Menards

Menards is a chain of Home Improvement stores across the Midwestern United States and based out of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 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. 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.

Synopsis[]

Most Commercials follow a set pattern. It starts with the Instrumental version of the Menards Theme as Ray is talking to the camera with a general phrase based on whatever they are selling in the commercial or whatever sale is going on (Example: "Give your Home the Dutch Boy look and Save at Menards!"). It then continues to stock footage of the tools being sold while Ray gives a basic description of the tool and lists the price. 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!"). Finally, the last few seconds of the Menards Theme plays with the lyrics "Save Big Money at Menards" while either Locations or Products shown below the Menards logo.

Why It's Cursed[]

The way he comes across in commercials. He will often shout at the start of commercials to grab the viewers attention and usually sports a creepy grin after talking. It is much more obvious with later commercials featuring Ray (especially from the Late 1990s) as he will become more theatric and play up the hamminess of the "Menards Guy" character