Book Details + Condition: Ripley Museum Inc (Gatlinburg, TN). First Edition, 1974. Softcover measuring 8"x5". 50 pages, with b&w photos and illustrations throughout. Firm binding; normal wear to covers, with a bit of discoloration and wrinkling; interior is clean and free of markings. Very scarce occult museum souvenir booklet from The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, opened in 1972 by Ripley's Believe It or Not. Ripley's had acquired the late Gerald B. Gardner 's collection of witchcraft items from Wiccan Monique Wilson, and displayed them in the museum. In 1975, due to pressure from the local churches and religious groups in the area, Ripley's changed the name to "World of the Unexplained" and re-outfitted it with new attractions. With the popularity of the television show "In Search Of", Ripley's hired the show's narrator, Leonard Nimoy, to film a short introduction to visitors at the entrance to the museum. The museum displayed not only witchcraft attractions but new ones that featured Bigfoot, flying saucers, the Bermuda Triangle, werewolves, and a fortuneteller with a talking crystal ball. In 1985 the museum closed down for good, due to poor ticket sales.
