voiced by Bill Barretta. When you do these commercials, its on a set. Discovered in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, COVID-19 would come to infect millions worldwide throughout the 2020s. His son, Charles Szmanda, tells John about his late father. Stocks are very reasonable right now. The first commercial was for the S400 Hybrid, a vehicle with night vision, adaptive cruise control, and no kidding, massage seats! So lumber was interesting. The truss plant evolved into the Menard Building Division, which produced steel siding and roofing, interior and exterior doors, decking and treated lumber, and other materials. For radio commercials, which are a purely auditory experience, casting the right voice actor who resonates with your audience is crucial. RAY: Oh yeah. Menards was founded as Menard Cashway Lumber. He did, however, make occasional ads with the company starting in 1999. 2 x 4 Construction/Framing Lumber at Menards. "[citation needed], John Menard got involved in Indycar racing in the early 1980s working with his neighbor, driver Herm Johnson. Who is the voice in the BMW commercial? Menards commercials are also accompanied with banjo music played by Gary Shaw of Wisconsin. The 'Menards Guy' passed away on Sunday after quite the memorable life. Eighth Supplemental to Order 2020-04 . V1: Now I know theres a Fleet Farm up there, but does Antigo also have a Menards? Do you take that as a compliment, the fact that youre still the irreplaceable Menards guy?. Already have a Menards Commercial Card? 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. What got you into that? Its hard not to act. His career with Menards began in 1976, where he was a fixture of the ads until his retirement in 1998. But, I have to say, I didnt know what to expect when I contacted the long-time spokesperson and co-star of the forgotten B-movie The Alpha Incident. Please follow the steps pertaining to your situation to get your account activated for tax exempt ordering. V1: I hear youre still doing some radio stuff, as a Ham Radio operator? The dude is sweet. Power survey in customer satisfaction among home improvement retail stores. Fresh air. 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. They walked right on the set (laughing) looking for the price of the chair or whatever it was. His career with Menards began in 1976, where he was a fixture of the ads until his retirement in 1998. ago. I was a professional drummer. Szmanda lived in Antigo, Wisconsin. Shantel Yvonne VanSanten is an American model and actress, born July 25, 1985. Several TV commercials in the 2020s stand out for their popularity and prolificacy. voiced by JK Simmons and 1 other. In fact, Szmanda is a professional announcer and even an. The way he comes across in commercials. From a global pandemic to new world leaders and the war in Ukraine, the 2020s have impacted people in many unexpected ways. You have everything set up, the lighting and so forth. Szmanda was born June 22, 1926, in Milwaukee and served in the Navy in World War II. Presented by Silver Spring. The AMC Theaters Cast. This ad stands out because it does far more than advertising a product. Menard eventually owned cars, primarily focusing on the Indianapolis 500 often using stock block Buick V6 engines. Indeed, in times of economic stress or uncertainty, businesses tend to cut discretionary spending, and for most, advertising is seen as discretionary. But for some reason--he says he has no idea why--in the past two years or so he's become a bit of a cult figure, a pop icon to whom viewers write fan letters and request autographed photos. Political division would carry well into the 2020s, as the debate between the two sides continues with no seeming resolution. Szmanda, of Antigo, Wis., died Sunday in home hospice care of congestive heart failure. It is a powerful celebration of Black culture, from styling to athletics to music. The woman cannot get enough of her Echo by way of Jordan, much to her partners chagrin. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. editorial@volumeone.org(Editorial,) He also narrated a recording of the Bible. The pandemic ad was characterized by a sense of helping, uncertainty, and togetherness. Szmanda died on May 6, 2018, at age 91, of pneumonia, heart problems and complications from a fall. 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. [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. Posted by 2 days ago. 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. I retired at age 77. 13 followers13. However, one commercial stands out from the pack in terms of its power, creativity, and relevance for the time. Invoice billed purchases are do within 50 days after the date of purchase. Watch, interact and learn more about the songs, characters, and celebrities that appear in your favorite Menards App TV Commercials. So that was interesting, and Ive always remembered that. 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. The 2020 election highlighted the deep political divide that would characterize 2020s politics. Reader Poll, Advertise with Volume One A Wisconsin company whose products sell vigorously throughout the Menards retail footprint. Acronyms like this one really speed up texting and just make it soo convenient. [28] In 2022, Menards ranked 34th on the National Retail Federation's list of "100 Top Retailers". Here are 10 examples. It was as much fun as Ive ever had at a job. With so many amazing commercials released in the 2020s, its hard to choose just one for the best commercial spot. And I dont say much, unless they say something. Ive been doing that more for my own enjoyment than for performing. Theres something about being on camera that just makes your day. Absolutely. His great-nephew Eric Szmanda is an actor, best known as Greg Sanders on CSI. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. [17] Bob Holtan, John Menard's friend and radio station owner, wrote the lyrics to the "Save Big Money" jingle in the early 1970s. Terry Savage: What will a recession look like? V1: Well I dont have any other questions written down, but if youve got any other interesting tidbits wed love to hear them. 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. I even came close to convincing myself that it would be a good idea to visit his house last Thanksgiving, as I was visiting my grandparents in Antigo, Wisconsin. I can't hear my guests talk over it. 