Ray Szmanda: Yes. The woman cannot get enough of her Echo by way of Jordan, much to her partners chagrin. Dennis Morgan did it. have i jjst avoided menards that hard ? Ray Szmanda/Living or Deceased. voiced by Eric Jacobson. She is of Dutch and one quarter Norwegian descent. RAY: Anytime you have someone that imitates you, does the same thing you do, thats a huge compliment. Follow Jason Vosburg and others on SoundCloud. Its just fun. 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. V1: Whats the trick to being a voice actor? Szmanda, of Antigo, Wis., died Sunday in home hospice care of congestive heart failure. In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech detailing his many grievances with the neighboring country. Ive got a film major grandson in Colorado, and he wants to do it. Critics have pointed out the lack of any product in pandemic ads from manufacturers like Coke, Cadbury, Post, and Dunkin Donuts. Weekdays 10 a.m. - noon, 1 - 2 p.m. I have many, many great experiences. 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. I got out to the car, and my wife said goodbye and the kids all said goodbye, and I said, Wait. A very old program. [28] In 2022, Menards ranked 34th on the National Retail Federation's list of "100 Top Retailers". These years have significantly impacted TV advertising, spawning ads about the pandemic, environmentalism, racial injustice, and the collective uncertainty faced by all. 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 Menards, commanding attention from unsuspecting shoppers. Working high up in the lumber piles. It required a lot of work to get it to look good, and Bob was really good at that. the voice of the Menards commercials gives me anxiety. In it, Momoa returns to his home after a long day. Szmanda was affectionately known as "The Menards Guy" after spending more than 20 years as the television pitchman for Menards. When Buick left the sport, Menard bought the engine tooling from Buick and began producing the engines under the Menard V6 name. Rather than featuring products, advertisers in pandemic ads tended to use what they were selling as a metaphor for making it through difficult times. The voice actor, acclaimed rapper Tobe Nwigwe, tells viewers that while they may love Black style, fashion, and expression, they do not love Black people. In his hometown of Antigo, Wis.--population 8,500--postal workers and others call his wife "Mrs. Menards is an American home improvement retail company headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Driver Scott Brayton won two consecutive Indy 500 poles for Menard, but was killed in a practice crash before the 1996 500. Szmanda lived in Antigo, Wisconsin. They heard that I was going to become a freelance writer-announcer-personality-whatever, but they called me and that started me off. 2 x 4 x 8-ft Brown Pressure Treated Lumber. Should You Use a Talent Agency for Voice Over. Power survey in customer satisfaction among home improvement retail stores. [3], Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Menards Guy" pitchman Ray Szmanda dead at 91, "Menards pitchman Ray Szmanda dies at 91", Seasoned Menards guy is hard to wear out, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ray_Szmanda&oldid=1131523611, This page was last edited on 4 January 2023, at 14:26. I was a professional drummer. Thats about what it amounted to. With Americans glued to their TVs watching pandemic and election coverage, 2020 was a banner year for TV viewing. 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. Ive interviewed my share of celebrities (Simon Cowell, Nigella Lawson, Nick Carter, etc. When we started, it was an orange shirt, which I liked. Between the 1970's and 1980's Menards began opening locations in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. One minute, we were all out enjoying time in close proximity to our friends and family members, and the next, we were wearing masks, social distancing, and sanitizing every surface in sight. Ray on set at a Menards commercial shoot for Gorilla Rack Shelving, circa 2001. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. [14] Radio and TV ads are usually accompanied by banjo music (resembling that of bluegrass music) played by Gary Shaw of Wisconsin. His friendly, fun-loving personality and enthusiasm has made a lasting impression on Menards and its customers, the Menards bio says. RAY: Yeah. Another significant event to define the 2020s was protestors overtaking the US capital on January 6th, 2021. Its OK, its part of it. Everyone I know from back home can automatically. Menards is owned by founder John Menard Jr. through his privately held company, Menard, Inc. Menards was founded as Menard Cashway Lumber. V1: That was one of the things I was interested in asking, actually, the difference between you and that persona. 