It takes a long time to get a gig like Menards. When do I receive my Menards commercial invoice? 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. Plain and simple. 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. For other uses, see, An example of the older exterior of the Menards store in, "Bloomberg Billionaires Index - John Menard Jr", "Meet The Best Hardware Store In the Nation, And The Midwestern Billionaire Who Built It: John Menard Jr", "Menards is building centers in Iowa, Ohio instead of Eau Claire", "Home improvement store Menards opens Morgantown (West Virginia) location; 207,000 square feet", "Menards Bridgeport, West Virginia build shows signs of life", "Menards shows signs of life in Parkersburg", "Major investment planned in Ravenna in 2022", "Ravenna planners OK Menards' $52 million project", "More details emerge about Menards coming to Fayette County", "The Marketing 100: Menards: John Menard", "Seasoned Menards guy is hard to wear out", "The "Save Big Money at Menards" Jingle: A History", "Menards to Continue Partnership with RCR XFINITY Programs - Richard Childress Racing", "Crafton, Menards extend ThorSport partnership", "Menards doubles sponsorship deal with Penske, Pagenaud for 2017", "Menards to continue IndyCar sponsorship with Team Penske", "XFINITY Series race results for Menards 250 at Michigan", "ARCA and Menards Announce Partenership Expansion", "NASCAR's Matt Crafton Enters May 15 Menards 200 - ARCA Racing", https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-truck-series-news/75161-matt-crafton-and-menards-mark-a-historic-20-year-partnership, "Home Improvement Retailers Fight Inflation with Stand-Out Customer Service, J.D. Hes got grey hair and hes full of enthusiasm. His son, Charles Szmanda, tells John about his late father. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Who does the voice for the Menards commercial? 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. The blue looked great in fact, better than the orange but I liked the orange material, because it stayed fresh and wasnt baggy. Check out one of their favorite clips. I would say I really miss being on camera. Szmanda was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and served in the United States Navy during World War II.[1]. Driver Scott Brayton won two consecutive Indy 500 poles for Menard, but was killed in a practice crash before the 1996 500. 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. [11] In 2023, Menards announced it would open its first Joplin, Missouri location. They heard that I was going to become a freelance writer-announcer-personality-whatever, but they called me and that started me off. His son, Charles Szmanda, tells John about his late father. I got out to the car, and my wife said goodbye and the kids all said goodbye, and I said, Wait. Menards is owned by founder John Menard Jr. through his privately held company, Menard, Inc. RAY: We played 40s music, what we called swing. What got you into that? 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. I was a professional drummer. He truly was a kind and generous man. His wife, Maxine, died in 1999,[2] and his son, Ray Jr., died in 2002. Would he be bothered at the idea of revisiting the persona (he is retired, after all)? Menards commercials are also accompanied with banjo music played by Gary Shaw of Wisconsin. web@volumeone.org(Website,) And of course I do my homework before I buy, and I have a certified financial planner who keeps me honest with my estate. After a morning of shooting wed break production and hed invite us all out for lunch together, often at a pizza buffet. Spanish commercials are accompanied with a mariachi mix of the banjo accompaniment. Ray Szmanda, known to generations of Wisconsinites as the man who brought Menards commercials to life, has died at age 91 . And I looked their way and said, Come on over, guys. And they said, Dont call me a guy, and walked right on by. An interview with Ray Szmanda (a.k.a. When we started, it was an orange shirt, which I liked. Maybe I should be full of enthusiasm. That was all part of the show. RAY: I was in radio for about six years. Ray Szmanda, known to generations of Americans as the man who brought Menards commercials to life, has died at age 91. By opening a truss plant in the late 1960s, Menards grew to produce more substantial building materials on-site. [5] In 2008, the company expanded into Missouri. Thats a lot to shoot, and we needed to hustle to get it all done. His products the SHAMWOW, InVINCEable, SlapChop, Schticky and more have sold millions. Piano is my big thing. He was bitten by the tech bug during his stops at Shopify and EventConnect before landing at Voices. Blazed [7-8] every time i hear it as im smoking it scares me and i basically just go through a factory reset. Menards publishes weekly print ads and broadcasts TV and radio ads. I retired at age 77. Whats Biden waiting for when it comes to 2024? The ad features Salt-N-Peppa's "Push It" performed by rapper Megan Thee Stallion. 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. "Big box stores are not immune to the Michigan Consumer Protection Act or the Governor's Executive Order", Nessel said. Four more locations opened in Kentucky, one in Louisville, another in Paducah, another in Elizabethtown and the last one in Florence. [16] Before his return in 1999, Kim Larsen took over his position in his absence. And of course it was in the store where hed turn heads. Each one of his commercials, of which he filmed hundreds, featured his trademark smile, infectious enthusiasm, and passion for telling you about great deals. With Americans glued to their TVs watching pandemic and election coverage, 2020 was a banner year for TV viewing. During the Christmas and holiday season, radio and television ads typically feature an alternate jingle "Warm season's greetings to you all from Menards!" And its the same today. And a lot of times, if theyre shy, they dont say anything. Its just fun. Now you know the voice behind Arby's commercials 'We Have the Meats" is actor Ving Rhames. RAY: