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Phil Kives

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Entrepreneur

The Resume

    (February 12, 1929-April 27, 2016)
    Born in Oungre, Saskatchewan, Canada
    Founder of K-tel (1962; ktel.com)
    Romanian parents emigrated to Turkey before his birth
    Died at age 87 in Winnipeg, Manitoba of undisclosed causes
    Last name pronounced KEE-vuss

Why he might be annoying:

    As a farm boy auctioning pelts he trapped and bought from other children, he was in the thick of the Dust Bowl era (including the Great Depression).
    He claims the first infomercial — actually a live five-minute television commercial, for a Teflon frying pan that ended up being a failure (1962).
    He attributed the success of compilation albums to having aging artists re-record their work (and thus circumvent ownership by the big labels).
    There is dispute as to whether the marketing phrase ‘as seen on TV’ – not necessarily its ultimately-public-domain nameplate – was coined by him.
    On seeing K-tel go into receivership (1985): ‘A verbal deal is no good with a banker, even if you have had lunch with him for 20 years.’
    Claiming to have 13 relatives or so in his company, nepotism certainly didn’t help, either.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was the first family member to be born in Canada — and the third of four children.
    In his teens, he moved to Winnipeg, worked various odd jobs, and finished high school.
    Ed McMahon was among the pitchmen working on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City where he and his brother would set up.
    Having failed in oil and gas, he successfully resurrected the K-tel brand with an eye on the Internet.
    Because he was on the frugal side, he was able to build a series of stables that would breed award-winning horses on the continent.
    He has a solid case for being the Canadian equivalent of Ronco entrepreneur Ron Popeil (whose father he sometimes bought from).

Credit: Cool It All Right?


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Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying