The record changer (Jan 1955-Dec 1957)

BEHIND THE COBWEBS CARL KENDZIORA, JR. Label of the Month: This time we have a label name which has been used many times during the history of the phonograph record. This version dates about 1921-2 and was a member of the Cardinal, Clarion, Melva, Phantasie Concert Record, Symphony Concert Record, Cleartone, etc. group. The label is Royal credited to the Royal Record Co. It is purple with all designs and printing in gold. At this time the Syndicate has data on four issues of this label, one in the collection of Perry Armagnac (10105), two examined by Walter C. Allen (10119 & 10123), and one in the writer's collection (10144). Our photo is from Perry's 10105 which couples Dapper Dan (G 749) sung by Fred Troutman and Honolulu Honey (C 748) sung by Frank Dalbert. In our collection we have Phantasie Concert Record 15248 which couples these same two masters as by Stanley Kirby and Thos. F. Jamieson & Allen Turner (vocal duet) respectively. Upon listening to the C 748 side we find it to be a solo and not a duet (in spite of the Phantasie label!). Royal 10119 matches Comrades of the Legion (14088 & 4803-A) as by Royal Military Band with Lights Out (14090 & 4805-B) as by Royal Concert Band. 14.088 appears on Triangle 11288-A as by American Legion Band and 14090 on Cleartone S 1004 as by Cleartone Military Band. The 4800 numbers in the wax of the Royal lead to the same titles on Lyric 4803 and 4805 respectively in Talking Machine World record releases for November 1920. They are listed as by Lyric Military Band. Royal 10123 pairs South Sea Isle (C 723) and My Sunny Tennessee (C 763) as by New York Novelty Orchestra. C 723 is also on Clarion 1111 (Ben Selvin's Novelty Orchestra) and Melva 8011 (Sallee's Novelty Orchestra) while C 763 is also on Clarion 1115 (Selvin's Novelty Orchestra). Royal 10144: The Sheik (788) as by Royal Dance Orchcstra/M Song of India (791) as by Glennon and his Orchestra. 788 appears on Clarion 1123 (Clarion Dance Orchestra); Cleartone P 108 (Cleartone Dance Orchestra) ; Black Swan 2043-A (one of two couplings, Henderson Dance Orchestra) ; BD&M Puritan 11086 (also one of two couplings, Vincent Lopez and His Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra). Any more Royals, anyone? Now we wrap up the story we have been detailing the past two columns. Last time wc traced Plaza (Banner, Regal, Domino, Oriole, Jewel), Cameo (Cameo, Lincoln, Romeo), Pathe (Pathe, Perfect) and Scranton (pressing facilities) into the American Record Corp. in 1929. We also saw how Consolidated Film Industries, Inc. took over American Record Corp. in October 1930 and also formed the Brunswick Record Corp. in December 1931 to take over Brunswick, V ocalion, and Melotone. Thus, after December 1931, we have ARC and BRC (both subsidiaries of Consolidated Film) in control of all these labels with both companies at the same address and under the same president. This shows how Melotone gets connected with the Perfect, Banner, Oriole, Romeo, etc. issues and how Brunswick masters begin to appear on the ARC labels. Now only the unanswered question from last time as to where and how Columbia fits in remains to be covered. Radio-Music Merchant Magazine (formerly Talking Machine World) in Jan. 1932 carries the story which we quote in part: "The voting trustees of Columbia Phonograph Co., Inc., have entered into an agreement to sell to the Grigsby-Grunow Co., all the shares of Columbia Phonograph Co., Inc., deposited with them under a voting trust agreement created in June 1931. This will give practical control of Columbia in North and South America to the GrigsbyGrunow Co., well known Chicago manufacturer of Majestic radio sets and refrigerators. . . ." We mention this only to show Columbia's status at this point as it has no direct connection with ARC, BRC, or Consolidated Film. The next step in this story is a news story in the same magazine in May 1934 which describes the Grigsby-Grunow Co. as being in bankruptcy. There is mention of the possible sale of its assets after May 24th. This may explain the advertisement in the August 1934 issue which begins, "The owners of the Brunswick Record Corporation have acquired the controlling interest in the Columbia Phonograph Co., Inc. . . ." Now we have Columbia with its Columbia and Okeh labels in Consolidated's little family of ARC and BRC! The final chapter in this saga finds the Okeh label being dropped first followed later by Columbia. Then in February 1938 the combine wrote finis to the "dime-store" labels. That month saw the last release, under the ARC branch, of the 25 cent records still active from the long line of labels from Plaza, Cameo, Pathe, et al. which came into Consolidated Film's combine via ARC. Those still being issued as of the last release were Perfect, Melotone, Banner, Oriole and Romeo. The present owner of the rights to these labels, the masters, and whatever files are left, Columbia Records, Inc., is only issuing the two labels which the old Columbia Phonograph Co. was producing when taken into the Consolidated Film group: Columbia and Okeh. Vj ar not certain just when some of the labi e> pired but we can approximate it. Cl.eo Variety label was probably the first 1 g perhaps as early as 1927 (it began in ]'J6] Their Lincoln label probably lasted th ug the formation of ARC but we have rnjlat as to how long (if at all) ARC conJue it. Cameo was issued by ARC for a yl,r e two but just when it was dropped we k>n know. The Plaza labels fared better,** Domino and Jewel being carried on byM for a time and then dropped and Dim being revived with a gold and black tm series for the John Gabel Co. around 9S and 1934. Regal was continued for and then dropped and Pathe was M quickly dropped by ARC early in 193 (about March?). Any data on the (cat times at which these labels ended woi j. b much appreciated. Time now to remind all of you th q still need your data on the small lat the twenties. If you are within 100 J; s miles of New York just invite us ou an we'll do the rest. Otherwise just list \ t by catalog numbers and label what r I you have and we'll ask only for da o those we don't already have listed, !■ (data, queries, facts, theories, etc.) toil 74 South Road, Harrison, New Yo c c/o the Record Changer. 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