Fox 6 WBRC John Ratzenberger Segment
Best known for portraying TV’s most famous mailman ever, the philosophical ‘Cliff Clavin’ on iconic Cheers and the only star to appear in every Pixar film, Ratzenberger has touted buying American-made products for some time, emphasizes the need for more manufacturing jobs and is vocal on why we must commit to investing in growing our skilled labor force. The holiday gift boxes put together by the Made in America Store is a great idea and another way to bring attention to this critical issue of putting our country back to work, keeping manufacturing alive and buying domestic made merchandise. By endorsing American-made goods, John and the Made in America Store team are supporting American workers, families and businesses at the most important time of year. As a country, they are at the forefront of making a conscious effort to communicate that all of us should buy American whenever we can. American manufacturing generates $1.8 trillion in GDP; it’s time to stimulate our own economy. John emphasizes, “I, myself, am on the frontline of involvement and recently established the Foundation for America which is dedicated to helping train the next generation of skilled laborers.” For more on Ratzenberger, visit ratzenberger.com and for more on the Made in America boxes, visit madeinamericastore.com. Check out the online article to read the full story...
John Ratzenberger talks Made in America and more on Wake Up
John Ratzenberger talks Made in America and more on Wake Up On WIAT 42 News: You may know him as Cliff Clavin, Hammy the Piggy Bank, or even the Abominable Snowman, but John Ratzenberger doesn’t just love acting, he enjoys helping manufacturers of American made products. Nowadays you can find John on Made in America, a show he produces and hosts. The show focuses on American made products, a topic near and dear to his heart. He has also recently established the Foundation for America which he hopes will help raise money to support school districts and non-profit organizations around the country to teach kids trade. Check out the full...
USA Today: Made in America Gift Boxes
Ask an Expert: Turning a hobby into business Published on USA Today, December 8, 2014, by Steve Strauss. Today’s tip: One of the best advocates out there for American made products and manufacturing is actor John Ratzenberger, who not only of course played Cliff on Cheers, but is the only actor to be in every Pixar film (he’s shooting Toy Story 4 right now.) This year, John has teamed up with the Made in America Store to offer some great holiday gift boxes as a “way to bring attention to this critical issue of putting our country back to work, keeping manufacturing alive and buying domestic made merchandise.” You can support this great cause, and buy some quality made in American-made products, by going here. Steve Strauss, @Steve Strauss on Twitter, is a lawyer specializing in small business and entrepreneurship. E-mail Steve at: [email protected]. His website...
Handyman, ‘Cheers’ and Pixar star John Ratzenberger visits Made in America stores
Interview by Joshua Maloni. View full article online >> John Ratzenberger’s reason for getting into acting was simple. “You didn’t have to pound nails in the middle of August on a rooftop,” he said. “It was indoor work. That’s what attracted me.” Fair enough. But it was those nail-pounding days as a journeyman carpenter in the late 1960s that made Ratzenberger successful at whatever he’s put his hands to, including a starring role as know-it-all mailman Cliff Clavin on “Cheers.” “When I was very, very young, I used to take apart old appliances; always wondered how things worked; and how deep does a telephone pole go into the ground, kind of thing. My curiosity always took me there,” Ratzenberger said in a phone interview Friday. “Luckily, I grew up in a factory town – Bridgeport, Connecticut – and there was a lot of people around me that knew how to do things – knew how to make things and fix things.” Unfortunately, the actor said, “Slowly, you realize that that doesn’t happen anymore. “How many people under 35 years old are handy with a toolbox? Can change their own car tire? Or plant a garden for that matter? I think it might’ve been in the last generation. But that’s what we did. “When we went outside to play, we thought we were playing. But we were actually problem-solving. We were climbing trees, building treehouses, fixing our own bicycles. So, by the time we got to be adults, we were pretty handy. We sort of knew how to use tools. “But we’ve taken that away from our kids 30 years ago when we started cancelling shop classes and home-ec classes. That’s why it’s important to buy things made in America, because the more we manufacture here, the more those skills will stay here.” To that end, Ratzenberger is touting products made locally at the Made in America Store. He will appear at three locations Wednesday, signing men’s, women’s and children’s giftboxes that are bursting with domestically made goods. “Buy a gift for America,” Ratzenberger said. “If you buy it from the Made in America store, these giftboxes, you know, for mom, dad or the kids, whoever it is, you’re helping your neighbors – you’re helping America stay strong, because you’re supporting companies that make things in America.” Ratzenberger said buying products made overseas may save one a couple dollars now, but will ultimately lead to a loss of U.S. jobs, businesses, business locations and tax money. In promoting Ratzenberger’s appearance, Made in America founder Mark Andol said, “My business grew rapidly until we were caught in the crosshairs between the...
Made in America Month
November is Made in America Month! Friday, November 7th, Saturday, November 8th & Sunday, November 9th, we’re asking everyone to go out of their way to support National Small Business Weekend, which is held the first full weekend of every month. Thanks for your...
In the News: Screen star John Ratzenberger stumps for Tripp
This article was written by Donald Eng and published on TheValleyGazette.com on October 21, 2014. Click here to read the full article online. The Phil Tripp Senate campaign brought in a familiar face (and voice) to drum up support for his campaign Monday, with actor John Ratzenberger the guest of honor at a meet-and-greet at Ansonia’s St. Sebastian Club. Ratzenberger is best known for his portrayal of postal worker Cliff Clavin in the long-running show Cheers. He also has voiced numerous characters in Pixar movies Toy Story and Cars, and hosts the Travel Channel show Made in America, a documentary series that takes viewers inside modern factories. During the two-hour event, Ratzenberger shook hands with fans of all ages, speaking to children in his Pixar character voices and spending time speaking to veterans about how humbling it was to portray military men in such movies as A Bridge Too Far and Yanks. Ratzenberger said he supported Tripp because the two shared a common outlook, particularly about the role of industry in the state and national economy. “He’s like Mr. Made in America,” Raztenberger said. “He’s a big supporter of trade schools, and that’s the real strength of America, our manufacturing base.” Tripp’s life experience also was attractive to Ratzenberger. “He’s not like a lot of politicians that have a background in theory. Phil comes from a place that’s real,” Ratzenberger said. “He’s a lietenant colonel that served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It doesn’t get any more real than...