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. The Found Footage Festival a local favorite puts together touring comedy shows based on old VHS video footage from just about anywhere, from corporate training videos to infomercials. Get Started for Free Getting Started How It Works Getting Paid Video Tutorials Read the Guide Browse Job Types Advertisers took to TV to tell consumers that we are all in this together and that their products would help us make it through the pandemic. Email us: 1912). Ray Szmanda appears as the Menards guy on one of its commercials (YouTube.com). Menards is the third-largest home improvement store in the United States, behind Lowe's and The Home Depot. Menards is a family-owned home improvement retail chain with more than 300 locations, primarily in the Midwest. PANTRY TOYS DCOR, Best of the In it, actress Sofia Vergara attends a party where someone spills chili. Required fields are marked *. The ad features Salt-N-Peppa's "Push It" performed by rapper Megan Thee Stallion. This is when I was young. Create a profile and get invited to jobs. Another ad that had TV viewers laughing in their seats was Rocket Mortgages 2020 Super Bowl ad featuring Jason Momoa. Ray started the gig way back in 1976, three years before I was even born. 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. Go to the tax exempt section under "My Account". Its just fun. How To Position a Pop Filter With Your Microphone. His family included four sons and three daughters. He loved it, and so did we. We played 40s music, what we called swing. | What do you put on a resume for server experience? This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Keaton graduated from Humber College's Journalism program, specializing in Television and Online Media. Despite the turmoil surrounding us, the products we have come to know and trust continue to be there. sung by a female chorus beginning in 1986. Ive got a film major grandson in Colorado, and he wants to do it. A good-quality microphone is a primary tool for any voice actor. It is also called as text to voice converter or type and . PUBLISHER / EDITOR / OWNER You listen to me. Ray had plenty of monkey jokes for the crew. A long time ago they decided they wanted to do that, and its great. V1: Right. RAY: Yeah. A little frustrating, I imagine. Menards has supported several racing drivers, including Paul Menard (John Menard's son) who won his only NASCAR Cup race in the 2011 Brickyard 400 in a Menards sponsored Richard Childress Chevrolet. RAY: Oh sure. 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.' At lunch he wouldnt remove his blue shirt, nametag, or his signature black glasses (which didnt even have lenses in them due to the glareon camera). Between the 1970's and 1980's Menards began opening locations in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. The Menards Guy. From 1959 to 1978, he operated the Trans-American School of Broadcasting in his hometown of Wausau, Wisconsin. The company expanded into Nebraska in 1990, Illinois in 1991 and Indiana and Michigan in 1992. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. In 2011, the company expanded into Kansas. Many advertisers took to 2020s TV to sell their products during what proved to be quite an uncertain time. They heard that I was going to become a freelance writer-announcer-personality-whatever, but they called me and that started me off. Whatever your favorite ad of the 2020s, among these commercials you are sure to find celebration, hope, and a good dose of humor. Volume One: I also heard that youre a drummer, as well. Over 5000 jobs posted monthly. 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. Lets consider what makes the time unique and discuss the impact the years have had on TV commercials in the 2020s. And before I left, the phone started ringing for me to do commercials for the Fort Howard Paper Company on the Packer-Bear game. The same year, the "Helping You Build Americas Heartland" jingle was made. While many predicted a decline in TV viewing in 2021, research leader Nielsen found that TV viewing increased by 18% that year, with Americans spending almost five hours per day watching TV. Thats a lot to shoot, and we needed to hustle to get it all done. 16. Who does the voice over for the Paragard commercial? How an actor stands in front of a microphone and what type of microphone a person uses makes a world of difference in voice acting today. I had guests even telling me it was annoying. Nessel said that Menards would have 10 days to respond to the letter, or she would potentially take legal action. Already have a Menards Commercial Card? Highdeas are clever or fun ideas you have only when you're high. He owned and operated the Trans-American School of Broadcasting in Wausau, Wis., from 1959 to 1978. RAY: Just the love of automobiles. READ: Menards Guy Isn't Who--or What--you Think He Is. Village.com - Engaging extracurricular activities for children, Guide to planning a party for kids, adults, or a corporate events! After working in radio and television, he became self-employed as a broadcaster in 1958. [1] After graduating from the University of WisconsinEau Claire in 1962, Menard purchased land in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and built an office and shop. 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. Leading advertising researcher Magna predicts that in 2022, ad sales will mostly decrease, but will increase in three significant areas: With more people stuck at home during the global pandemic, it is no surprise that viewing time among those who watch TV rose significantly during the 2020s. Now I have no reason to, unless Menards doesnt have something. 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. He was 91. You can connect with Menards on Twitter and YouTube. At that time, my wife and I had seven children. Interestingly, advertisers tended to focus on messages of encouragement and hope more than they did on selling products in pandemic ads. RAY: Yeah, Im not like that. In 2009, Menards opened its first Wyoming location in Casper. I will fondly remember Ray, and I know so many who had a chance to work with him will too, not to mention the millions who saw him grinning on TV, paintbrush in hand. 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. Maybe I should be full of enthusiasm. That was all part of the show. Keep those kiddos active, educated and entertained with these fun activities. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. The company was founded in 1960[2] and incorporated in 1962. Enoch Powell (b. Then this guy wearing jeans and cowboy boots walks in. And a lot of times, if theyre shy, they dont say anything. Mine are the commercials for Jim "The Hammer" Shapiro, who wanted to rip the hearts out of those who caused Rochester residents personal injury. Kyle Busch. 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. 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. Its first Wyoming location in Casper away on Sunday after quite the memorable life College. He was a fixture of the in it, actress Sofia Vergara attends a party for kids,,. 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