But, wait! There's more! Ron Popeil's genius. How many gadgets do you own?

[prolesunited]

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!

http://egov.cityofchicago.org:80/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@1351377125.1078854359@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccceadcklgjfmdhcefecelldffhdffn.0&contentOID=536901102&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=SubAgency&blockName=Cultural+Center%2FI+Want+To&context=dept&channelId=0&programId=0&entityName=Cultural+Center&deptMainCategoryOID=


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.di4
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/04.18.02/dining-0216.html
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2002/june/ronco/

[slackmaster]

1. I really wanted a Pocket Fisherman whan I was a kid

But sadly don't own any of Mr. Popiel's clever cheapass gadgets.

He is one of my personal heroes. I think he was my Short-Duration Personal Savior for 15 minutes back in 1973.

[prolesunited]

5. Despair no more, my friend

It can be yours, courtesy of eBay for a low, low, low starting bid of $12.25.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3664416365&category=793

Who knows? Maybe they even had the collapsible net that doubles as a life-saving emergency paddle with the specially designed plastic cover. :-)

[Reverend_Smitty]

2. Just set it and forget it!!!

yay for rotisserie ovens!

[bigwillq]

3. That's the only one we own

A Rotisserie oven. What about "Miracle Blade" are those his? If they are we own a set!

[ProdigalJunkMail]

7. we love our rotating cooker-thing

that's what my wife calls it when the word escapes her. At least she can laugh at herself about it...she calls me 'hey you' most of the time!

theProdigal

[prolesunited]

8. Which one?

Showtime Rotisserie & BBQ Oven Compact, Standard or Professional?

http://www.ronco.com/products/index.di4

[ProdigalJunkMail]

9. we got the compact

due to limited counter-space and limited family size...our one year old doesn't eat too much yet but I must say she was fond of the honey-dill glazed salmon we did the other night.

The only thing that has been a little bit of a problem is that on whole chickens, the meat gets a little CLOSE to the heating element and gets a little more crisp on the outside than we would like...but it still does a pretty darned good job!

theProdigal

[cally]

4. Sounds like a hoot

I wish I lived near and could go see it. I've been to a few museum exhibits with my parents and they are often in amazement. There's the suitcase they still have, or the black panther that sat on their windowsill for decades, or the meat grinder that they got from their parents. What we think of as normal appliances may be in a museum someday and indicate much about our culture.

That potato cutter seems pretty cool. I might need that one. ;-)

[prolesunited]

6. It was a lot of campy fun

There were so many products that I never knew I needed until I saw them. :D

You could always take your parents' items to one of those "Antique Road Show" type of appraisals and see what value they hold. I've been amazed by some of the finds.