Hustle Hiatus is yet another series that digs up the whereabouts of the once famous hustlers of our time. From television to radio, weddings, funerals and everywhere in-between, Hustle Hiatus will traverse the world in search of those who have retired to the life of luxury and no commitment — or fallen into the abyss of sorrow and despair. Interesting and informative, this series promises to give you a little something different to think about and reflect on in this new ever-changing world.

Without further ado, I present to you the very first Hustle Hiatus for 2007. Perhaps one of the biggest hustlers known to man is a man named Ron Popeil, otherwise known as the pitchman for The Ronco Corporation.

From the Showtime BBQ Grill to the Pocket Fisherman, Ron Popeil was one of the hardest working people in the infomercial market. Even if you didn’t like to watch them, whenever Ron was in an infomercial he always seemed to command your attention with his voice and style. He could make anything look like a jewel brought back by the astronauts on the Apollo 13 mission, and make you wonder how you went living for so long without one of his technological marvels.

These days, it seems as if Mr. Ronco himself has fallen off the face of the planet. His infomercials no longer grace the airwaves, and no one is seen with their credit card in hand and telephone in the other, ready to order the latest product. The age of the internet has ushered in a new way to engage in commerce, and that has perhaps put a huge strain on the market for products sold via half-hour television advertising. It’s a shame, because on a Saturday afternoon, when nothing else was on, you could always depend on Ronco to make the silliest looking contraption look like a household necessity.

“But wait! There’s more!”

Unfortunately, the empire that Mr. Popeil started has fallen on bad times, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection just last month. Bitter infighting between the executives within the company is said to be one of the reasons for this motion, and the future for the once profitable organization is uncertain. Mr. Popeil is unaffected, however, because the company he started in 1958 was sold two years ago to a group of investors. Looks like they should have included his counsel in the deal…how do you run a company into the ground in just two short years? That must be some kind of record!

In 2006 Mr. Popeil was last reported spending quality time with his wife and two youngest daughters in Beverly Hills, California. He also has three older daughters from previous marriages.

Hmm. Inventor…or prophet?

Ronco’s Online Store: http://popeilfamilystore.com/index.html

Sources: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Wikipedia