My television debut came for Radio City in Milwaukee, an NBC station named WTMJ. Then it was followed by another location in Gillette and one more in Cheyenne. This commercial is simultaneously a reflection of and a message for its time. 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!"). The lights, the camera, director, anybody. ;[18] Robby Gordon; P. J. Jones;[19] Brandon Jones;[20] Matt Crafton;[21] Simon Pagenaud, Ryan Blaney and Matt DiBenedetto. V1: Was there any conversation about what youd be wearing? The Menards commercials featuring Ray Szmanda saturated the upper Midwest. Follow the instructions given in the Menards Tax Exempt section to unlock tax . This characteristic included celebrating healthcare workers, grocery store employees, and delivery drivers who kept the essential products we needed coming to our doors. I started lessons about five or six years ago. During the Christmas and holiday season, radio and television ads typically feature an alternate jingle "Warm season's greetings to you all from Menards!" Menardsis a chain of Home Improvement stores across the Midwestern United States and based out of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Keaton is a former editor and journalist for the Toronto and Ottawa Sun. Ray started the gig way back in 1976, three years before I was even born. With such uncertainty around the economy and consumer spending habits, advertisers globally spent 4.2% less in 2020 than in 2019. 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. Right when I got out of the Navy at 21. 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. Well he said, Why dont you get a job? It hurt, but I regained my composure to get on the air. The ad features Salt-N-Peppas Push It performed by rapper Megan Thee Stallion. Having fun with people. 2002-2023CopyrightVolumeOneMagazine. Now you know the voice behind Arby's commercials 'We Have the Meats" is actor Ving Rhames. By the end of 1959, he found it necessary to hire extra crews, and to purchase more equipment to keep up with demand. RAY: Im not very active. editorial@volumeone.org(Editorial,) His wife, Maxine, died in 1999,[2] and his son, Ray Jr., died in 2002. Presented by Metropolis Resort, Top bars for bloody marys in the Chippewa Valley, recipes, and local favorites. ago. And I dont intend to disappoint them all by getting myself slightly killed.Ernest Lehman (b.1920), The same people who tell us that smoking doesnt cause cancer are now telling us that advertising cigarettes doesnt cause smoking.Ellen Goodman (b. That would be great. In 2020 alone, among adults in the US who watch TV, viewing time increased by 9.2% to approximately 4.5 hours daily. 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). His great-nephew Eric Szmanda is an actor, best known as Greg Sanders on CSI. The first commercial was for the S400 Hybrid, a vehicle with night vision, adaptive cruise control, and no kidding, massage seats! 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. We played 40s music, what we called swing. Check out one of their favorite clips. [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. Keaton graduated from Humber College's Journalism program, specializing in Television and Online Media. audience & publishing schedule , Staff 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.' Its hard to do. [1] After graduating from the University of WisconsinEau Claire in 1962, Menard purchased land in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and built an office and shop. 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. This commercial is the best of the 2020s for many reasons. 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. Often the audience's first point of contact with a brand, radio commercial voice actors take on the role of company spokesperson and set the tone for what the audience can expect from your brand. 2 x 4 x 8-ft Brown Pressure Treated Lumber. 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). V1: Well its a fun time to be working with stocks right now. Eighth Supplemental to Order 2020-04 . It takes a long time to get a gig like Menards. Menard eventually owned cars, primarily focusing on the Indianapolis 500 often using stock block Buick V6 engines. A fifth manufacturing and distribution center in Ravenna, Ohio began construction in Spring 2022 after a two-year-long delay. 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. [35] The policy for children was later relaxed.[36]. Ray Szmanda, known to generations of Americans as the man who brought Menards commercials to life, has died at age 91 . 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. Whats Biden waiting for when it comes to 2024? Whats your name? Then we get into pictures and that kind of thing. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. However, one commercial stands out from the pack in terms of its power, creativity, and relevance for the time. And I got negative things, too. When we started, it was an orange shirt, which I liked. 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. In addition, these Menards locations carry items such as office supplies, pet supplies, and mattresses.[13]. Ray had plenty of monkey jokes for the crew. V1: Is there anything in particular you miss as the Menards spokesman, like hearing yourself on the radio or seeing yourself on TV? RAY: Oh yeah. Discovered in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, COVID-19 would come to infect millions worldwide throughout the 2020s. But knowing how to position a pop filter with your microphone is vital. 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?. Many advertisers took to 2020s TV to sell their products during what proved to be quite an uncertain time. 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. Ray Szmanda/Living or Deceased. The enemies of advertising are the enemies of freedom.J. I hope John (Menard) reads this article and thinks about it. Presented by Silver Spring. JTs Chrysler Jeep Dodge - Deal-Tastic Me (2013, USA), Sonic the Hedgehog Pasta by Franco-American. Volume One: I also heard that youre a drummer, as well. Most Commercials follow a set pattern. Another significant event to define the 2020s was protestors overtaking the US capital on January 6th, 2021. The dude is sweet. Ray Szmanda Sr. And it was fun working outside. 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. The pandemic ad was characterized by a sense of helping, uncertainty, and togetherness. Took me a half an hour. In 1958, John Menard Jr. began building post-frame buildings to finance his college education. for pricing and availability. In fact, Szmanda is a professional announcer and even an. Shantel Yvonne VanSanten is an American model and actress, born July 25, 1985. RAY: Anytime you have someone that imitates you, does the same thing you do, thats a huge compliment. Posted at 2:18 PM, May 07, 2018. and last updated 2:05 PM, May 07, 2018. READ: Menards Guy Isn't Who--or What--you Think He Is. Nessel said that Menards would have 10 days to respond to the letter, or she would potentially take legal action. Then I did a Sunday morning thing, Masters of Rhythm. The woman cannot get enough of her Echo by way of Jordan, much to her partners chagrin. Their slogan, "Save Big Money!" is legendary. I was on the radio years ago, and it was just great. 13 followers13. Your email address will not be published. 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