American Record Corporation
The American Record Corporation, also known as ARC Records or just ARC, was an American record label. ARC was created from the merger of three New York record companies, the Cameo Record Corporation, the Pathé Phonograph & Radio Corporation and the Plaza Music Company. ARC Records must not be confused with the American Record Company.
History
Beginnings and successes
In July 1929, the renowned company Cameo Record Corporation, Pathé Phonograph & Radio Corporation merged ( the U.S. subsidiary of the French company Pathé ) and Plaza Music Company for the American Record Corporation. In addition, the pressing plant Scranton Button Company of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was acquired, which had previously produced plates for Plaza. First President of his work receiving in August 1929 the Group was Louis G. Sylvester, who was also the founder of the Scranton Button Company. Headquarters of the new company was at 1776 Broadway Manhattan, New York City. In October 1929 took over Herbert Yates, owner of Consolidated Film Company, ARC Records. In the next few years, at the height of the Great Depression, ARC tried to achieve high sales figures, but this often failed through purchases of other record companies as Conqueror Records or Challenge Records.
From 1931 it went up again but for ARC. First big business had bought the big label Brunswick Records and Vocalion Records. With the principle of " 3 records for one dollar" ("3 plates for a dollar " ), the company achieved high sales, sometimes over 6 million records. In response, RCA Victor called her sublabel Bluebird Records in life, the ARC should compete.
The Consolidated Film Company now had a large market share and bought in 1934 still Columbia Records, and OKeh Records as well as their entire catalog.
End
In December 1938, ARC Records of the Consolidated Film Company was sold for $ 700,000 and part of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). Thus, the success story of the American Record Corporation was terminated. Vocalion and Brunswick returned again to Warner Brothers back, then later to Decca Records.
Labels
The following two tables list all the record labels, who belonged to the American Record Corporation. In addition to the label, the most common genres and well-known artists and the period is specified, in which the respective label for ARC was active. The second table contains separate labels that have been introduced for special department store chains. Labels for Sears can be found in the first table.
The following table lists the labels that have been established for certain department store chains. About this company but little is known, so that no detailed information can be made here. In addition, independent label there are listed, re-released the plates from the ARC catalog.