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| In August, 2005, Popeil announced his sale of the company to Fi-Tek VII, a Denver holding company, for $55 million. He expected to continue working with the company as spokesman and product developer, but sold the company in order to have more time with his family. Fi-Tek VII changed its name to Ronco, and maintained the right of first look for Popeil's future inventions. | In August, 2005, Popeil announced his sale of the company to Fi-Tek VII, a Denver holding company, for $55 million. He expected to continue working with the company as spokesman and product developer, but sold the company in order to have more time with his family. Fi-Tek VII changed its name to Ronco, and maintained the right of first look for Popeil's future inventions. | ||
| ⚫ | Ronco used to hold the trademark on the phrase "set it and forget it" , used in the commercials for the Showtime Rotisserie Grill. The phrase has gone on to be used in popular culture, including an episode of the comedy news program '']'' that reported on a Senate debate over catchphrases for summarizing positions on war in Iraq. | ||
| On ], ], Ronco filed Chapter 11 in U.S. bankruptcy court. Paperwork filed showed that Ronco creditors, the largest of which is Popeil himself, were owed US$32.7 million.<ref>{{cite news | On ], ], Ronco filed Chapter 11 in U.S. bankruptcy court. Paperwork filed showed that Ronco creditors, the largest of which is Popeil himself, were owed US$32.7 million.<ref>{{cite news | ||
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| | accessdate = 2007-06-15 | | accessdate = 2007-06-15 | ||
| }}</ref> | }}</ref> | ||
| ==In popular culture== | |||
| {{Trivia|date=October 2007}} | |||
| In ] music video for ''We Will Become Silhouttes'', the Ronco Food Dehydrator is shown with banana chips. | |||
| Stand-up comedian ] satirizes Ronco with perhaps his most famous routine involving a large wooden mallet called the "Sledge-o-Matic", used to pulverize fruit, other food items and still other random objects. Gallagher delivers the routine in a manner similar to Popeil in his infomercials. | |||
| The Veg-O-Matic was satirized by comedian ] on the television program '']'', as the "Super Bass-o-Matic '76" | |||
| ⚫ | Ronco used to hold the trademark on the phrase "set it and forget it" , used in the commercials for the Showtime Rotisserie Grill. The phrase has gone on to be used in popular culture, including an episode of the comedy news program '']'' that reported on a Senate debate over catchphrases for summarizing positions on war in Iraq. | ||
| Ronco products were frequently satirized in ]'s comic strip, '']'', as ridiculously overpriced and useless gadgets with names like "Ronco Turnip Twaddler." | |||
| An ] of the show ] featured the fictional "Ronco Record Vault", which seemingly has a one-digit combination. | |||
| ==Awards== | ==Awards== | ||
Revision as of 18:59, 9 October 2007
Ronco is a company that manufactures and sells a variety of items and devices, most commonly those used in the kitchen. Ron Popeil founded the company in 1964, and commercials for the company's products soon became pervasive and memorable, in part thanks to Popeil's personal sales pitches. The names "Ronco" and "Popeil" and the suffix "-O-Matic" (used in many early product names) became icons of American popular culture and were often referred to by comedians introducing fictional gadgets.
History
In the beginning, the company chiefly sold inventions developed by Popeil's father, Samuel "S.J." Popeil. Products include the Veg-O-Matic and the Popeil Pocket Fisherman, a product manufactured by S.J. Popeil's company. During the 1970s, Ron Popeil began developing products on his own to sell through Ronco. Ronco became a household name with its commercials for kitchen products including the Ginsu knife, and Armorcote (and Armorecote II) non-stick saucepans and frying pans. Aired incessantly, especially during off-hour TV viewing times, these commercials became known for their catchphrases such as "...but wait, there's more!" "50-year guarantee" (later expanded to a "lifetime guarantee"), and "...how much would you pay now?"
When the infomercial, a program-length advertisement, was devised in the 1990s, it became one of the most popular forums for Ronco to sell its products; however, Ronco did not adopt the infomercial format for its products for several years.
In August, 2005, Popeil announced his sale of the company to Fi-Tek VII, a Denver holding company, for $55 million. He expected to continue working with the company as spokesman and product developer, but sold the company in order to have more time with his family. Fi-Tek VII changed its name to Ronco, and maintained the right of first look for Popeil's future inventions.
Ronco used to hold the trademark on the phrase "set it and forget it" , used in the commercials for the Showtime Rotisserie Grill. The phrase has gone on to be used in popular culture, including an episode of the comedy news program The Daily Show that reported on a Senate debate over catchphrases for summarizing positions on war in Iraq.
On June 14, 2007, Ronco filed Chapter 11 in U.S. bankruptcy court. Paperwork filed showed that Ronco creditors, the largest of which is Popeil himself, were owed US$32.7 million.
Awards
- The Ronco Inside-The-Shell Egg Scrambler, from 1978, won 84th place in Mobile magazine's Top 100 Gadgets of All Time.
See also
References
- Jeff St.Onge (2007-06-15). "Ronco, Maker of the Veg-O-Matic, Files Bankruptcy". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
External links
- Official Site
- But Wait, There's More! from FreeEnterpriseLand.com
- Watch Classic Ronco Commercials at Biography.com
- Saturday Night Live Transcript of "Super Bass-o-Matic '76" skit
- Blog about the Ronco Bankruptcy Filing.