If you appreciate schlocky pop culture, there is no better icon than Ron Popeil and his amazing line of Ronco products.
If you're in the Chicago area, be sure and pop over to the Cultural Center to check out this exhibit.
Isn’t That Amazing! The Appeal and Spiel of Ronco and Popeil
March 6 - May 16, 2004
Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago Rooms
77 E. Randolph Street
Don’t miss this exclusive Chicago opportunity to see the largest collection of original Popeil and Ronco TV-advertised gadgets ever assembled under one roof. But, wait! There’s more!
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I saw it yesterday and it was a lot of fun and brought back a lot of memories, and as much as we mock these commercials and products, they have been immensely popular throughout the decades.
The Popeil Pocket Fisherman, Veg-O-Matic, and Mr. Microphone, as well as the Ronco Bottle & Jar Cutter, Rhinestone & Stud Setter, and “Original Hits by Original Artists” compilation record albums, are among the items for the kitchen, the home, personal grooming, fishing, and crafts displayed.
The exhibit also featured the classic SNL “Bass-O-Matic” skit, Dan Aykroyd’s 1976 “advertisement” that was a parody of Popeil-style television commercials
So, how many Ronco products did your and your family own as a child?
Do you have any current products?
What were your favorite pitch lines? What was the one for Mr. Microphone?
What do you do when the infomercials come on TV?
Other related links:
http://www.ronco.com/history_of_ronco.di4http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/04.18.02/dining-0216.htmlhttp://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2002/june/ronco/