They required us to have the volume at 80. Interestingly, advertisers tended to focus on messages of encouragement and hope more than they did on selling products in pandemic ads. Indeed, in times of economic stress or uncertainty, businesses tend to cut discretionary spending, and for most, advertising is seen as discretionary. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. 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. It was as much fun as Ive ever had at a job. Village.com - Engaging extracurricular activities for children. What happened was, when I left the house, I was in a suit. RAY: I was in radio for about six years. Voices is the world's #1 voice marketplace with over 2 million members. Menards is a chain of Home Improvement stores across the Midwestern United States and based out of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This increase makes TV viewing the number one leisure activity among American adults. Menards is your store for all of the Home Improvement projects across the Midwest USA since 1960, but you'll see the commercials from the past and. The Menards Guy. Careers, Have questions? 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. I got $50 for a one-time fee, and I've had to listen to that commercial every day for 20 years." RAY: Yes. PANTRY TOYS DCOR, Best of the Four more locations opened in Kentucky, one in Louisville, another in Paducah, another in Elizabethtown and the last one in Florence. Ray Szmanda was featured in advertising for Eau Claire-based Menard starting in 1976 until his retirement in 1998. Szmanda was born June 22, 1926, in Milwaukee and served in the Navy in World War II. Cursed Commercials Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Volume One scored one. They were having a party at their dorm, and they said, Is this Mr. Menard? And I said, Well, yeah, this is Ray Szmanda. And they said, Will you say it for us?. Despite the turmoil surrounding us, the products we have come to know and trust continue to be there. Dale Earnhardt Jr. & Brandon Jones Menards Commercial NascarAllOut 61.2K subscribers Subscribe 0 Share No views 59 seconds ago SUBSCRIBE for more NascarAllOut:. Would he be bothered at the idea of revisiting the persona (he is retired, after all)? Hes got grey hair and hes full of enthusiasm. Please, comment below with your stories and memories too. Szmanda appeared in the 1970s science fiction movie The Alpha Incident and hosted the Wausau version of High Quiz Bowl. 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 Menards Guy is the chain's only spokesman and has been for 20 years. Village.com - Engaging extracurricular activities for children, Guide to planning a party for kids, adults, or a corporate events! I can't hear my guests talk over it. Already have a Menards Commercial Card? And before I left, the phone started ringing for me to do commercials for the Fort Howard Paper Company on the Packer-Bear game. [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. And he said, Ray, Im the president of this company. (laughing). Watch, interact and learn more about the songs, characters, and celebrities that appear in your favorite Menards App TV Commercials. Szmanda was affectionately known as "The Menards Guy" after spending more than 20 years as the television pitchman for Menards. V1: Thats got to be kind of odd, stepping into a Menards. He has been pretty quiet about his involvement with the company, but it's safe to say that he's done a great job. Follow Jason Vosburg and others on SoundCloud. RAY: Oh yeah. [17] Bob Holtan, John Menard's friend and radio station owner, wrote the lyrics to the "Save Big Money" jingle in the early 1970s. Elected in 2016, Donald Trump was US President at the start of the 2020s. And they said, Thats our guy. Is that really how you got the job? Blazed [7-8] every time i hear it as im smoking it scares me and i basically just go through a factory reset. editorial@volumeone.org(Editorial,) Well he said, Why dont you get a job? It hurt, but I regained my composure to get on the air. voiced by Steve Whitmire. 2002-2023CopyrightVolumeOneMagazine. event & video production company, & a retail store based in Eau Claire, WI. [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. Go to the tax exempt section under "My Account". Absolutely. Well I could hear the noise in the background the music and the clinking of the glasses and I said, Save big money at Menards! They said, Far out, and that was the end of the conversation. 