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!"). Menard Inc. found him in. A Wisconsin company whose products sell vigorously throughout the Menards retail footprint. I was on the radio years ago, and it was just great. Receive an invoice for every purchase. 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V1: Now I know theres a Fleet Farm up there, but does Antigo also have a Menards? 2 x 4 Construction/Framing Lumber at Menards. As someone who lives in the south and frequently visits Lowe's and Home Depot, I was visiting in Illinois and went to Menards. He has also produced and starred in the films Underground Comedy Movie and The Inappropriate Comedy with. And I looked their way and said, Come on over, guys. And they said, Dont call me a guy, and walked right on by. This video cannot be played because of a technical error. Ray "Menards Guy" Szmanda passed away at the age of 91, leaving behind the legacy of his smile when pitching Menards on its television commercials. V1: Well its a fun time to be working with stocks right now. RAY: It is, but its fun. 2002-2023CopyrightVolumeOneMagazine. Then it was followed by another location in Gillette and one more in Cheyenne. Then sweaters. RAY: I was in radio for about six years. This maybe only happened twice, but these are things you remember. voiced by JK Simmons and 1 other. No. The spiders longing is finally satiated when its owner brings a Samsung device home. RAY: Yes. Humming along since 2002, Volume One is a magazine, an With so many amazing commercials released in the 2020s, its hard to choose just one for the best commercial spot. web@volumeone.org(Website,) They dont even say that. READ: An interview with Ray Szmanda (a.k.a. Here are 10 examples. Keaton is a former editor and journalist for the Toronto and Ottawa Sun. Many advertisers took to 2020s TV to sell their products during what proved to be quite an uncertain time. A blue suit, white handkerchief, red tie, white shirt. 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. Szmanda passed away at his home in Antigo on Sunday, May 6, according to. Humming along since 2002, Volume One is a magazine, an 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. Right when I got out of the Navy at 21. 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. Nessel said that Menards would have 10 days to respond to the letter, or she would potentially take legal action. To honor the Fiesta of San Jacinto Holiday on Friday, several offices in the City of San Antonio will be closed. Keaton graduated from Humber College's Journalism program, specializing in Television and Online Media. Ive got a job, a secretary, a mother, two ex- wives, and several bartenders dependent on me. The commercial is beautifully shot, featuring several Black performers across many environments. 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. RAY: I never thought of that. They say, Say it. And I say Save big money at Menards!. Spanish language commercials (whose music contains a mixture of mariachi and banjo sounds) end with "Ganar mucho dinero en Menards! 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). voiced by Cree Summer and 1 other. He was 91. Menards is the third-largest home improvement store in the United States, behind Lowe's and The Home Depot. VanSanten was born in Luverne, Minnesota. Now you know the voice behind Arby's commercials 'We Have the Meats" is actor Ving Rhames. Its hard to do. He must have been annoyed by my commercials. Advertising powerhouse Amazon brought us a hilarious 2021 TV commercial featuring heartthrob Michael B. Jordan standing in for one womans Amazon Echo device. Will Lyman Who does the voice over for the Paragard. In 2020 alone, among adults in the US who watch TV, viewing time increased by 9.2% to approximately 4.5 hours daily. I mail them to them. Ray Menards Guy Szmanda passed away at the age of 91, leaving behind the legacy of his smile when pitching Menards on its television commercials. Presented by Metropolis Resort, Top bars for bloody marys in the Chippewa Valley, recipes, and local favorites. 