Long before there was Billy Mays , Anthony Sullivan , Matthew Lesko , or Vince “ ShamWow ” Offer , there was Ron Popeil , the so - call “ Godfather of the Infomercial ” and/or “ Salesman of the Century . ” But Popeil is much more than a straight - up pitchman . Here are 5 matter you might not know about theRoncofounder .
1. HE’S AN INVENTOR FIRST.
Unlike other peddler ( and pitchwomen ) who are simply hire spokespeople for a special production , Popeil is the brains behind the products he ’s elevate . And that , according to Popeil , bring in all the difference . " The fact that I ’m an artificer first and salesperson second is the reason why so many people buy my products,”Popeil toldForbesin 2006 . “ If you create a merchandise that ’s needed in the marketplace , or a drug that will solve a medical problem , masses are buy the farm to purchase it . It ’s so easy for me to trade my merchandise because the marketplace subsist . ”
But hold off , there ’s more …
2. NONE OF HIS INFOMERCIALS WERE SCRIPTED.
In addition to his many best - selling “ as watch on goggle box ” products , Popeil also invent many of the very same catch phrase you discover being clapperclaw at the screen by today ’s infomercial spokespeople , including the omnipresent , “ But wait , there ’s more … ” In a 2014interview with theTampa Bay Business Journal , Popeil claimed that the chatter heard on his infomercials was wholly unscripted , include the Showtime Rotisserie ’s famous“Set it and forget it ” slogan .
3. HE INVENTED ‘GREAT LOOKING HAIR’ TO COVER UP HIS BALD SPOT.
In aninterview withForbes , Popeil explain that some of his conception have arisen out of personal penury . Case in gunpoint : Great Looking Hair , a.k.a . hair in a can . “ I have a denuded spot on the back of my header , and I go steady the need for a production to fix [ the job ] , ” Popeil explained . “ So I produce the nebuliser - on whisker . I sway a can of it in my briefcase wherever I go . ”
4. NOT EVERY INVENTION HAS BEEN A WINNER.
In aninterview withPeople , Popeil explained how his mind is always thinking of new mathematical product that the marketplace needs . “ While other people are shop for clothes , I ’m in the housewares department thinking out a new concept , ” he explain . And while he ’s undoubtedly one of the most successful inventors in the account of recent - night television ( he approximate that he has sold more than $ 2 billion worth of mathematical product ) , he has also brought a few clunkers to market . Including a home handwriting analytic thinking outfit and a subliminal message tape meant to help customers throw in the towel smoke .
5. THE BEASTIE BOYS REFERENCED HIM IN “CRAWLSPACE.”
The lyricsto The Beastie Boys ’ song “ Crawlspace , ” off their 2004 albumTo the 5 Boroughs , begin with : “ There ’s a company run on in here for tangible / I got more product than Ron Popeil . ”
Contrary to many report , the 1984 Weird Al song “ Mr. Popeil ” isnotabout Ron . AsYankovic explains in the album ’s ocean liner notes , “ It ’s not about Ron Popeil , the father of Ronco , but about his dad , the cat who fabricate the Vegamatic and the Pocket Fisherman . He did pitches for them on TV before Ronco was initiate . Mr. Popeil was a big facet of American dad culture ; he pop out the whole genre of commercialise these gimmicky gadgets on TV . Around the sentence I was writing the song , I make out across a cartridge clip clause about me , and powerful next to it I insure a chronicle about Mr. Popeil ’s daughter , Lisa Popeil , who was a classically trained Isaac Bashevis Singer who had work with Frank Zappa . I thought it would be gravid if we could get her to sing on the track , and she gibe to do it . It was very rummy , though , to be in the studio apartment directing Lisa how to sing her own name ! ”