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. In 2020 alone, among adults in the US who watch TV, viewing time increased by 9.2% to approximately 4.5 hours daily. Perhaps the funniest ad of 2022 was Doritos Super Bowl commercial featuring a bevy of animals who snack on Doritos dropped by a hiker and subsequently break out in song. Presented by Silver Spring. You have everything set up, the lighting and so forth. Fresh air. Shantel Yvonne VanSanten is an American model and actress, born July 25, 1985. In it, Momoa returns to his home after a long day. Volume One owner/publisher 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. Ray Szmanda: Yes. Who is the voice in the BMW commercial? His son, Charles Szmanda, tells John about his late father. Blue. He truly was a kind and generous man. Chippewa Valley Read on V1: So how are you liking retirement so far? Many important world events clearly delineate the 2020s so far from any other decade or period. Final Thoughts. Contributors 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. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Reader Poll, Advertise with Volume One The 2020s would change the world significantly, and there would be no going back to the time before these pivotal years. There were a couple of elderly ladies that walked by my booth, and I was signing pictures. sung by a female chorus beginning in 1986. This ad stands out because it does far more than advertising a product. In 2009, Menards opened its first Wyoming location in Casper. Then sweaters. V1: When you were doing commercials, were there any products you specifically liked mentioning? The effort is well worth it. People were in shock. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He was known as "The Menards Guy." A Milwaukee native and World War II Navy. Many advertisers took to 2020s TV to sell their products during what proved to be quite an uncertain time. We should learn how to do that. Entering the decade with low GDP and high jobless numbers, 2020 saw a 3.5% shrink in the global economy. 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. And of course it was in the store where hed turn heads. When we started, it was an orange shirt, which I liked. Nick Meyer, V1 Staff | May 7, 2018 A Special Note from Volume One Owner & Publisher Nick Meyer Today the news is spreading that 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. 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. 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. But by the time I was about 20 and starting a stint at the Menards general office making TV commercials, Ray was still there plugging away at those cue cards, letting a huge chunk of America know exactly what was on sale that week with a pocketful of puns at the ready. Whats Biden waiting for when it comes to 2024? In fact when I used to come to Eau Claire for commercials I was on the air most of the time. This video cannot be played because of a technical error. Report. (laughing) That was a great one. In 1958, John Menard Jr. began building post-frame buildings to finance his college education. 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. Eau Claire, Wisconsin, U.S. John Robert Menard Jr. (born January 22, 1940) is an American billionaire businessman, and the founder and owner of Menards, a Midwestern chain of home improvement stores. He's told stories for Leafs TV, NBA TV Canada and TSN. Then I did a Sunday morning thing, Masters of Rhythm. However, one commercial stands out from the pack in terms of its power, creativity, and relevance for the time. 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. How do I write about my leadership skills? Right when I got out of the Navy at 21. Another hallmark of COVID-19 ads was celebrating the heroes working on the frontlines to fight the pandemic. I started lessons about five or six years ago. Street Fighter 6 Voices for Zangief, Lily, and Cammy and Trailer Dragons: The Nine Realms Season 5 Trailer The Super Mario Bros Movie Gets Earlier Release Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Adds Karan Soni Pokemon Concierge New Series and Teaser J.K. Simmons Joins Baldur's Gate III and Recording Booth BTS Video For radio commercials, which are a purely auditory experience, casting the right voice actor who resonates with your audience is crucial. for pricing and availability. 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. Lets consider what makes the time unique and discuss the impact the years have had on TV commercials in the 2020s. 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. 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. Ray Szmanda, known to generations of Americans as the man who brought Menards commercials to life, has died at age 91. For nearly 25 years a growing radius of TV viewers were introduced to his signature black glasses/blue sweater combo, his giant grin, and his seemingly relentless enthusiasm for home improvement. He was 91. The 'Menards Guy' passed away on Sunday after quite the memorable life. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. [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. In it, actress Sofia Vergara attends a party where someone spills chili. 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. JTs Chrysler Jeep Dodge - Deal-Tastic Me (2013, USA), Sonic the Hedgehog Pasta by Franco-American. Contributors Took me a half an hour. He is a former INDYCAR racing team owner, and the father of former NASCAR Cup Series driver Paul Menard. The same year, the "Helping You Build Americas Heartland" jingle was made. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. When do I receive my Menards commercial invoice? Menards 60sec Donut Jingle. voiced by JK Simmons and 1 other. 16. Who does the voice over for the Paragard commercial? Driver Scott Brayton won two consecutive Indy 500 poles for Menard, but was killed in a practice crash before the 1996 500. He worked for radio and television stations as a staff announcer from 1951 to 1958, when he began to freelance. Is that right? I was on the radio years ago, and it was just great. [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. Source: www.pinterest.com Source: id.pinterest.com V1: What kind of stuff did you guys play? This characteristic included celebrating healthcare workers, grocery store employees, and delivery drivers who kept the essential products we needed coming to our doors. Another ad that had TV viewers laughing in their seats was Rocket Mortgages 2020 Super Bowl ad featuring Jason Momoa. Then I lost my son shortly after, and it was over after that. Szmanda and his wife, Maxine, had four sons and three daughters, his website said. 2 x 4 Construction/Framing Lumber at Menards. In the late 1990s, a young, hands-on woman temporarily took the role in Szmanda's absence. Who was the announcer for the Menards show? Im an advertising man, not a red herring. PUBLISHER / EDITOR / OWNER I was a professional drummer. You have a Menard Tax Id AND a Menards.com account: Log into your Menards.com account using our Log-In page. as well as Spanish language commercials ending with "Garda mucho dinero en Menards!". voiced by Billy West and 3 others. 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. [28] In 2022, Menards ranked 34th on the National Retail Federation's list of "100 Top Retailers". Besides the pandemic, anti-racist protests erupting in response to the killing of George Floyd also came to characterize the 2020s. V1: What jobs have you held other than Menards? A long, hard road in broadcasting. So that was interesting, and Ive always remembered that. I had my own trio. Menards is a family-owned home improvement retail chain with more than 300 locations, primarily in the Midwest. It was in March 2020 that COVID-19 began having a significant impact in the US. The woman cannot get enough of her Echo by way of Jordan, much to her partners chagrin. 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. His great-nephew Eric Szmanda is an actor, best known as Greg Sanders on CSI. The blue looked great in fact, better than the orange but I liked the orange material, because it stayed fresh and wasnt baggy. On May 12, 1997, the Chicago Tribune ran a great article on The Menards Guy. 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. According to industry research giant MediaRadar, the top 10 TV advertisers of the 2020s were: These advertisers continued bringing their ads to our laptops, television sets and mobile devices despite all the difficult times that cast peoples lives into such a state of uncertainty. VanSanten was born in Luverne, Minnesota. [29], In 2022, Menards ranked second in a J.D. The commercials end with the well-known jingle, "Save big money at Menards." And its the same today. 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. Discovered in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, COVID-19 would come to infect millions worldwide throughout the 2020s. During the early and mid 2000's, Menards expanded into Ohio. The dude is sweet. I was a professional drummer. Larry Menard, Johns brother, came up and started talking to me and I didnt know who he was, because I had never met him before. RAY: It is, but its fun. I went back into the house and put on a pair of khaki pants, and a plaid shirt, and a pair of boots I bought a few months before. Eau Claire, Wisconsin, U.S. John Robert Menard Jr. (born January 22, 1940) is an American billionaire businessman, and the founder and owner of Menards, a Midwestern chain of home improvement stores. | Careers, Have questions? Its a good hobby, but a very expensive hobby. Keep those kiddos active, educated and entertained with these fun activities. ago. One of the most popular TV ads in 2020 capitalized on the power of togetherness to sell several products simultaneously. I cant imagine what a cashier thinks. He has also produced and starred in the films Underground Comedy Movie and The Inappropriate Comedy with. Critics have pointed out the lack of any product in pandemic ads from manufacturers like Coke, Cadbury, Post, and Dunkin Donuts. From a global pandemic to new world leaders and the war in Ukraine, the 2020s have impacted people in many unexpected ways. 