The advent of the pandemic ad resulted from the global spread of COVID-19 and advertisers accompanying desire to continue selling products during this devastating event. On May 12, 1997, the Chicago Tribune ran a great article on The Menards Guy. Pepe the King Prawn. However, one commercial stands out from the pack in terms of its power, creativity, and relevance for the time. , I was there about two years, and then I came to Antigo to start freelance. event & video production company, & a retail store based in Eau Claire, WI. Humming along since 2002, Volume One is a magazine, an To honor the Fiesta of San Jacinto Holiday on Friday, several offices in the City of San Antonio will be closed. Its hard to do. A long time ago they decided they wanted to do that, and its great. Please follow the steps pertaining to your situation to get your account activated for tax exempt ordering. In that year alone, employers cut more than 22 million jobs in response to the economic impact of the global pandemic. 2002-2023CopyrightVolumeOneMagazine. When we started, it was an orange shirt, which I liked. He must have been annoyed by my commercials. I played on the road. Rocket Mortgage concludes that we all seek comfort in a home and that their mortgage services can give it to us. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. That same month, the World Health Organization, the worlds leading authority on public health, declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. I used to like working outside in the yard. editorial@volumeone.org(Editorial,) Red. Volume One scored one. Ray Szmanda: Yes. It takes a long time to get a gig like Menards. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. ago. Ray Szmanda, known to generations of Americans as the man who brought Menards commercials to life, has died at age 91. Took me a half an hour. Whats your name? Then we get into pictures and that kind of thing. RAY: Yeah, its a fun thing. Invoice billed purchases are do within 50 days after the date of purchase. V1: So how else have you been spending your time these days? In 2009, Menards opened its first Wyoming location in Casper. Ill never forget it. The 2020s have been a tumultuous and unprecedented time in world history. You seem so quiet. Older people looked at me and said, Look at that guy out there. You must contact your 84 Lumber store associate for an exact price. Many Americans watched these events with shock and fear, uncertain of the causes or ultimate impacts of such a protest. RAY: Not really, no. And I dont intend to disappoint them all by getting myself slightly killed.Ernest Lehman (b.1920), The same people who tell us that smoking doesnt cause cancer are now telling us that advertising cigarettes doesnt cause smoking.Ellen Goodman (b. Create a SoundCloud account. Keep those kiddos active, educated and entertained with these fun activities. His son, Charles Szmanda, tells John about his late father. At that time, my wife and I had seven children. [17] Bob Holtan, John Menard's friend and radio station owner, wrote the lyrics to the "Save Big Money" jingle in the early 1970s. Nick Meyer, GIFTS FOOD & DRINK Now you know the voice behind Arby's commercials 'We Have the Meats" is actor Ving Rhames. Piano is my big thing. In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech detailing his many grievances with the neighboring country. In reference to creating the musical piece, Shaw said, "I just started playing on it and they said, 'That's perfect; that's exactly what we need.' voiced by Eric Jacobson. In it, Momoa returns to his home after a long day. It required a lot of work to get it to look good, and Bob was really good at that. Email us: Check out one of their favorite clips. Szmanda trained at the American Institute of the Air and took writing courses from the University of WisconsinMilwaukee and University of WisconsinMadison. I played on the road. ;[18] Robby Gordon; P. J. Jones;[19] Brandon Jones;[20] Matt Crafton;[21] Simon Pagenaud, Ryan Blaney and Matt DiBenedetto. Invoice billed purchases are do within 50 days after the date of purchase. His great-nephew Eric Szmanda is an actor, best known as Greg Sanders on CSI. Voices is the world's #1 voice marketplace with over 2 million members. Szmanda appeared in the 1970s science fiction movie The Alpha Incident and hosted the Wausau version of High Quiz Bowl. Ray "The Menards Guy" Szmanda - Bloopers Volume One 4.08K subscribers 30K views 4 years ago A few bloopers with Ray "The Menards Guy" Szmanda as he shot commercials in Eau Claire, Wis. Part. There were a couple of elderly ladies that walked by my booth, and I was signing pictures. When True Value Hardware Stores starting using Sports Broadcaster Pat Summerall to do voice-over work for TV Commercials, Menards was looking for their own spokesman, and in 1976, they found Ray Szmanda. Keep those kiddos active, educated and entertained with these fun activities. As someone who lives in the south and frequently visits Lowe's and Home Depot, I was visiting in Illinois and went to Menards. Perhaps the most significant event of the 2020s was the onset and spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. They had great voices. People were in shock. Even in his later years (he was in his mid-70s by the time I worked with him) he had a booming voice that would echo throughout the aisles of the westside Eau Claire Menards, commanding attention from unsuspecting shoppers. And of course I do my homework before I buy, and I have a certified financial planner who keeps me honest with my estate. V1: I also heard youre into antique car collecting. In 2000, the company opened its 150th store. