The pandemic ad helped generate a sense of normalcy among the many living in such abnormal, unprecedented times. web@volumeone.org(Website,) The 2020 election highlighted the deep political divide that would characterize 2020s politics. When the US congress launched an investigation into the events that occurred on January 6th, this uncertainty continued. Over 5000 jobs posted monthly. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. Antigo, Wisconsin, U.S. Raymond Jack Ray Szmanda, Sr. (June 22, 1926 May 6, 2018) was an American radio and television announcer known throughout the Midwestern United States as the spokesperson for Menards, a position he held for more than two decades. Is that right? Yellow. How do I write about my leadership skills? Plus, John pitches Chuck ideas for the funeral and Chuck takes them! Having fun with people. 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). 100 Dundas Street, Suite 700 London, ON N6A 5B6 Call Us Toll Free at 1-888-359-3472. But I have a letter that I get every month, and it has been good to me these last 20 years, that tells me whats out there that looks good. Ive got a job, a secretary, a mother, two ex- wives, and several bartenders dependent on me. The spiders longing is finally satiated when its owner brings a Samsung device home. Menards publishes weekly print ads and broadcasts TV and radio ads. 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). The same year, the "Helping You Build Americas Heartland" jingle was made. Ray Szmanda/Living or Deceased. I got out to the car, and my wife said goodbye and the kids all said goodbye, and I said, Wait. [14] Radio and TV ads are usually accompanied by banjo music (resembling that of bluegrass music) played by Gary Shaw of Wisconsin. I mail them to them. And of course it was in the store where hed turn heads. Blue. Ray Szmanda: Yes. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. RAY: All the time. Unrivaled Mac notes apps for fuss-free note-taking, 6 Actionable Tips for Improving Your Websites SEO, Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. A very old program. Highdeas are clever or fun ideas you have only when you're high. At that time, my wife and I had seven children. Each one of his commercials, of which he filmed hundreds, featured his trademark smile, infectious enthusiasm, and passion for telling you about great deals. Now you know the voice behind Arby's commercials 'We Have the Meats" is actor Ving Rhames. Jon Hamm has proudly done the voice-overs for Mercedes-Benz since 2010. They would look at their kids, like they were holding them in their arms, and theyd say to them, Say it. Sure enough, theyd say, Save big money at Menards! You know, that kind of thing. Posted at 2:18 PM, May 07, 2018. and last updated 2:05 PM, May 07, 2018. When I lost her, I lost a lot with it. A slew of heroes representing different brands come to save the day, including Old Spice, Bounty, Mr. Clean, Febreeze, Olay, Charmin, and Head & Shoulders. Ive interviewed my share of celebrities (Simon Cowell, Nigella Lawson, Nick Carter, etc. During the Christmas shopping season the jingle changes to "Warm seasons greetings to you all from Menards!" That same month, the World Health Organization, the worlds leading authority on public health, declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. An interview with Ray Szmanda (a.k.a. And there were two elderly people in their 60s, maybe that were so interested in the product we were advertising, they didnt see any of it. RAY: The other thing I wanted to tell you is that I had some college kids call me at 9 oclock one night. Bo Landry is the current voice. 16. Who does the voice over for the Paragard commercial? Should You Use a Talent Agency for Voice Over. More details on UAW and Caterpillars tentative agreement, Kass: The people have spoken, Lightfoot must go, Kelly Leonard: Give up the hope for a better past, Will Perdue: Patrick Beverleys impact on the Bulls. every time i hear it as im smoking it scares me and i basically just go through a factory reset. editorial@volumeone.org(Editorial,) Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. His career with the Eau Claire, Wis.-based Menards stretched from 1976 to 1998, and he made periodic appearances for the home-improvement chain after that, his website said. It was in March 2020 that COVID-19 began having a significant impact in the US. We flew together all over the Midwest for commercials, so we got to know each other pretty well. They aired up to 60,000 times per week in nine states that were home to Menards stores at the time. Interestingly, advertisers tended to focus on messages of encouragement and hope more than they did on selling products in pandemic ads. The lady that brought me my food yesterday I ordered some food for delivery said Ive always wanted to meet you. It has been six or seven years, but I was on camera for 27 years prior to that. voiced by Billy West and 3 others. [5] In 2008, the company expanded into Missouri. My television debut came for Radio City in Milwaukee, an NBC station named WTMJ. V1: Right. Already have a Menards Commercial Card? 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. Piano is my big thing. Presented by Silver Spring. Miss Piggy. The commercials end with the well-known jingle, "Save big money at Menards." Careers, Have questions? Your email address will not be published. I do it strictly for my own amusement. I mean, they offer everything. I can't hear my guests talk over it. