Tim O'Brien
Author, Photo-Journalist
For nearly five decades, Tim O'Brien has worked in the communications side of the entertainment industry chronicling in print and capturing on film the latest and greatest that theme parks, amusement parks and attractions, roadside attractions, circuses, carnivals and sideshows have to offer. He has a strong interest and proven commitment to preserving the legends, legacy and the history of the industry.
An industry specialist and award winning photojournalist, Tim has had more than 5,000 articles and more than 3,000 photos published. He has visited more than 500 amusement parks and attractions in 29 countries and has ridden nearly 600 different roller coasters. He has appeared in more than a dozen theme park documentaries on the Travel Channel, The Discovery Channel and National Public Television. Tim has written and published 18 books, all still available on Amazon.
For his contribution to the international amusement park industry, Tim was the first journalist to be inducted into the prestigious International Assoc. of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA) Hall of Fame in 2016, where he joins industry greats such as Walt Disney, Walter Knotts and PT Barnum. Tim was previously presented the Lifetime Service Award in 2001 by the same association.
A graduate of The Ohio State University with a master's degree in broadcast journalism/film production, Tim is an accomplished photographer and public speaker, having lectured extensively at industry seminars, schools, libraries, and various civic groups.
For 10 years, Tim served as the national corporate spokesperson for Ripley Entertainment Inc. and had the privilege of showing off the company's 90-plus attractions throughout the world, and in doing so has been widely published and quoted.
He was responsible for the promotion and public relations of Ripley Corporate as well as all Ripley brands and attractions worldwide and served as editor of the venerable Ripley's Believe It or Not! cartoon, established in 1918. He was producer and co-host of the Ripley Radio weekly broadcast creating more than 200 episodes over a five year period. Today he proudly holds the emeritus title of "Ambassador of Odd" with Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Tim provided most of the talent booking for the various Believe It or Not! Odditoriums around the world, and the list of talented performers he brought to Ripley's front door includes the best in the industry - including wire walking Nik Wallenda, showman Todd Robbins, the green skinned Lizardman, and Dan Meyer, the world's foremost sword swallower.
Prior to his position with Ripley Entertainment, Tim served as senior editor of Amusement Business, the world's leading business trade magazine for the amusement park, fair, carnival, and circus industries. During his 18 years with the magazine, O'Brien traveled the world reporting the news and the history of the outdoor entertainment industry.
Tim currently serves on the National Advisory Council of the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, Ct.; on the board of governors of the Applause Award which recognizes the world's top theme park; on the board of the Society for Commercial Archeology; and is the former chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee of the International Assoc. of Amusement Parks & Attractions, of which he remains a member.
When not traveling, he splits his time between Nashville, Tenn. and Belgrade, Maine with his wife, Kathleen and their two cats, Simon and Garfunkel.
