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Ron Popiel has Died... Inventor of the Chop-O-Matic

Infomercial kingΒ Ron Popeil has died. The inventor of the Showtime Rotisserie and Pocket Fisherman was 86.

His family tellsΒ TMZ that PopeilΒ died Wednesday morningΒ at L.A.’s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center afterΒ suffering a medical emergency.

Ron was just as well known for hisΒ catchphrases β€œSet it and forget it” and the iconicΒ β€œBut wait, there’s more!”

Ron created the concept of the infomercial. In the early 1950s, he and a partnerΒ produced a minute-long, black-and white commercial forΒ $500, according to his official site.

Among Ron's inventions,Β some of which can be seen in the Smithsonian Museum, are Mr. Microphone (the first Karaoke machine), the Popeil Pocket Fisherman, the Smokeless Ashtray andΒ GLH-9 (Great Looking Hair Formula #9) Hair in a Can Spray.

His father,Β Samuel β€œS.J.” Popeil, inventedΒ the Chop-o-Matic and the Veg-o-Matic, which were sold through his son'sΒ Ronco company.


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