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. It really pays off. 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. I would say I really miss being on camera. I jumped in the car, went to the audition and thats when it happened. PUBLISHER / EDITOR / OWNER The AMC Theaters Cast. Statement Billed (pay in full monthly) Weekdays 10 a.m. - noon, 1 - 2 p.m. Another ad that had TV viewers laughing in their seats was Rocket Mortgages 2020 Super Bowl ad featuring Jason Momoa. You can connect with Menards on Twitter and YouTube. With such uncertainty around the economy and consumer spending habits, advertisers globally spent 4.2% less in 2020 than in 2019. Dale Earnhardt Jr. & Brandon Jones Menards Commercial NascarAllOut 61.2K subscribers Subscribe 0 Share No views 59 seconds ago SUBSCRIBE for more NascarAllOut:. voiced by Cree Summer and 1 other. You have everything set up, the lighting and so forth. Terry Savage: What will a recession look like? He loved it, and so did we. Village.com - Engaging extracurricular activities for children. He will often shout at the start of commercials to grab the viewers attention and usually sports a creepy grin after talking. APPAREL BOOKS ART Im having a ball, Szmanda said on his personal website. You seem so quiet. Older people looked at me and said, Look at that guy out there. Ray Szmanda Sr., the voice of Menards store commercials for years, has died. With continued economic losses, many predict the US is heading for a recession; others caution that by making wise financial moves, the US can prevent a recession and keep the economy on track for continued growth. RAY: Not really, no. Ray Szmanda Sr., the voice of Menards store commercials for years, has died. V1: Thats got to be kind of odd, stepping into a Menards. My son did, but I didnt. RAY: We played 40s music, what we called swing. This declaration would have a major effect on how everyone understood and approached the virus, from world leaders to your average joe. In 2020 alone, among adults in the US who watch TV, viewing time increased by 9.2% to approximately 4.5 hours daily. RAY: Well I spend a lot of time with stocks. His career with Menards began in 1976, where he was a fixture of the ads until his retirement in 1998. Spanish language commercials (whose music contains a mixture of mariachi and banjo sounds) end with "Ganar mucho dinero en Menards! His family included four sons and three daughters. Menards is owned by founder John Menard Jr. through his privately held company, Menard, Inc. | editorial@volumeone.org(Editorial,) And they said, Thats our guy. Is that really how you got the job? Then it was followed by another location in Gillette and one more in Cheyenne. Final Thoughts. Theres something about being on camera that just makes your day. 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. By 2022, the economic future of the US and the world has become uncertain. I cant imagine what a cashier thinks. Ray was known to carry around a briefcase full of head shots because so many people would ask for his autograph. Szmanda appeared in the 1970s science fiction movie The Alpha Incident and hosted the Wausau version of High Quiz Bowl. [27], In 2021, Menards ranked 26th on Forbes list of "America's Largest Private Companies", with an estimated revenue of US$11.8 billion. Swing lasted about 10 years, and then of course rock n roll came in. [1] After graduating from the University of WisconsinEau Claire in 1962, Menard purchased land in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and built an office and shop. Many important world events clearly delineate the 2020s so far from any other decade or period. Long-time Volume One friend Jamey Brownell helped shoot Rays commercials for several years, and our publisher/editor Nick Meyer worked with Ray for about a year toward the end of Rays time at Menards. as well as Spanish language commercials ending with "Garda mucho dinero en Menards!". You listen to me. voiced by Robb Pruitt. But when you do, man its great. They heard that I was going to become a freelance writer-announcer-personality-whatever, but they called me and that started me off. Pepe the King Prawn. Szmanda lived in Antigo, Wisconsin. Required fields are marked *. As someone who lives in the south and frequently visits Lowe's and Home Depot, I was visiting in Illinois and went to Menards. 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. Ray Szmanda, known to generations of Wisconsinites as the man who brought Menards commercials to life, has died at age 91 . Chain of home improvement stores in the Midwestern United States, This article is about the home improvement retailer. Everyone I know from back home can automatically. He's told stories for Leafs TV, NBA TV Canada and TSN. 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. The first commercial was for the S400 Hybrid, a vehicle with night vision, adaptive cruise control, and no kidding, massage seats! Then they went to a blue polo shirt. Voices Enterprise For teams that need enhanced security features and flexible payment options. And I suppose I was kind of an actor with that, because people tell me, Youre so different off camera. The pandemic ad was characterized by a sense of helping, uncertainty, and togetherness. V1's own Nick Meyer is the guy in the gorilla suit - it was his job to jump into the frame, hop up and down, and pound his chest. Raymond Jack Ray Szmanda, Sr. (June 22, 1926 May 6, 2018) was an American radio and television announcer known throughout the Midwestern United States as the spokesperson for Menards, a position he held for more than two decades. V1: Well I dont have any other questions written down, but if youve got any other interesting tidbits wed love to hear them. