then Burbank would be celebrating his 50th year in Santa Rosa, which would be mentioned in dozens of papers nationwide. Ever the publicity maven, he would use that occasion to announce he had six new roses and a new kind of sweet corn available for sale. But come early 1926, his fortunes would quickly change. Burbank found himself receiving the heaviest criticism of his life after telling a reporter that he didn’t have conventional religious views or believe in life after death: “I am an infidel today…I am a doubter, a questioner, a skeptic…” He defended his beliefs until he suffered a heart attack and died not long after. |
Not in person, but through a series of articles, a departure from the sporting field in which he made his first reputation as artist and writer. Ripley will in the near future greet the readers of the Press Democrat in and near his home town.
The cartoonist recently returned from a trip through the American continent on the other side of the isthmus, and is perfecting a series of articles on his experiences and observations there. Under the title, “Rambles Through South America,” Ripley’s stories will start soon in the Press Democrat and will be continued until complete, running 75 days in all.
Robert L. Ripley, known here as Le Roy Ripley, was born and educated in Santa Rosa. With a natural ability in art work and an ambition to conquer in his chosen line, he progressed rapidly, and 15 years ago left this city for east. He quickly became noted, not only as an artist, but as a writer of pungent, authoritative items on sporting topics.
His return to Santa Rosa, through the Press Democrat, will be received with interest not only by his old friends, but by other readers as well, who will find his articles sparkling with wit and bulging with pertinent facts.
In the picture above Ripley is seen with another native of Santa Rosa. The one is a Native Son of Santa Rosa. Calif., the other an Inca, Son of the Sun, and a native of Santa Rosa, Peru.
Ripley met the Peruvano during the tour of which he tells in “Rambles Through Soutn America” and the two became such firm friends that the Peruvian Santa Rosan insisted upon presenting the California Santa Rosan with a gift of a “reduced” human head, which had been shrunk to the size of a baseball. Watch for the Ripley “Rambles.” (July 28)
BURBANK TO RECEIVE MANY VISITORS HERE – Luther Burbank is planning to receive a large number of visitors at his gardens in Santa Rosa avenue during July and August. The majority of the visitors will come from the eastern states. Included among those in the delegations will be a number of teachers in California for summer school work. A number of ministers will arrive here this month to visit Mr. Burbank. In addition, there are always prominent tourists who visit at the Burbank home, some of them making appointments to see the plant scientist months in advance. (July 2)
EXCEPTIONAL WIT OF MISS KELLER PLEASES BURBANK – Equal honor befell both Luther Burbank, noted scientist, and Miss Helen Keller, yesterday, when Miss Keller and her secretary, Miss Polly Thompson, were luncheon guests at the Burbank residence in Tupper street. Miss Keller returned to Santa Rosa yesterday, after appearing here publicly several weeks ago, to obtain photographs of herself and her host for the national magazine for the blind… (July 9)
NOTED WRITER SEES BURBANK – Annie Laurie (Mrs. Bonfils), noted San Francisco newspaperwoman, accompanied by a number of friends, including General Terry, United States army, and his wife, called on Luther Burbank at his experimental gardens here yesterday. The writer, who had visited the Burbank home several times in the past, and her friends were shown through the gardens by the plant scientist. A delegation of eastern school teachers, who are attending summer school at the University of California, were also visitors at the Burbank home yesterday, and a number of educators from eastern and southern states will visit at the experimental gardens today. (July 11)