Posted on 07/28/2021 5:02:22 PM PDT by Loyalist
He told you to “Set it and forget it,” but the world will never forget Ron Popeil.
Popeil, an inventor and the face of infomercials for “as-seen-on-TV” products like Showtime Rotisserie and Pocket Fisherman, has died. He was 86.
His family told TMZ that Popeil had a medical emergency on Tuesday and died Wednesday morning surrounded by family at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Popeil was best known for the “Set it and forget it” catchphrase used to sell Showtime Rotisserie in late-night infomercials. Long before air fryers became the kitchen appliance du jour, the countertop rotisserie appliance took the home cooking world by storm, having sold over $1 billion worth, TMZ reported.
The mogul is credited with coining the oft-used infomercial phrase, “But wait, there’s more!” But the same can be said about Popeil, who was more than an infomercial guy. He created the entire concept.
In the early 1950s, Popeil teamed up with his partner at the time, Mel Korey, to produce the first modern minute-long, black and white commercial for slightly over $500, according to the biography on his official site.
But Popeil was not just a face selling a product like the influencers of today. The New York City-native founded the Ronco company in 1964, selling products created by his father, Samuel “S.J.” Popeil, who created the Chop-o-Matic and the Veg-o-Matic.
Following in the footsteps of his father, Popeil went on to create products himself including the Mr. Microphone (the first Karaoke machine), the Popeil Pocket Fisherman, the Buttoneer, the Smokeless Ashtray, Popeil’s Electric Food Dehydrator, the Inside-the-Egg Scrambler, GLH-9 (Great Looking Hair Formula #9) Hair in a Can Spray, the Rhinestone Stud Setter (Later called the Bedazzler), the Cap Snaffler, the Popeil Automatic Pasta Maker and the Ronco Electric Food Dehydrator.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Still got one, somewhere.
Oh chef of the future .. can it core a apple ?
The guy was an icon, most (not all) of his products were not trash. Seems just a couple years ago he was TV pitching a countertop rotisserie. I remember him with heavy rubber gloves pulling a Rib Roast out of the contraption.
We bought many of his x rated marital aids
OMG!! You had me almost spit out my corn flakes that I’m having for dinner. LOL AWESOME!!!
I had a pocket fisherman, it did okay.
Why are FReepers ripping on him? This man was a throwback to Americana inventors and can-do spirit. Today’s kids can’t even tie their shoes.
Got his fishing “rod” in my mobile SHTF bin.
All that’s left is that guy who sells the flex seal..hey put it on your boat and it will float!
I remember the Pocket Fisherman.
Loyalist, if you came up with that, you are brilliant! lol BTW, Al Stewart co-wrote a really cool historical song called “The Loyalist”. Worth a listen on youtube.
Very sad. I will miss him.
“And it really really works!”
I watched a documentary on the guy some years ago. He talked about getting his spiel down listening to the NYC street vendors, of which some of his uncles were. He honed his spiel selling on his own.
The man could sell an Eskimo an ice maker....BUT WAIT! THERES MORE!
Mr. Microphone....”hey good looking, we’ll be back to pic you up later”
In the early 70’s I had a Ronco Presents the Top 20 record album. It had the best songs.... Only thing was the songs were all cut short by about 25%. I guess it was a copyright issue. So I grew up memorizing these but never knew what the last parts of the songs were.. lol
“Why are FReepers ripping on him?”
Not me, I admire the guy.
Saw a documentary on him years ago.
Whoever was interviewing him asked about products like the spray on hair and some other thing. Ron just smiled and said “I can sell anything.”
He was a character I’m glad I got to experience.
The man really could sell anything.
We will never again see his like.
I'd rather have his apron in the Smithsonian than that stupid congressman's January 6th suit.
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