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Their slogan, "Save Big Money!" is legendary. [4] Menards sold the Menard Building Division in 1994, racking up 36 years in the pole building industry. Raymond Jack "Ray" Szmanda, Sr. (June 22, 1926 May 6, 2018) was an American radio and television announcer known throughout the Midwestern United States as the spokesperson for Menards, a position he held for more than two decades. A fifth manufacturing and distribution center in Ravenna, Ohio began construction in Spring 2022 after a two-year-long delay. 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. Presented by Metropolis Resort, Top bars for bloody marys in the Chippewa Valley, recipes, and local favorites. Who is the voice in the BMW commercial? Its a lot of fun, though. This video cannot be played because of a technical error. V1: So how else have you been spending your time these days? His products the SHAMWOW, InVINCEable, SlapChop, Schticky and more have sold millions. That 15 minutes of fame, for me, came to be about an hour. Should Chicago adopt ranked choice voting? The 'Menards Guy' passed away on Sunday after quite the memorable life. localstore@volumeone.org(Store,), TermsofUse / PrivacyPolicy Szmanda was affectionately known as "The Menards Guy" after spending more than 20 years as the television pitchman for Menards. Kind of. audience & publishing schedule , Staff Political division would carry well into the 2020s, as the debate between the two sides continues with no seeming resolution. Careers, Have questions? Four more locations opened in Kentucky, one in Louisville, another in Paducah, another in Elizabethtown and the last one in Florence. 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I played on the road. event & video production company, & a retail store based in Eau Claire, WI. He continued to appear regularly in commercials until 1998 when he started a semi retirement as the spokesman for Menards and would only show up on TV commercials occasionally. Its a good hobby, but a very expensive hobby. 2002-2023CopyrightVolumeOneMagazine. The way he comes across in commercials. Sure enough, throughout our entire lunch people would come up to our table to meet him and get an autograph. Ray Szmanda was a man who I was proud to call my dad, his son Charles Szmanda wrote in a Facebook post. And of course I do my homework before I buy, and I have a certified financial planner who keeps me honest with my estate. They had great voices. [3] The first Menards hardware store opened in 1964. A long, hard road in broadcasting. That would be great. A rare car. But I did the grand openings for Menards all over the 10-state area, which I suppose has grown now. He was 91. Now wait a minute. Menards is the third-largest home improvement store in the United States, behind Lowe's and The Home Depot. Bo Landry is the current voice. Today the news is spreadingthat Ray Szmanda, the Midwest-famous Menards Guy, a multi-decade TV commercial pitchman for everything from paint to faucets to lumber, passed away May 6 at the age of 91. [30], In 2022, Menards ranked 28th on Forbes' list of "America's Largest Private Companies" with an estimated revenue of US$ 13 billion. Menards spokesman Ray Szmanda, 72, of Antigo, Wis., films a television commercial for shower doors. A Wisconsin company whose products sell vigorously throughout the Menards retail footprint. 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. The voice is pretty similar. Back in 2009, Volume One published a long Q&A between Ray Szmanda and former managing editor Trevor Kupfer. Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/moalivoiceover/Follow me on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@moalivoiceover . In 2022, Samsung showed its advertising chops in a wildly popular commercial in which a spider falls in love with a Samsung device it sees on a billboard outside its window. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. [35] The policy for children was later relaxed.[36]. It was as much fun as Ive ever had at a job. Ive been keeping busy with music. There were a couple of elderly ladies that walked by my booth, and I was signing pictures. One of the most popular TV ads in 2020 capitalized on the power of togetherness to sell several products simultaneously. Receive an invoice for every purchase. We should learn how to do that. Ray had plenty of monkey jokes for the crew. Menard.". V1: Was there any conversation about what youd be wearing? RAY: Yeah, its a fun thing. Szmanda died on May 6, 2018, at age 91, of pneumonia, heart problems and complications from a fall. Volume One scored one. 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. Menard Inc. found him in. Rocket Mortgage concludes that we all seek comfort in a home and that their mortgage services can give it to us. Invoice billed purchases are due within 50 days after the date of purchase. Ill never forget it. Midwest for commercials, so we got to know each other pretty well investigation into the events that on. Plus, John pitches Chuck ideas for the Paragard commercial between ray Szmanda known... A between ray Szmanda was a man who I was proud to call my dad, his son Szmanda.: what will a recession who voices menards commercials like & a between ray Szmanda, known generations. 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