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 ...
Wow, very easy on the eyes. Thanks for the eye candy Laz ; )
I Agree With You!
Vince the “Sham Wow!” guy just didn’t have what it takes to last in the business ...
That’s funny!
No! We had a city zoo in my hometown of Evansville Indiana called Mesker Park Zoo. Besides the awesome Zoo they had a huge amusement park, an outdoor amphitheater and a large woodland park.
Inside the fences of the zoo were 3 good sized lakes that were brimming full of trophy size bigmouth bass. I knew some zoo employees who would show me pictures of the monsters they used to catch, a job perc!
I bought a Popeil Pocket Fisherman so I could climb the fence and catch myself a trophy bass. Trying to breach the zoo security back in 1970, required a compact fishing gear setup. The Popeil Picket Fisherman was they key!
2 of us 16 year old fishermen jumped the fence one bright moonlit night and we started making those pocket fishermen sing. Using only HulaPoppers and Jitterbug artificial lures we caught so many big bass and catfish that it foiled our escape because my buddy couldn’t quite lift the stringer over the fence and we were laughing so hard the night watchman came out and caught us.
I think I still have that Popeil Pocket Fisherman somewhere in my barn. RIP Mr. Popeil.
“We bought many of his x rated marital aids”
The mind boggles...
Ronco an American classic.
I remember the commercials you’d see them all the time back in the days.
He was an American treasure.
They must have gotten sued by somebody who burned their house down, leaving an oven unattended like an idiot.
Honestly, I still have it after 20 years. Cooks a great chicken!
Imagine how much he could have sold with the Fartless Ass"?
“How do you like my nuts now?”
Mmmmm....Great Bass
I like your dark humor. That’s some funny stuff!
My dad had the Pocket Fisherman. When he passed, my brother claimed it.
RIP Ron Popeil.
*** Pocket fisherman, RIP ***
I bought one of those for my Dad for Father’s Day a kazillion years ago.
If Mae West had seen a man with a Pocket Fisherman she would have said to him: “Is that a pocket fisherman or are you happy to see me”?
Ave Maria will be sung by a chorus of plastic bass...
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