Iconic Shure Unidyne® Microphone Added to the Art Institute of Chicago Collection

Niles, IL., February 26, 2018—Shure Incorporated, the world’s leading microphone manufacturer, announced its classic Unidyne I Model 55 microphone has been chosen by the Art Institute of Chicago as part of the museum’s 20th and 21st century architecture and design permanent collection.

“The Model 55 became a fixture in the music and broadcast industry in the 1940s. While certainly humbling, it is no surprise the Unidyne is being recognized by museums for its simplistic beauty and Art Deco design. We’re greatly honored that the Art Institute of Chicago has added this microphone to its collection,” said Michael Pettersen, Corporate Historian at Shure.

After its debut in 1939, the Unidyne Series became a sensation, earning professional and public recognition rarely obtained by any other product. Legacy artists such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, relied upon the Unidyne to bring their artistry to fans worldwide.

The Shure Unidyne I was delivered to the Art Institute of Chicago in December 2017. Founded in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the U.S. The Institute is located in Chicago’s Grant Park, welcoming approximately 1.5 million guests from all over the world, every year. It collects, preserves, and interprets works of art of the highest quality, representing the world’s diverse artistic traditions, for the inspiration and education of the public and in accordance with the highest ethical standards and practices.