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! In fact, Szmanda is a professional announcer and even an. Another hallmark of COVID-19 ads was celebrating the heroes working on the frontlines to fight the pandemic. [7] Then there will be a fifth Menards in West Virginia in Parkersburg,[8] followed by a sixth location in South Charleston. I remodeled a Model A Ford two-door sedan convertible. Competition for Menards includes Lowe's, The Home Depot, ACE Hardware, Shaw Flooring, Miracle Method and the other brands in the Retail Stores: Home Improvement industry. RAY: Yes. as well as Spanish language commercials ending with "Garda mucho dinero en Menards!". Right when I got out of the Navy at 21. [22] Menards began sponsoring Team Penske in 2016. We played 40s music, what we called swing. Recent commercials, however, feature Bo Landry in his place; although, a cartoon version of "the Menards Guy" still appears in Menards' print ads and in some in-store signs. In the mid-1980s, the "Cashway Lumber" name was dropped and the business became simply known to this day as Menards. Press J to jump to the feed. Imagine for years hearing Rays voice on TV selling you carpet and yard supplies and then suddenly youre actually in Menards and you hear him in real life in the aisle behind you. For about a year, every Friday I got to work alongside Ray as we shot the opener, closer, and narration of anywhere from eight to 10 commercials. As it turns out, Ray was more than happy to chat, he even invited me to his home for the interview (though we ended up going the phone route instead). Presented by Silver Spring. Bo Landry is the current voice. Highdeas are clever or fun ideas you have only when you're high. Unrivaled Mac notes apps for fuss-free note-taking, 6 Actionable Tips for Improving Your Websites SEO, Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. The company was founded in 1960[2] and incorporated in 1962. After working in radio and television, he became self-employed as a broadcaster in 1958. My son did, but I didnt. APPAREL BOOKS ART 2002-2023CopyrightVolumeOneMagazine. RAY: Anytime you have someone that imitates you, does the same thing you do, thats a huge compliment. The 2020s were significant years in world history. A very old program. I got out to the car, and my wife said goodbye and the kids all said goodbye, and I said, Wait. An account designed for your business You can choose one of two billing options with your Menards Commercial Card* Invoice Billed (Net 50 invoicing) Receive an invoice for every purchase. A fella by the name of Bob Prock ran that production section for a long time, and did a great job. Later that year, former Senator and Vice President Joe Biden would defeat Trump in an election that had Americans on the edges of their seats. His products the SHAMWOW, InVINCEable, SlapChop, Schticky and more have sold millions. RAY: I never thought of that. Even in his later years (he was in his mid-70s by the time I worked with him) he had a booming voice that would echo throughout the aisles of the Westside Menards, commanding attention from unsuspecting shoppers. Mine are the commercials for Jim "The Hammer" Shapiro, who wanted to rip the hearts out of those who caused Rochester residents personal injury. I have many, many great experiences. :0 since when has the song sounded like that ? A long, hard road in broadcasting. Already have a Menards Commercial Card? Hi guys!Thank you for checking out my short!So this is a commercial Voice-over done for Wesleyan University.Please check out my channel for more of my voice-. [26], In 2023, the Menards and Matt Crafton sponsorship partnership surpassed STP and Richard Petty as NASCAR's longest-tenured driver/sponsorship relationship. [3], Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Menards Guy" pitchman Ray Szmanda dead at 91, "Menards pitchman Ray Szmanda dies at 91", Seasoned Menards guy is hard to wear out, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ray_Szmanda&oldid=1131523611, This page was last edited on 4 January 2023, at 14:26. The John Williams Show Szmanda was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and served in the United States Navy during World War II.[1]. Menardsis a chain of Home Improvement stores across the Midwestern United States and based out of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. ), but only Paula Dean, who invited me down to her Savannah, Georgia home for a meal, has come anywhere near the feel-good experience of talking with Ray Szmanda, who will gladly send you a signed photo or proudly belt Save big money at Menards! on request. The ARCA Menards Series sponsorship for Sprecher is a great fit." Founded in Milwaukee in 1985,. And I got negative things, too. When True Value Hardware Stores starting using Sports Broadcaster Pat Summerall to do voice-over work for TV Commercials, Menards was looking for their own spokesman, and in 1976, they found Ray Szmanda. V1: Well Im wondering if you feel guilty going into a Fleet Farm or Home Depot? Powered by the comforting voice of Kermit the Frog, Adidas tells us their iconic yet sustainable products are ideal for those who want to go green. With an uncertain economic future in 2022, advertisers are being cautious. Final Thoughts. Humming along since 2002, Volume One is a magazine, an This is when I was young. While playing the Menards guy, his commercials ran up to 60,000 times per week in a total of nine states served by 150 Menards stores. One of 2021s most popular ads pitched Adidas Originals as a commercial solution to end waste and anti-environmentalism. I thought about an animated spot for television, but its a very difficult and expensive thing to do. I was on the radio years ago, and it was just great. Szmanda was affectionately known as "The Menards Guy" after spending more than 20 years as the television pitchman for Menards. RAY: All the time. V1: Right. Ray had plenty of monkey jokes for the crew. RAY: Just the love of automobiles. Now wait a minute. This declaration would have a major effect on how everyone