Cori, how well I remember (Boomer) the "PO-PEEL'S pocket fisherman!" from my childhood and early youth. "Ronco" indeed!!! That guy was certainly determined and he got the word out there, about all kinds of funny gadgets. That is the heart of marketing, presenting something even slighly unique or blazingly ordinary and offering it as the best thing ever! One of the best classes I ever took in high school was a class on Marketing. That one semester alone, was excellent and I still remember parts of it. "Glittering Generalities" were ordinary items presented as amazing and magical and life-transforming. Mr Popeil was a magician of sorts and more power to him! Wendy
We rhinestoned, riveted and spike-studded the crap out of anything we could get our hands on for cheap at the thrift store. Mostly denim skirts, tote bags, jeans, jackets and if really lucky old decrepit leather biker jackets. I would also paint on my keds and vans shoes with acrylic paints from my art class supplies. What a great time, anything we could do to differentiate ourselves from the Izod prepster crowd lol!
That is the bomb! We had no funds for any of that but me and my sisters worked summers for school clothes and bought the fanciest Jordache jeans we could get out grubby hands on! Ah yes tge good ole days 🥹
Ah yes, the coveted Jordache jeans….I had a pair on layaway for 3 months while I babysat and skipped lunches at school to buy one pair! Of course we bought them skintight and had to lay down on the bed to zip them up. Yikes!
What an interesting piece of history? and I had no idea about Ron Popeil? and how he was behind so many inventions! I think the only thing I'm familiar (being that I lived in a "British house") was the can hairspray (of which my mom had an abundance of!). Then the veggo-matic I remember being on the t.v. - but don't know if mom had one. What a cool machine! Thank you for the fun read Cori! ox
Cori, how well I remember (Boomer) the "PO-PEEL'S pocket fisherman!" from my childhood and early youth. "Ronco" indeed!!! That guy was certainly determined and he got the word out there, about all kinds of funny gadgets. That is the heart of marketing, presenting something even slighly unique or blazingly ordinary and offering it as the best thing ever! One of the best classes I ever took in high school was a class on Marketing. That one semester alone, was excellent and I still remember parts of it. "Glittering Generalities" were ordinary items presented as amazing and magical and life-transforming. Mr Popeil was a magician of sorts and more power to him! Wendy
‘A magician of sorts’ is the best description of him! Thanks for reading and engaging!
Love this Vanessa!
I had a popeel pocket fisherman “and boy does it catch fish!” Lost it to thieves on a 6 week stoned-out beach bumming trip to Tenacatita in 1975
Lol. It’s still available for 31.99. Go gitcha one!
We rhinestoned, riveted and spike-studded the crap out of anything we could get our hands on for cheap at the thrift store. Mostly denim skirts, tote bags, jeans, jackets and if really lucky old decrepit leather biker jackets. I would also paint on my keds and vans shoes with acrylic paints from my art class supplies. What a great time, anything we could do to differentiate ourselves from the Izod prepster crowd lol!
Well, flat butts were “in” then 😂
That is the bomb! We had no funds for any of that but me and my sisters worked summers for school clothes and bought the fanciest Jordache jeans we could get out grubby hands on! Ah yes tge good ole days 🥹
Ah yes, the coveted Jordache jeans….I had a pair on layaway for 3 months while I babysat and skipped lunches at school to buy one pair! Of course we bought them skintight and had to lay down on the bed to zip them up. Yikes!
Yep my oldest sister would lie down on the bed and use pliers to pull the zipper up. What the heck were we thinking?!
It worked.
Wow talk about a blast from the past!!! I love how the AI girl in the pink hat is double-fisting her drinks.
I can't help wondering how people carry a fish hook in their pocket along with that rod.
Lol. I loved those double drinks too. AI error or my alter ego lol. The hook attached to a special notch.it’s the coolest thing ever!!
What an interesting piece of history? and I had no idea about Ron Popeil? and how he was behind so many inventions! I think the only thing I'm familiar (being that I lived in a "British house") was the can hairspray (of which my mom had an abundance of!). Then the veggo-matic I remember being on the t.v. - but don't know if mom had one. What a cool machine! Thank you for the fun read Cori! ox
I inherited my sister’s Popeil Automatic Pasta Maker! I love it! 🍝❤️
Thanks for this wonderful ‘Blast From The Past’.
Yw. I loved the gadgets back in the day so I thought others would enjoy the memories.
I remember.
These are nostalgia generators now. Something we could show to our kids and grand kids about what was innovative back then.
Awwww yes - Ronco! Like K-Tel albums and whoever made The Clapper... reflections of a different time 🥰
Oh, and that fishing thingie? Had one 😂
Clever but cheap plastic crap. Never bought any, even at garage sales, where they proliferated.
My Veg-a-Magic has a plastic housing but the blades and inner workings are made of US steel. It’s a highly effective tool.