The Veg-O-Matic and 6 Other Great Moments in Ronco History
Image by Youtube
Mr. Microphone
“Hey, good looking! We’ll be back to pick you up later!” By broadcasting your voice over the radio, Mr. Microphone would boost your social life, ignite a party or enhance your musical chops. Highlight of its classic TV spot include a roller-skating granny who shouts, “I got one, and I love it!”
Image by Courtesy of Elmhurst History Museum
Veg-O-Matic
The Veg-O-Matic’s TV spiel has become the stuff of pop-culture legend: Slices! Dices! Juliennes! Later it inspired an epic infomercial starring Ron Popeil himself.
Image by Courtesy of Elmhurst History Museum
Pocket Fisherman
Even if you don’t fish, you have to acknowledge the genius design of this compact fishing reel — and the inspired lunacy of a pocket fishing rod in the first place. Bonus: In the 1970s TV commercial the Popeil logo looks like a stylized Star of David.
Image by Courtesy of Elmhurst History Museum
Miracle Broom
When the Dustbuster was just a gleam in Black & Decker’s ]eye, Ronco unleashed the Miracle Broom on the world — a battery-operated gizmo that would pick up broken glass, cat litter and other detritus, as demonstrated in this 1974 spot.
Image by Courtesy of Elmhurst History Museum
Glass Froster
How many times have you sat forlornly at your local pub, wishing you could replicate its frosted ale mugs at home? Ronco to the rescue! The glass froster lets you “frost glasses at home, instantly.” It’s “a must for parties!”
Image by Courtesy of Elmhurst History Museum
Sit-On Trash Compactor
“The trash compactor everyone can afford — it’s the combination kitchen stool and trash compactor…. Just sit on it!” Though it seemed like something from “The Flintstones,” there was a genius about this low-tech, green-before-its-time appliance. Bonus: It came with customizable decorative stickers.
Image by Youtube
Mr. Dentist
The best part of the commercials for this battery-operated toothbrush urged viewers to “buy one for your dog,” as distressed-looking canines had their gums retracted by off-screen owners who tried valiantly to scrub the dogs’ fangs.
Image by Courtesy of Elmhurst History Museum
A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