understood and approached the virus, from world leaders to your average joe. For 2022, advertising researchers predict that both the number of viewers and the number of hours each day they spend watching TV will increase. I got to meet people at store openings and sign pictures, and meet people from Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, all over the Midwest, and they were fun. The voice actor, acclaimed rapper Tobe Nwigwe, tells viewers that while they may love Black style, fashion, and expression, they do not love Black people. Working high up in the lumber piles. It makes sense for a dapper gent like Hamm to be the voice of a luxury vehicle, and to his credit, he's completely embraced being the spokesman. For radio commercials, which are a purely auditory experience, casting the right voice actor who resonates with your audience is crucial. Two more locations are coming to Kentucky: Bowling Green and Richmond. We flew together all over the Midwest for commercials, so we got to know each other pretty well. 2 x 4 Construction/Framing Lumber at Menards. Spanish language commercials (whose music contains a mixture of mariachi and banjo sounds) end with "Ganar mucho dinero en Menards! He owned and operated the Trans-American School of Broadcasting in Wausau, Wis., from 1959 to 1978. Ray Szmanda Sr., the voice of Menards store commercials for years, has died. And its the same today. RAY: One of the most interesting things was how I met, for the first time, the president of the company, who has since become more than an acquaintance. Ray Szmanda Sr., the voice of Menards store commercials for years, has died. RAY: Never. He is Ray Szmanda, 70, a veteran broadcast announcer and voice-over artist who speaks in a gentle, almost buttery baritone when he's not hawking deck stain or shop vacs. Dimensional lumber is ideal for a wide range of structural and nonstructural applications including framing of houses, barns, sheds and commercial construction. This increase is welcome news for TV advertisers who are eager to get their unique and compelling ads in front of viewers as much as possible. Village.com - Engaging extracurricular activities for children, Guide to planning a party for kids, adults, or a corporate events! Power survey in customer satisfaction among home improvement retail stores. He did, however, make occasional ads with the company starting in 1999. You can connect with Menards on Twitter and YouTube. Should Chicago adopt ranked choice voting? Menards 60sec Donut Jingle. Ray Szmanda, known to generations of Wisconsinites as the man who brought Menards commercials to life, has died at age 91 . He loved it, and so did we. The voice is pretty similar. V1: Thats got to be kind of odd, stepping into a Menards. As a model, she has been featured in the magazines Teen Vogue and Seventeen. I walked over and put my arms around the fella and I said, Would you like to be on television? And he popped up, Oh my gosh! And away they went. Menards is an American home improvement retail company headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. web@volumeone.org(Website,) Wed be tucked away in the paint aisle with lights, cameras, and microphones and as soon as he started in on the script at full volume, the rubbernecking from customers would be hilarious. Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 References 6 External links Early life [ edit] I was very pleased to hear that the young man and Ive never met him that does them now is doing the same act I did. I would say I really miss being on camera. PANTRY TOYS DCOR, Best of the demo jason vosburg production voiceovers menards commercials ads advertising commercials voiceover/radio voiceovers commercials productions studio. And we had good solid people around us. Cursed Commercials Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. A Wisconsin company whose products sell vigorously throughout the Menards retail footprint. Receive an invoice for every purchase. [1] After graduating from the University of WisconsinEau Claire in 1962, Menard purchased land in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and built an office and shop. In the wake of Donald Trumps presidency, the US political climate was one of intense disunion and heated rhetoric between right and left. 16. Who does the voice over for the Paragard commercial? By 2022, the economic future of the US and the world has become uncertain. Between the 1970's and 1980's Menards began opening locations in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. 1941), Remove advertising, disable a person or firm from preconising [proclaiming] its wares and their merits, and the whole of society and of the economy is transformed. [31], According to Milwaukee Magazine in 2007, Menards was cited with more regulatory violations involving air/water pollution and hazardous waste disposal than any other company in Wisconsin. Follow Jason Vosburg and others on SoundCloud. This was while Szmanda was still working for the company in full force. Statement Billed (pay in full monthly) [32], During the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan's Attorney General Dana Nessel sent Menards a cease and desist letter citing 18 complaints from consumers in regards to price gouging on products such as face masks and bleach. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. What got you into that? This commercial is the best of the 2020s for many reasons. V1: What Ive most been looking forward to asking you is ever since I was really little my dad probably told this story a hundred times and I never knew if it was true about when Menards was looking for a spokesman, and a bunch of good-looking guys in suits showed up. Wouldnt it? Miss Piggy. I was pretty shocked, because these guys all looked and sounded great. 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