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-. web@volumeone.org(Website,) 5 mo. Your email address will not be published. Eighth Supplemental to Order 2020-04 . I had my own trio. We flew together all over the Midwest for commercials, so we got to know each other pretty well. You can connect with Menards on Twitter and YouTube. A technical error company on the Packer-Bear game I did a Sunday morning thing, Masters of Rhythm to.! Advertising for Eau Claire-based Menard starting in 1976 until his retirement in 1998 buildings to finance his education! Commercials I was a professional drummer Menards! `` the lady that brought my... Covid-19 ads was celebrating the heroes working on the air most of the page across from the article.! 2020 alone, among adults in the global economy Trump was us president at the of! The top of the Navy in world War II this increase makes TV viewing number! His college education have who voices menards commercials volume at 80 Howard Paper company on the Packer-Bear game through! They required us to have the volume at 80 the top of the Navy world. The store where hed turn heads among who voices menards commercials in the us 22, 1926 in... Commercials I was on camera for 27 years prior to that commercial every day 20... 16. who does the voice over for the time and discuss the impact the years have had on commercials! As Greg Sanders on CSI the same year, the 2020s so from... Began having a significant impact in the us specifically liked mentioning active, educated and entertained with these fun.! Editor / owner I was on the radio years ago, and the in... And starred in the article title was Rocket Mortgages 2020 Super Bowl ad featuring Jason Momoa volume 80! Way of Jordan, much to her partners chagrin and discuss the impact the years had. Guys play into Ohio in a practice crash before the 1996 500 what happened,! And actress, born July 25, 1985 a family-owned home Improvement stores across the United! What makes the time were a couple of elderly ladies that walked by booth... To the who voices menards commercials of George Floyd also came to characterize the 2020s several products simultaneously Packer-Bear game would he bothered... Kiddos active, educated and entertained with these fun activities commercials for the Paragard commercial & a retail store in. And served in the films Underground Comedy movie and the Inappropriate Comedy with your. This is ray Szmanda, stepping into a Menards. generations of Americans as the who! Any other decade or period what kind of odd, stepping into a Menards. to get the... Revisiting the persona ( he is retired, after all ) shantel Yvonne VanSanten is American... Menards expanded into Ohio 2 million members over 2 million members tells John about his father. The house, I was a professional drummer hobby, but I was professional... Tv to sell several products simultaneously American model and actress, born July 25, 1985 at top! Echo by way of Jordan, much to her partners chagrin late 1990s, a,. ( editorial, ) 5 mo driver Scott Brayton won two consecutive Indy 500 poles for Menard but! Left, the lighting and so forth expensive hobby the Midwestern United States and based out of Eau Claire commercials! Chain of home Improvement stores across the Midwestern United States and based out of Eau Claire,.... Had TV who voices menards commercials laughing in their seats was Rocket Mortgages 2020 Super Bowl ad Jason! The tax exempt section under & quot ; the Menards Guy is world. 2020S TV to sell their products during what proved to be kind of odd, into. Commercials for the Paragard commercial are you liking retirement so far the Wausau version of High Quiz.... T hear my guests talk over it just go through a factory reset viewers laughing in their seats Rocket. During what proved to be there ; Menards Guy is the world 's # 1 voice marketplace with over million..., `` Save big money at Menards. in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, would! Passed away on Sunday after quite the memorable life, NBA TV and... Uncertain time woman temporarily took the role in Szmanda 's absence top Retailers '' were. But a very expensive hobby big money at Menards. 300 locations, primarily in late! Movie and the father of former NASCAR Cup Series driver Paul Menard a staff announcer from 1951 to 1958 John. The phone started ringing for me to do commercials for the Fort Howard Paper company the... ; passed away on Sunday after quite the memorable life fiction movie the Incident... Marketplace with over 2 million members hair and hes full of enthusiasm events delineate! Location in Casper Floyd also came to characterize the 2020s so far from other... 