Ron Popeil: Celebrating the Life of an Iconic TV Inventor & Salesman

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses the life and impact of Ron Popeil, a notable TV inventor and salesman known for his infomercials and various kitchen gadgets. Participants reflect on their memories of his products, the nature of his advertising style, and the cultural significance of his work during the 1970s and 1980s.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Historical

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants recall Popeil's influence on TV advertising, noting his pioneering of long-form commercials that captivated audiences.
  • Others share personal anecdotes about specific products, such as the Pocket Fisherman, highlighting both fond memories and criticisms of their functionality.
  • A participant mentions that the Pocket Fisherman is often viewed as a gift rather than a practical tool.
  • There are references to cultural impacts, including spoofs of Popeil's commercials on shows like SNL, indicating his prominence in popular culture.
  • Some express surprise at Popeil's longevity and the nostalgia surrounding his products and advertising style.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the cultural significance of Ron Popeil and his products, but there are mixed feelings regarding the actual utility of the items he sold, with some viewing them as ineffective while others cherish their memories.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying degrees of nostalgia and critique regarding the effectiveness of Popeil's products, with some noting the disparity between the advertising promises and actual performance.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in television history, advertising techniques, or nostalgic consumer products from the late 20th century may find this discussion engaging.

BillTre
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Ron Popeil, well know seller of TV gadgets, died Wednesday at the age of 84.
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In 1959 he appeared in his first TV commercial, hawking the Ronco Chop-o-Matic food dicer. Debuting the earnestly dramatic style that became his trademark, Popeil said, "I'm going to show you the greatest kitchen appliance ever made."

Popeil followed with a flurry of other made-for-TV inventions, dizzying in both their number and variety. They included the Pocket Fisherman, Mr. Microphone and the Electric Food Dehydrator. Popeil said he was not just a salesman, but also an inventor who designed many of the products himself.Although his company Ronco was already a household name in the 1970s, Popeil's fame exploded in the 80s when looser federal regulations on TV ads allowed him to go from brief commercials to 30-minute self-contained "infomercials," which soon dominated late night and weekend schedules.
Popeil developed a formula that became dominant in infomercials: Present an invention that addressed a minor problem as "revolutionary" technology, throw in "free" bonus products to the delight of an in-studio audience and warn viewers that supplies are low, so they have to "call now!"

He was quite the TV character and was imitated (and spoofed) by many:

 
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If you understand the words in this song, then you must be old, like me.
 
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I remember all of those products. As a kid in the 1970s I was really captivated by those RonCo TV ads... some of them were as long as 60 seconds occasionally a bit more... Ron Popiel really pioneered the long-form (60-120 second) TV spot, which was largely believed to be too long to hold the audience attention.

I actually loved the ads more than the products, although I always did want a Pocket Fisherman.

--diogenesNY
 
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I was just talking about this guy with a friend the other day. When I was kid my dad bought me and brothers each a Pocket Fisherman. A pretty neat gift to get as a little kid, and it's kind of a cool idea. It was a complete piece of junk though, didn't really work that well. Still, I have fond memories of it. Kind of wish I'd kept it.

I searched online and the original versions (they re-released it later) are going for like $100.
 
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I had no idea he was still alive.

And "Wow, that's terrific bass!"
 
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I watched the original TV commercials as a child. Laughed at Dan Aykroyd's hilarious spoofs on 1970's SNL.
 
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I read somewhere that the pocket-fisherman was a product best purchased as a gift, not for use.
 
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It slices, it dices, it cuts three different ways...and boy, does it catch fish!