Ron Popeil, slice-it-and-dice-it direct sales and infomercial king, passes at 86. Ron Popeil Infomercial King Dead at 86
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Ron Popeil
- Thread starter gr8oldies
- Start date
Mr Microphone !!!
Ronco Records
Ronco spray on hair
RIP, Ron Popeil
Ronco spray on hair
RIP, Ron Popeil
I was always fascinated by the Pocket Fisherman. I wonder if that thing actually worked, and what the record (size or weight) is for a fish caught with one.
RIP, I think his most recent widely distributed infomercial was probably for his "showtime rotisserie" oven and I think he was also hawking knife sets in there somewhere as well. The 2 things that always stood out to me from his infomercials were 1) There were always a fair amount of poorly done audio edits, when he'd want to correct something later or change pricing or add information, and those always stuck out like a sore thumb. They were quite obviously recorded later, and his voice for those drop ins would always have a different pitch and cadence. 2) One of his "gimmics" was to lower the price at the end or agree to take off one "easy monthly payment", but in exchange, those purchasing his products were asked to tell a number of their friends about it.
To add to the products already mentioned in previous posts, I'll toss in:
- Smokeless ashtray
- Electric food dehydrator
- Inside the shell egg scrambler
I recall being at a picnic back in the early 80s where they used a Mr. Microphone with a portable radio to call BINGO, and it worked reasonably well for that application.
To add to the products already mentioned in previous posts, I'll toss in:
- Smokeless ashtray
- Electric food dehydrator
- Inside the shell egg scrambler
I recall being at a picnic back in the early 80s where they used a Mr. Microphone with a portable radio to call BINGO, and it worked reasonably well for that application.
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Ha! I remember the Amazing Discoveries infomercials, created by and featuring Mike Levey (also RIP, back in 2003).
Some of the parodies of both companies' infomercials on shows like SNL and MadTV back in the day were comedy GOLD!
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No one could set a car on fire like Mike Levy.
Here's SCTV's Ronco spoof for Shower in A Briefcase
Dick Helton, AM drive anchor on KNX at Los Angeles shared a story on air yesterday that went something like this.
At one point in the past, Dick used to see Ron Popeil at some greasy spoon diner on Sunset in Los Angeles for breakfast. They'd frequently find themselves in there at the same time.
One day, the waitress walked over to Popeil's table, dropped off a plate and then said "but wait, there's more."
She walked into the kitchen, and came back out with the toast.
At one point in the past, Dick used to see Ron Popeil at some greasy spoon diner on Sunset in Los Angeles for breakfast. They'd frequently find themselves in there at the same time.
One day, the waitress walked over to Popeil's table, dropped off a plate and then said "but wait, there's more."
She walked into the kitchen, and came back out with the toast.
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