Commercial Icon and Ronco Founder Ron Popeil (1935-2021) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 07-28-2021, 08:46 PM

https://www.tmz.com/2021/07/28/ron-p...s-infomercial/

Ron Popeil, the renaissance man who created the Pocket Fisherman and Hair in a Can, has died ... TMZ has learned.

Family sources tell TMZ Ron experienced a severe medical emergency Tuesday and died early Wednesday morning at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in L.A. He was surrounded by his family.

Popeil created the famous the Showtime Rotisserie & Barbeque coined one of the most iconic catch phrases ever -- Set it, and forget it!!! It grossed over $1 BILLION in domestic sales, shattering QVC and other sales records.

Popeil also created the Rhinestone Stud Setter, which later became the Bedazzler. And it doesn't end there ... he created Mr. Microphone and the Inside the Eggshell Egg Scrambler.

Popeil formed his own company -- Ronco in 1964 and marketed hundreds of products to global TV audiences.

He also made dozens of cameos in TV and film ... and was famously parodied by Dan Aykroyd on 'SNL' in 1976.

The last time we got Ron on camera was 2017, when he talked about the new fad, Fidget Spinners.

Ron amassed a fortune estimated at $200,000,000.

Ron had a collection of friends and they referred to themselves as "The Rontourage."

Ron is survived by his wife, Robin, 4 daughters and 4 grandchildren.

Ron was 86.

RIP

Dude111 · 07-28-2021, 08:50 PM

Some nice ones buddy

Hawkee · 07-29-2021, 02:35 AM

Ron Popeil passed away today? What a shock because he was truly a commercial role model for all the informercial hosts you see promote stuff on informercials today and you know if it had the Ronco name on a product it was sure to work instantly. I guess you could Ron Popeil was really a magic wizard and an Ian Lightfoot sort of guy who knew what stuff could sell like magic. When I would have baking classes my teachers used Ronco products and my third grade teacher was the first to own the Ronco Pasta Maker and when my teacher made pasta for a Halloween party I thought it was amazing that pasta could come of the hole into the plate. My uncle also had the Showtime Oven as well which he likes a lot that he is so proud of
Bestie

Dude111 · 07-29-2021, 12:20 PM

Very sad indeed

Hawkee · 07-30-2021, 02:39 AM

This morning you wouldn't believe what I found during my morning commercial research on Youtube? I unearthed some Ronco commercials and some were for products I had never seen or heard of. Take for instance do you remember Mr. Dentist that was an electric toothbrush that really cleaned teeth. I also found a commercial for the Ronco Pottery Wheel that was a motorized pottery wheel that you could do pottery very easily. And perhaps the oddest Ronco product I found a commercial for was for the Ronco Record Vacuum which cleaned music records. But most of the commercials I found were for Ronco Records which I didn't even know Ron Popeil was trying to be the next Berry Gordy and sell music. But it was a fun trip through nostalgia for me
Bestie

DadTheKing · 07-30-2021, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaBestia

Ron Popeil passed away today? What a shock because he was truly a commercial role model for all the informercial hosts you see promote stuff on informercials today and you know if it had the Ronco name on a product it was sure to work instantly. I guess you could Ron Popeil was really a magic wizard and an Ian Lightfoot sort of guy who knew what stuff could sell like magic. When I would have baking classes my teachers used Ronco products and my third grade teacher was the first to own the Ronco Pasta Maker and when my teacher made pasta for a Halloween party I thought it was amazing that pasta could come of the hole into the plate. My uncle also had the Showtime Oven as well which he likes a lot that he is so proud of
Bestie

Hi, Bestie! Yes Ron was a big part of America. He pretty much invented and perfected the infomercial. He was always entertaining. My favorite product of his was the pocket fisherman. It really worked. His funniest was the spray can of hair. I tried the Vegematic and it was better to exercise your hands than dicing vegetables. I hope everybody here mentions their favorite Popeil product.
DTK

Babalu · 07-30-2021, 04:05 PM

My favorite was the pasta maker infomercial with the studio audience. It was full of inconsistencies, half truths and outright lies and he couldn't have cared less. It was hilarious.

The absolute best part was "Here's the automatic pasta slicer" as he moved it with his hand.