The other thing I wanted to tell you is that I had some college kids call me at 9 oclock one night. localstore@volumeone.org(Store,), TermsofUse / PrivacyPolicy The pandemic ad was characterized by a sense of helping, uncertainty, and togetherness. Then this guy wearing jeans and cowboy boots walks in. On May 12, 1997, the Chicago Tribune ran a great article on The Menards Guy. RAY: Well, lets see, it has been about six or seven years. Interestingly, advertisers tended to focus on messages of encouragement and hope more than they did on selling products in pandemic ads. Fresh air. Szmanda passed away at his home in Antigo on Sunday, May 6, according to. Since 2005, the biggest and most beloved brands have trusted Voices to help them find professionals to bring their projects to life. And The Menards Guy is no exception. Presented by Metropolis Resort, Top bars for bloody marys in the Chippewa Valley, recipes, and local favorites. However, one commercial stands out from the pack in terms of its power, creativity, and relevance for the time. Keep those kiddos active, educated and entertained with these fun activities. Ray had plenty of monkey jokes for the crew. localstore@volumeone.org(Store,), TermsofUse / PrivacyPolicy Reader Poll, Advertise with Volume One 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: All the time. Its the best part of the job. editorial@volumeone.org(Editorial,) 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 US Congress issued stimulus payments to Americans to keep the economy robust through the pandemic, contributing in part to an approximate 5.7% growth in the economy in 2021. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. The mail comes to the chain's Eau Claire, Wis., headquarters addressed to "The Menards Guy," or, more formally, "The Menards Man." Chippewa Valley V1: Whats the trick to being a voice actor? 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 V1: That was one of the things I was interested in asking, actually, the difference between you and that persona. V1: Obviously Menards has continued to run ads, but theres not a distinct spokesman. People were in shock. The dude is sweet. I was a professional drummer. In addition, these Menards locations carry items such as office supplies, pet supplies, and mattresses.[13]. Ive got a job, a secretary, a mother, two ex- wives, and several bartenders dependent on me. We should learn how to do that. Then I did a Sunday morning thing, Masters of Rhythm. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Nessel said that Menards would have 10 days to respond to the letter, or she would potentially take legal action. Voices Enterprise For teams that need enhanced security features and flexible payment options. They say, Say it. And I say Save big money at Menards!. And I suppose I was kind of an actor with that, because people tell me, Youre so different off camera. Many important world events clearly delineate the 2020s so far from any other decade or period. Would he have an ego and scoff at the idea of being in our magazine? He worked for radio and television stations as a staff announcer from 1951 to 1958, when he began to freelance. Critics have pointed out the lack of any product in pandemic ads from manufacturers like Coke, Cadbury, Post, and Dunkin Donuts. V1: Yeah. Thats when happy as can be at their request hed pop open his briefcase packed full of headshots, ready for personalization to his many fans. Advertisers have created some remarkable and groundbreaking TV commercials in the 2020s (and were only over two years into the decade!). The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. It was as much fun as Ive ever had at a job. In 2007, Menards opened its third and fourth distribution centers in Holiday City, Ohio, and Shelby, Iowa, which are 669,000 square feet (62,200m2) and 735,000 square feet (68,300m2), respectively. 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. When you do these commercials, its on a set. 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. He was 91. Already have a Menards Commercial Card? Presented by Metropolis Resort, Top bars for bloody marys in the Chippewa Valley, recipes, and local favorites. So lumber was interesting. 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. Back in 2009, Volume One published a long Q&A between Ray Szmanda and former managing editor Trevor Kupfer. Menard Inc. found him in. [35] The policy for children was later relaxed.[36]. Swing lasted about 10 years, and then of course rock n roll came in. Perhaps the final most significant event to define the 2020s was the war in Ukraine. It has 351 stores in 15 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming, but there are plans to expand to Pennsylvania. brush pickup San Antonio, Texas 78251 (210) 993-1167 City Hall and most municipal offices will . A very old program. Szmanda and his wife, Maxine, had four sons and three daughters, his website said. Then sweaters. 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. [6] In 2022, Menards announced that they will open a fourth West Virginia store in Bridgeport. Theres something about being on camera that just makes your day. But I did the grand openings for Menards all over the 10-state area, which I suppose has grown now. the voice of the Menards commercials gives me anxiety. have i jjst avoided menards that hard ? In the mid-1980s, the "Cashway Lumber" name was dropped and the business became simply known to this day as Menards. Village.com - Engaging extracurricular activities for children. In 2020, Menards expanded into West Virginia, opening three locations in that state: one in Wheeling, another in Morgantown, and the last one in Huntington. You can connect with Menards on Twitter and YouTube. He did, however, make occasional ads with the company starting in 1999. 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. 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). 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. Bo Landry is the current voice. 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