Philip Kives “As seen on TV” pitchman and Founder of K-tel Records.

As Seen on TV: Remembering Philip Kives

On a walk through Shaarey Zedek Cemetery in Winnipeg—with a K-tel record in hand—I came across the grave of one of Canada’s greatest salesmen: Philip Kives.

If you were a baby boomer, chances are you had at least one K-tel record in your collection. Maybe even a few. Kives, a born pitchman, revolutionized TV advertising in the 1960s and ’70s with his rapid-fire, no-frills commercials and his uncanny ability to sell anything—from miracle brushes to compilation albums featuring the Bay City Rollers and David Cassidy… all on the same vinyl!

Kives is even credited with coining the phrase “As seen on TV,” a tagline still printed on products to this day.

Armed with a simple but effective marketing formula—live, two-and-a-half minute commercials packed with energy and urgency—Phil built an international business empire out of Winnipeg. Gadgets like the Miracle Brush, the Feather Touch Knife, the Veg-o-Matic, and dozens of others flew off shelves thanks to his relentless “hard sell” style.

Many have tried to imitate his approach. None matched his charm.

Standing at his grave, with that unmistakable K-tel logo in mind, it’s clear: Philip Kives didn’t just sell products—he sold excitement, novelty, and the promise that this gadget or this record might just change your life.

Philip Kives was a long-time resident of Winnipeg and died there on April 16, 2016. He was 87.

1929-2016