In the early 1960s, Shure initiated another eventful program: Shure Family Day, “a day-long program to educate and entertain.” In 1964, more than 1,500 people attended the Family Day, which was held in and around the Evanston plant. In addition to employees and their families, Shure invited city officials and people who lived in the immediate vicinity.
Tours were offered throughout the day, allowing guests to see the entire Company plant and learn how Shure products were designed, built, tested, and shipped around the world. They were welcomed by Mr. Shure in his office. From there, employees and their guests followed a marked route through all the departments, where hosts conducted demonstrations, explained operations, and answered questions. The tour concluded with a bountiful buffet in the cafeteria, where a large ice sculpture of a Shure Unidyne II was on display.
To prepare for the Family Day, nearly every employee pitched in to get the entire plant ready for “inspection.”
In 1968, more than 2,100 people attended Family Day in Evanston, which included performances by the “Jump Jackson Trio plus One,” and Wes Harrison, known as “Mr. Sound Effects.” Mr. Harrison entertained the crowd by re-creating “roaring trains, jet planes, galloping horses, dive bombers, racing automobiles, and other outrageous sounds with only a microphone.” It was, of course, a Shure microphone.
That year Shure Electronics of Arizona had a Family Day, also. Ron Glomski, the Plant Manager, and a committee of 11 spent months planning the event, which was held in March, when Mr. and Mrs. Shure were in Arizona. They not only were on hand to welcome employees and guests but also drove a fire truck that was just one of the many attractions.
