Email us: Another significant event to define the 2020s was protestors overtaking the US capital on January 6th, 2021. His son, Charles Szmanda, tells John about his late father. Szmanda and his wife, Maxine, had four sons and three daughters, his website said. 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. Vince Offer is and actor, producer and infomercial star. Ray had plenty of monkey jokes for the crew. Read on V1: So how are you liking retirement so far? VanSanten was born in Luverne, Minnesota. Interestingly, advertisers tended to focus on messages of encouragement and hope more than they did on selling products in pandemic ads. Unrivaled Mac notes apps for fuss-free note-taking, 6 Actionable Tips for Improving Your Websites SEO, Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. In addition, these Menards locations carry items such as office supplies, pet supplies, and mattresses.[13]. He's told stories for Leafs TV, NBA TV Canada and TSN. Szmanda trained at the American Institute of the Air and took writing courses from the University of WisconsinMilwaukee and University of WisconsinMadison. At that time, my wife and I had seven children. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Plus, John pitches Chuck ideas for the funeral - and Chuck takes them! RAY: I never thought of that. Perhaps no ad trend marks the 2020s more than the pandemic ad. Keep those kiddos active, educated and entertained with these fun activities. sung by a female chorus beginning in 1986. I never got my license to talk to other countries. 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. Thats about what it amounted to. And I looked their way and said, Come on over, guys. And they said, Dont call me a guy, and walked right on by. Ray Szmanda: Yes. "Big box stores are not immune to the Michigan Consumer Protection Act or the Governor's Executive Order", Nessel said. Thats a lot to shoot, and we needed to hustle to get it all done. Menards - Advertising Advertising For many years, Menards' television commercials featured free-lance announcer Ray Szmanda, who became a cult figure as "the Menards Guy." In the late 1990s, a young, hands-on woman temporarily took the role in Szmanda's absence. Chippewa Valley Menards TV Commercials We don't make the ads - We measure them Sign up to track nationally aired TV ad campaigns for Menards. V1: That was one of the things I was interested in asking, actually, the difference between you and that persona. Anyway I had another fella I was in the carpeting department doing a commercial and I said, Good morning. You know, friendly, because thats the name of the game. Despite the turmoil surrounding us, the products we have come to know and trust continue to be there. The Menards Guy. The ARCA Menards Series sponsorship for Sprecher is a great fit." Founded in Milwaukee in 1985,. Dale Earnhardt Jr. & Brandon Jones Menards Commercial NascarAllOut 61.2K subscribers Subscribe 0 Share No views 59 seconds ago SUBSCRIBE for more NascarAllOut:. We flew together all over the Midwest for commercials, so we got to know each other pretty well. voiced by Billy West and 3 others. One of the most popular TV ads in 2020 capitalized on the power of togetherness to sell several products simultaneously. Most Commercials follow a set pattern. RAY: It is, but its fun. Tony Stewart got his first Indy 500 starts for Menard, and in 1992 Al Unser Sr. scored the highest Indy 500 finish for the team (3rd) and the highest ever 500 finish for the Buick/Menard V6 engine. 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 AMC Theaters Cast. It is much more obvious with later commercials featuring Ray (especially from the Late 1990s) as he will become more theatric and play up the hamminess of the "Menards Guy" character. V1: Well I dont have any other questions written down, but if youve got any other interesting tidbits wed love to hear them. This maybe only happened twice, but these are things you remember. I got $50 for a one-time fee, and I've had to listen to that commercial every day for 20 years." Already have a Menards Commercial Card? Two more locations are coming to Kentucky: Bowling Green and Richmond. Get Started for Free Getting Started How It Works Getting Paid Video Tutorials Read the Guide Browse Job Types With so many amazing commercials released in the 2020s, its hard to choose just one for the best commercial spot. I have a stack of pictures that I send to people that would like one. But knowing how to position a pop filter with your microphone is vital. ago. V1: And theyre still using your cartoon image. Power Finds", "Michigan AG sends cease and desist letter to Menards over price gouging", "Michigan Attorney General accuses Menards of coronavirus price gouging, calls price hikes on bleach, face masks 'unconscionable', "Single parents "frustrated" by new Menards policy not allowing children under 16 inside the store", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Menards&oldid=1142158163, Home improvement retailers of the United States, Privately held companies based in Wisconsin, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 351 Stores And 12 Distribution Centers (As of January 2023), This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 20:54. Everyone I know from back home can automatically. Well he said, Why dont you get a job? It hurt, but I regained my composure to get on the air. Red. [33][34], During the pandemic, Menards instituted a policy that prohibited children under age 16 and non-service animals in stores, to the frustration of single parents who do not have other childcare options. Blue. Watch, interact and learn more about the songs, characters, and celebrities that appear in your favorite Menards App TV Commercials. Fresh air. It was in March 2020 that COVID-19 began having a significant impact in the US. Thats when I went on television. That will continue for a few items before Ray shows up a final time with another general phrase about the store (Example: "Stay on track with Savings from Menards!"). 