In December 1943, S.N. Shure recorded a Companywide announcement onto a 78 RPM record – that disc is kept in our archive. Here is the link to hear his audio**: Mr. Shure Announcement 1943
December 1943 Announcement by S.N. Shure
Our big Christmas party has become a tradition here at Shure Brothers. Since 1936, the employees each year have put on a very fine party in which participation has been restricted entirely to our own organization.
This year it is my privilege to invite you again to the big annual Christmas party on the afternoon of Friday, December 24th. As in previous years, all participants, celebrants, entertainment, and the general good time will be provided exclusively from within our own Company.
The factory will close at twelve o’clock and we will meet at the Terrace Casino of the Morrison Hotel at Clark and Madison Street. This address will be repeated on the bulletin board. Music, provided by Larry Foster’s Orchestra, will be playing when you arrive, and dancing will be in progress until we eat at one o’clock. And by the way, I am told that the food at the Morrison this year is really excellent.
Immediately after lunch, the show will go on. I am told that this year’s entertainment will be the best we have ever put on.
There are several traditions in connection with our Christmas party that I wish to call to your attention. First, it has been traditional that all employees attend. Second, we have no outside guests other than those directly affiliated with the Company in a business capacity. And last, but not least, we have always been proud of the employees’ ability to provide lots of good fun in a wholesome and sober manner. And, of course, we will carry out these traditions this year.
The committee tells me that I am scheduled to appear, as usual, at the end of the program, and I promise to do my part quickly, at the same time conveying the usual important message. The program will move at a rapid tempo, with lots of pep and enthusiasm, but will be over at about four o’clock.
Those who wish to remain for dancing may do so. And any person who must leave early may also do so.
So don’t forget, you are invited to be there for the biggest social event of the year. Thank you.
** Some might wish to eradicate the clicks/pops from the Mr. Shure recording by using editing software. Such a file exists, but I chose the original audio as heard by Shure associates in 1943.
Related information: 100 Years of Extraordinary Sound
Arcana – mysterious or specialized knowledge
The December 1943 announcement is the earliest known recording of Mr. Shure. My thanks to Rick Waller, my colleague for thirty years, for creating the link holding this MP3 file.
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A Walmart TV ad for Christmas 2025 features a vintage Shure mic from the 1930s.
Think you know Shure history? If so, answer these six questions about the mic shown above.
- What is the model number?
- What type of element is inside the mic?
- What is the polar pattern?
- What is the name of the mic?
- Why is this model important?
- What is the technical anachronism in the photo?
Answers are at the end of this Tech Tip. No cheating. Santa is watching.
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While attending high school, your author was a guitar teacher in Rockford Illinois. Below is a newspaper ad dated Christmas 1969. (The misspelling of “Pettersen” as “Petterson” was courtesy of the newspaper.) My guitar, a red Hagstrom One made in Sweden, and a Fender Champ amplifier were received as a Christmas gift from my parents in 1967. Years later, I learned the cost of the guitar and amp equaled three weeks of my Dad’s salary – an enormous sum for a man who installed flooring, countertops, and wall tile for a living. To this day, I remain grateful for his sacrifice.
The guitar and amplifier were the best Christmas presents I have ever received.
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Since 1925, Santa Claus has delivered Shure products to the world.
Answers
- Model 730
- Crystal
- Cardioid
- Uniplex
- First single-element cardioid – introduced before the Model 55 Unidyne
- The mic cable has an XLR connector. The XLR was invented a decade later.
