Note: I placed this in Gadgets and Tech Talk because Mr. Popeil was pretty much the King of Gadgets for decades. _______________________________ July 29, 2021 Ron Popeil, a made-for-TV inventor and salesman whose infomercial stardom persuaded millions of Americans to buy the Veg-O-Matic, Pocket Fisherman and dozens of other products they had no idea they needed, died on Wednesday at a hospital in Los Angeles. He was 86. The cause was a brain hemorrhage, his sister Lisa Popeil said. Mr. Popeil’s mastery of television marketing, dating to the 1950s but spanning several decades, made him nearly as recognizable onscreen as the TV and movie stars of his era. Several of his catchphrases — especially “But wait! There’s more” and “set it and forget it” — have endured beyond his retirement.
Interesting tidbit about his father, Samuel Popeil: His father, Samuel Popeil, was the inventor of the Chop-O-Matic and several other well-known items, and as a teenager Ron began selling his father’s inventions at a Walgreen’s store in Chicago. He described his relationship with his father, who died in 1984, as all business. In 1974, Samuel’s second wife, Eloise, was convicted of attempting to hire two men to murder him. After serving 19 months of her sentence, the couple later remarried.
R.I.P., Ron. He always had such Great Looking Hair. Only in America is a sales guy a nationwide icon. (I've owned a Pocket Fisherman, a Showtime Rotisserie, and a Veg-O-Matic. I never owned a Bedazzler.)
I never owned any of it. I was and still am turned off by salesman that just won't shut the you know what up. I hated going to fairs with my bestie. She always had to stop and listen and buy their stuff. Some of it was good but really not worth the price in my opinion.
But don't you like it when they ask your name, Faye? And then they repeatedly use it, Faye. Like at the end of every sentence, Faye. Can't you see how this product will make your life easier, Faye?
It depends what they are selling John And if it makes my life more satisfying, John I never let them know I am a widow, John I always wear my expensive wedding ring, John Then they assume my husband won't rise to the occasion, John And then they produce their best model, John And say, "Just for a stunning babe like you, Faye" And then they asked what name I want to be engraved on it, John And I say, "Clint ... Clint Eastwood" and then they say to me, John We can do that For A Few Dollars More, Faye And then I pull out A Fist Full of Dollars, John And then they give me the two for one deal, John And then they say, "It is Two Mules for Sister Sara," And then I walk away, John because they called me Sara
The Veg-O-Matic actually did what it was supposed to until the blades broke. We had one and I used to make french fries with it. My favorite of his products was a spray paint which matched the customer's hair color and was sprayed on his bald spot to hide that he was losing hair. Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.
I had one of his rotisserie oven things back in the early 90's. It actually worked very well. "Set it and forget it!!"
I liked my rotisserie oven. It made great chicken, and the kabob skewers automatically rotated 1/4 turn every revolution so as to give all sides their turn towards the heat. I used to roast meatballs in the rotating fish basket because it gave them such a great flavor while cooking all sides, and the fat dripped off. If I had the room, I'd still have one. @Dwight Ward That hairspray was called GLH. Great Looking Hair.
NASA should have hired Ron and his crew of inventors to work on faster-than-light drive The rotisserie sounds like it was a good product. My Mom was an old school southern cook and wouldn't have known what to do with it. I used to have a pocket fisherman but all I ever caught with it were pocket fish.