TMC · 03-19-2025, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Ronald Martin Popeil was an American inventor and informercial pioneer. He's often referred to as the "Father of the Infomercial" as he invented not only the products he sold but the entire modern infomercial format as a whole. Everyone from Billy Mays to Vince Offer has Ron to thank for the marketing juggernaught that is the infomercial. Ron marketed his own inventions with openness and honesty, and had a long and successful career with his own company: Ronco.

KurtfromPitts · 03-26-2025, 10:44 AM

When I first heard of Ronco I thought that outfit was affiliated with Ronson,the lighter fuel manufacturer.

07-28-2021, 08:46 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,460	Commercial Icon and Ronco Founder Ron Popeil (1935-2021) https://www.tmz.com/2021/07/28/ron-p...s-infomercial/ Ron Popeil, the renaissance man who created the Pocket Fisherman and Hair in a Can, has died ... TMZ has learned. Family sources tell TMZ Ron experienced a severe medical emergency Tuesday and died early Wednesday morning at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in L.A. He was surrounded by his family. Popeil created the famous the Showtime Rotisserie & Barbeque coined one of the most iconic catch phrases ever -- Set it, and forget it!!! It grossed over $1 BILLION in domestic sales, shattering QVC and other sales records. Popeil also created the Rhinestone Stud Setter, which later became the Bedazzler. And it doesn't end there ... he created Mr. Microphone and the Inside the Eggshell Egg Scrambler. Popeil formed his own company -- Ronco in 1964 and marketed hundreds of products to global TV audiences. He also made dozens of cameos in TV and film ... and was famously parodied by Dan Aykroyd on 'SNL' in 1976. The last time we got Ron on camera was 2017, when he talked about the new fad, Fidget Spinners. Ron amassed a fortune estimated at $200,000,000. Ron had a collection of friends and they referred to themselves as "The Rontourage." Ron is survived by his wife, Robin, 4 daughters and 4 grandchildren. Ron was 86. RIP

07-29-2021, 02:35 AM	#3
Hawkee Michael Fassbender Fanatic Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Location: California Posts: 10,849	Ron Popeil passed away today? What a shock because he was truly a commercial role model for all the informercial hosts you see promote stuff on informercials today and you know if it had the Ronco name on a product it was sure to work instantly. I guess you could Ron Popeil was really a magic wizard and an Ian Lightfoot sort of guy who knew what stuff could sell like magic. When I would have baking classes my teachers used Ronco products and my third grade teacher was the first to own the Ronco Pasta Maker and when my teacher made pasta for a Halloween party I thought it was amazing that pasta could come of the hole into the plate. My uncle also had the Showtime Oven as well which he likes a lot that he is so proud of Bestie
	__________________ Hawkee and Aguilar, Hoping to be a great team

07-30-2021, 04:05 PM	#7
Babalu Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 22, 2014 Posts: 4,779	My favorite was the pasta maker infomercial with the studio audience. It was full of inconsistencies, half truths and outright lies and he couldn't have cared less. It was hilarious. The absolute best part was "Here's the automatic pasta slicer" as he moved it with his hand.
	__________________ . I just nailed Mrs. Trumbull

07-28-2021, 08:50 PM	#2
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 36,768	Some nice ones buddy

07-29-2021, 12:20 PM	#4
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 36,768	Very sad indeed

07-30-2021, 02:39 AM	#5
Hawkee Michael Fassbender Fanatic Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Location: California Posts: 10,849	This morning you wouldn't believe what I found during my morning commercial research on Youtube? I unearthed some Ronco commercials and some were for products I had never seen or heard of. Take for instance do you remember Mr. Dentist that was an electric toothbrush that really cleaned teeth. I also found a commercial for the Ronco Pottery Wheel that was a motorized pottery wheel that you could do pottery very easily. And perhaps the oddest Ronco product I found a commercial for was for the Ronco Record Vacuum which cleaned music records. But most of the commercials I found were for Ronco Records which I didn't even know Ron Popeil was trying to be the next Berry Gordy and sell music. But it was a fun trip through nostalgia for me Bestie

03-26-2025, 10:44 AM	#9
KurtfromPitts Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 10, 2006 Location: Carnegie PA Posts: 1,536	When I first heard of Ronco I thought that outfit was affiliated with Ronson,the lighter fuel manufacturer.