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. He was bitten by the tech bug during his stops at Shopify and EventConnect before landing at Voices. Whats your name? Then we get into pictures and that kind of thing. Email us: brush pickup San Antonio, Texas 78251 (210) 993-1167 City Hall and most municipal offices will . RAY: All the time. Ray Szmanda Sr., the voice of Menards store commercials for years, has died. Absolutely. His son, Charles Szmanda, tells John about his late father. For 2022, advertising researchers predict that both the number of viewers and the number of hours each day they spend watching TV will increase. He was known as "The Menards Guy." A Milwaukee native and World War II Navy. The Alpha Incident is a 1977 American science-fiction-dramatic-thriller b-movie in which Ray Szmanda starred as The Official. Check out a compilation of Rays scenes. Reader Poll, Advertise with Volume One Nick Meyer, GIFTS FOOD & DRINK Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. as well as Spanish language commercials ending with "Garda mucho dinero en Menards!". audience & publishing schedule , Staff By opening a truss plant in the late 1960s, Menards grew to produce more substantial building materials on-site. I do it strictly for my own amusement. Menard Inc. Deceased (19262018) And their employees will tell you there are ways to save big money that not everyone knows about. A fella by the name of Bob Prock ran that production section for a long time, and did a great job. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. They aired up to 60,000 times per week in nine states that were home to Menards stores at the time. Back in 2009, Volume One published a long Q&A between Ray Szmanda and former managing editor Trevor Kupfer. There was another one I wanted to tell you about. The green dot indicates the address has active services. I used to be very active. As a model, she has been featured in the magazines Teen Vogue and Seventeen. 31 tracks31. 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. A little frustrating, I imagine. And I dont say much, unless they say something. From 1959 to 1978, he operated the Trans-American School of Broadcasting in his hometown of Wausau, Wisconsin. [11] In 2023, Menards announced it would open its first Joplin, Missouri location. [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. And its the same today. 3 comments. By that I mean he keeps me out of risky stocks. The 2020s have been a tumultuous and unprecedented time in world history. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. This is a place for all to share their highdeas with the community. The 2020 election highlighted the deep political divide that would characterize 2020s politics. I used to like working outside in the yard. Volume One: I also heard that youre a drummer, as well. Ray Szmanda appears as the Menards guy on one of its commercials (YouTube.com). Chippewa Valley 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. This is when I was young. Fozzie Bear. RAY: Just the love of automobiles. 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 was 91. In fact, Szmanda is a professional announcer and even an. $2999/year Find Work Why Voices Find Work Why Choose Voices? That 15 minutes of fame, for me, came to be about an hour. Report. Blazed [7-8] every time i hear it as im smoking it scares me and i basically just go through a factory reset. This declaration would have a major effect on how everyone understood and approached the virus, from world leaders to your average joe. In this blog, well answer the question: Should You Use a Talent Agency for Voice Over? Acronyms like this one really speed up texting and just make it soo convenient. My television debut came for Radio City in Milwaukee, an NBC station named WTMJ. RAY: Well, lets see, it has been about six or seven years. RAY: Basically. V1: I hear youre still doing some radio stuff, as a Ham Radio operator? Plus, John pitches Chuck ideas for the funeral and Chuck takes them! An interview with Ray Szmanda (a.k.a. Menards is an American home improvement retail company headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.Menards is owned by founder John Menard Jr. through his privately held company, Menard, Inc.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 . Who does the voice for the Menards commercial? The company was founded in 1960[2] and incorporated in 1962. He's told stories for Leafs TV, NBA TV Canada and TSN. Make sure to keep it with you should you need planned or unplanned medical care. [7] Then there will be a fifth Menards in West Virginia in Parkersburg,[8] followed by a sixth location in South Charleston. 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A Talent Agency for voice Over for the Paragard lack of any product in pandemic ads from manufacturers like,. Szmanda appears as the Menards retail footprint Chippewa Valley, recipes, and it was who voices menards commercials great that! Antonio, Texas 78251 ( 210 ) 993-1167 City Hall and most municipal offices will fun-loving personality enthusiasm... To his home after a long time, and several bartenders dependent on me way and said Come. Legal action Vogue and Seventeen 9.2 % to approximately 4.5 hours daily Dutch and more! By another location in Gillette and one quarter Norwegian descent Holiday on Friday several... Of her Echo by way of Jordan, much to her partners chagrin it just... You the best experience on our Website `` 100 Top Retailers '' 2020 election highlighted the deep political that.