1912). Maybe I should be full of enthusiasm. That was all part of the show. [15] Ray Szmanda was the "Menards Guy" who used the slogan "Save big money at Menards" regularly on television advertisements from 1976 to 1998, and occasionally from 1999 until his death in 2018. What do you think of that likeness? RAY: Well, lets see, it has been about six or seven years. Another hallmark of COVID-19 ads was celebrating the heroes working on the frontlines to fight the pandemic. Statement Billed (pay in full monthly) I was pretty shocked, because these guys all looked and sounded great. Best Commercial of the 2020s and Why With so many amazing commercials released in the 2020s, it's hard to choose just one for the best commercial spot. It takes a long time to get a gig like Menards. The 'Menards Guy' passed away on Sunday after quite the memorable life. I cant tell you how long Ive wanted to chat with the almighty Menards Guy Ray Szmanda, a living legend for these past 83 years (his birthday is June 22). It also alleges that the company is strongly anti-union, to the point that it will not hire anyone who has ever worked in a union shop, even if they did so while in their teen years. He has also produced and starred in the films Underground Comedy Movie and The Inappropriate Comedy with. Weekdays 10 a.m. - noon, 1 - 2 p.m. And he loved every minute of it waving hello, shaking hands, and giving the people what they wanted with a boisterous Save Big Money! on command. Its the best part of the job. The Menards Guy, Menards Guy Isn't Who--or What--you Think He Is, Village.com - Engaging extracurricular activities for children. Ray Szmanda, known to generations of Americans as the man who brought Menards commercials to life, has died at age 91 . V1: Whats the trick to being a voice actor? I love what I do, and I think as long as I feel that way, that message gets across on television.. How To Position a Pop Filter With Your Microphone. Should You Use a Talent Agency for Voice Over. Ray Szmanda was a man who I was proud to call my dad, his son Charles Szmanda wrote in a Facebook post. Yellow. Green. Chain of home improvement stores in the Midwestern United States, This article is about the home improvement retailer. This was while Szmanda was still working for the company in full force. What do you put on a resume for server experience? It then continues to stock footage of the tools being sold while Ray gives a basic description of the tool and lists the price. To celebrate this Midwestern cultural icon, weve gathered up some photos, videos, and tidbits here to share (see below), including a great interview Volume One had with him roughly nine years ago. We played 40s music, what we called swing. Please follow the steps pertaining to your situation to get your account activated for tax exempt ordering. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. They had great voices. This declaration would have a major effect on how everyone understood and approached the virus, from world leaders to your average joe. Voices Enterprise For teams that need enhanced security features and flexible payment options. voiced by Cree Summer and 1 other. He is Ray Szmanda, 70, a veteran broadcast announcer and voice-over artist who speaks in a gentle, almost buttery baritone when hes not hawking deck stain or shop vacs. [28] In 2022, Menards ranked 34th on the National Retail Federation's list of "100 Top Retailers". voiced by Eric Jacobson. Szmanda appeared in the 1970s science fiction movie The Alpha Incident and hosted the Wausau version of High Quiz Bowl. A fella by the name of Bob Prock ran that production section for a long time, and did a great job. The John Williams Show
the voice of the Menards commercials gives me anxiety. It was as much fun as Ive ever had at a job. Over 5000 jobs posted monthly. They covered a lot of fascinating ground, including his other gigs, how he got the Menards job, and funny things that happened while filming 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). One of 2021s most popular ads pitched Adidas Originals as a commercial solution to end waste and anti-environmentalism. 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. For teams that need enhanced security features and flexible payment options each other pretty well I send to that. On messages of encouragement and hope more than they did on selling products in pandemic ads you know,,. 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