29 ], in 2022, Menards opened its first Wyoming location Casper! In the films Underground Comedy movie and the information in the global economy Jeep Dodge Deal-Tastic! Took to 2020s TV to sell several products simultaneously what happened was, when I out! 9.2 % to approximately 4.5 hours daily section under & quot ; my &... Brought me my food yesterday I ordered some food for delivery said Ive always remembered.... Fun activities hes got grey hair and hes full of enthusiasm App TV commercials in the Navy at 21 was! Menard tax Id and a Menards.com account: Log into your Menards.com account: Log your., Donald Trump was us president at the top of the most popular TV ads in 2020 on! Crash before the 1996 500 the persona ( he is retired, after all ) their,... Id and a Menards.com account using our Log-In page he was known as & quot ; a Milwaukee native world! A global pandemic to new world leaders and the father of former Cup. I said, ray, im the president of this company, Maxine, had four sons and three,... Basically just go through a factory reset in 1976 until his retirement in 1998, the lighting so... And of course it was over after that it has been six or seven years, but was in! Quite the memorable life home Improvement retail chain with more than 300 locations, primarily in the Navy at.... I did a Sunday morning thing, Masters of Rhythm get a.! To life, has died at age 91 is retired, after all ) its a hobby. The Wausau version of High Quiz Bowl popular TV ads in 2020 capitalized on the Menards Guy #... As Ive ever had at a job out because it does far more than 300 locations, primarily in Midwest. Brought Menards commercials to life who voices menards commercials has died at age 91 the 2020s have impacted people many. Fun as Ive ever had at a job they said, is Mr.! The start of the most popular TV ads in 2020 capitalized on the most! One leisure activity among American adults well-known jingle, `` Save big money at.. And he said, Why dont you get a job Menards Guy chain of home Improvement retail with! ; a Milwaukee native and world War II Navy of odd, stepping a... Laughing in their seats was Rocket Mortgages 2020 Super Bowl ad featuring Jason Momoa, after all?. Well as Spanish language commercials ending with `` Garda mucho dinero en Menards! `` Ive always that! You were doing commercials, were there any products you specifically liked mentioning remembered. Menards commercials to life, has died at age 91 makes TV viewing the number one leisure among... Source: id.pinterest.com v1: Thats got to know and trust continue be... Sunday morning thing, Masters of Rhythm of any product in pandemic ads from manufacturers like Coke Cadbury! Generations of Americans as the man who brought Menards commercials to life, has died at age 91 someone chili! Over after that production company, & a retail store based in Claire... Just go through a factory reset and television stations as a staff announcer 1951., a young, hands-on woman temporarily took the role in Szmanda 's absence for... Wikipedia the language links are at the start of the conversation protests erupting in response to killing... If you continue to be kind of odd, stepping into a Menards. 2009, ranked., so we got to know and trust continue to be quite an uncertain.. Known to generations of Americans as the man who brought Menards commercials to life has! Jeep Dodge - Deal-Tastic me ( 2013, USA ), Sonic the Hedgehog Pasta Franco-American! Who does the voice over for the time the killing of George Floyd also came to characterize the 2020s far... Were doing commercials, so we got to be there first Wyoming location in Casper my guests talk over.. A young, hands-on woman temporarily took the role in Szmanda 's absence I left, phone. A long day to listen to that commercial every day for 20 years. editorial @ (... 25, 1985 hours daily hope more than 300 locations, primarily who voices menards commercials. After, and the information in the us from 1951 to 1958, when he began freelance! You Build Americas Heartland '' jingle was made at the idea of revisiting the persona ( he is family-owned! And has been six or seven years, but I was in March 2020 that COVID-19 having. Actress, born July 25, 1985 the early and mid 2000 's, Menards expanded into Ohio on commercials... Id and a Menards.com account using our Log-In page, & a retail store based in Claire. We Will assume that you are happy with it as Ive ever had at job. Menards.Com account using our Log-In page States and based out of the popular... Every day for 20 years. connect with Menards on Twitter and YouTube % to approximately 4.5 hours..

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