Crown records (1930's label)
Encyclopedia
Crown Records was a New York
based dime store label started in 1930 and survived the depression until 1933. Known as the label offering "Two Hits for Two Bits", they sold for 25 cents.
It's not known who originally started the company, but they were known to have offices and recording studios in the McGraw-Hill building on 42nd Street in New York City. Adrian Schubert was the recording director. From the start, Crown set out to provide well performed versions of the hit songs of the day. For the most part, Crown used publisher's basic 'stock arrangements': they were only mildly interested in hot, jazzy versions of the songs of the day.
Studio assembled groups like Adrian Schubert, Milt Shaw, Jack Albin, Lou Gold, Buddy Blue (Smith Ballew
), The High Steppers, Frank Novak and others recorded for Crown. Ben Pollack
's band also recorded for Crown using the name "Gil Rodin". There were a number of country-styled records recorded by Carson Robison
, Frankie Marvin, as well as Frank & James McGravy. There were a few performing orchestras who recorded for Crown towards the end of their existence, such as Gus Steck's Chanticleer Orchestra.
The most collectable Crown's are probably those made by Pollack (using the name "Gil Rodin"), the 5 records made by legendary Fletcher Henderson
, the couple of records made by Jack Teagarden
, as well as a sizable group of hot sides recorded by Gene Kardos
's orchestra under the name of "Joel Shaw". There was one very rare commercial side recorded by Benny Carter
's band, as well.
Crown issued a handful of "longer playing" 78s, featuring nearly 5 minutes of music at the same 25c price.
Despite Crown Records being recorded at their own studios, pressings were done by Victor. (Victor also started attempting their own 'budget' series of labels. After the demise of the short-lived 1931 Timely Tunes label, Victor started their Bluebird
and Electradisk labels, originally as an 8" record. An early group of 10" Electradisk records (on their 2500 series) look more like Crown masters than Victor masters, leading collectors to speculate that these early Electradisk's were probably recorded at Crown's studios (based on appearance of the record and the typeface of the matrix numbers).
Crown Records seemed to sell fairly well (competing with Hit of the Week
, Columbia
's line of 'cheap' labels (Harmony, Velvet Tone and Clarion), as well as the ARC group of dime store labels (Melotone, Perfect, Romeo, Oriole, etc.). Although Crown records turn up in the east, they are much less commonly found in the midwest and south, leading to the assumption that they did not have a full nationwide network of dealers.
Some selected Crown sides were leased to Broadway
and Homestead
in the US, to the Imperial label, and Edison Bell Winner in the UK, and to Angelus, Lyric Records and Summit in Australia.
Crown also produced a very rare label called "Gem". All known Gem's were exactly the same as the issue on Crown (for example, Joel Shaw's Crown 3414 of "Yeah Man" b/w "Jazz Pie" was also issued on Gem 3414). No one seems to know who the Gem's were sold by, but the few copies that have turned up were in the New York/New Jersey area.
The last known Crown master was recorded on August 8, 1933.
In 1939-40, many Crown sides were issued on Varsity, all from dubbed masters.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
based dime store label started in 1930 and survived the depression until 1933. Known as the label offering "Two Hits for Two Bits", they sold for 25 cents.
Studio assembled groups like Adrian Schubert, Milt Shaw, Jack Albin, Lou Gold, Buddy Blue (Smith Ballew
Smith Ballew
Smith Ballew was an American actor, sophisticated singer, orchestra leader, and finally, a Western singing star....
), The High Steppers, Frank Novak and others recorded for Crown. Ben Pollack
Ben Pollack
Ben Pollack was a drummer and bandleader from the mid 1920s through the swing era. His eye for talent led him to either discover or employ, at one time or another, musicians such as Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Glenn Miller, Jimmy McPartland and Harry James...
's band also recorded for Crown using the name "Gil Rodin". There were a number of country-styled records recorded by Carson Robison
Carson Robison
Carson Jay Robison was an American country music singer and songwriter. Although his impact is generally forgotten today, he played a major role in promoting country music in its early years through numerous recordings and radio appearances. He was also known as Charles Robison and sometimes...
, Frankie Marvin, as well as Frank & James McGravy. There were a few performing orchestras who recorded for Crown towards the end of their existence, such as Gus Steck's Chanticleer Orchestra.
The most collectable Crown's are probably those made by Pollack (using the name "Gil Rodin"), the 5 records made by legendary Fletcher Henderson
Fletcher Henderson
James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson, Jr. was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. His was one of the most prolific black orchestras and his influence was vast...
, the couple of records made by Jack Teagarden
Jack Teagarden
Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden , known as "Big T" and "The Swingin' Gate", was an influential jazz trombonist, bandleader, composer, and vocalist, regarded as the "Father of Jazz Trombone".-Early life:...
, as well as a sizable group of hot sides recorded by Gene Kardos
Gene Kardos
Gene Kardos was leader of an outstanding jazz and dance orchestra starting in 1931 and running through 1938. He first recorded for Victor in 1931-32 and thereafter recorded for ARC's labels through 1938.Among his musicians were Mike Doty and Joel Shaw...
's orchestra under the name of "Joel Shaw". There was one very rare commercial side recorded by Benny Carter
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was a major figure in jazz from the 1930s to the 1990s, and was recognized as such by other jazz musicians who called him King...
's band, as well.
Crown issued a handful of "longer playing" 78s, featuring nearly 5 minutes of music at the same 25c price.
Despite Crown Records being recorded at their own studios, pressings were done by Victor. (Victor also started attempting their own 'budget' series of labels. After the demise of the short-lived 1931 Timely Tunes label, Victor started their Bluebird
Bluebird Records
Bluebird Records is a sub-label of RCA Victor Records originally created in 1932 to counter the American Record Company in the "3 records for a dollar" market. Along with ARC's Perfect Records, Melotone Records and Romeo Records, and the independent US Decca label, Bluebird became one of the best...
and Electradisk labels, originally as an 8" record. An early group of 10" Electradisk records (on their 2500 series) look more like Crown masters than Victor masters, leading collectors to speculate that these early Electradisk's were probably recorded at Crown's studios (based on appearance of the record and the typeface of the matrix numbers).
Crown Records seemed to sell fairly well (competing with Hit of the Week
Hit of the Week Records
Hit of the Week Records was a record label based in the United States of America in the early 1930s. Distinctively, "Hit of the Week"s were made not of shellac as was usual for gramophone record of the era, but of a patented blend of paper and resin called Durium...
, Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
's line of 'cheap' labels (Harmony, Velvet Tone and Clarion), as well as the ARC group of dime store labels (Melotone, Perfect, Romeo, Oriole, etc.). Although Crown records turn up in the east, they are much less commonly found in the midwest and south, leading to the assumption that they did not have a full nationwide network of dealers.
Some selected Crown sides were leased to Broadway
Broadway Records
Broadway Records was a United States-based record label of the 1920s and 1930s.Broadway Records were first manufactured about 1921 by the Bridgeport Die and Machine Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Most of the early issues were from masters recorded by Paramount Records...
and Homestead
Homestead Records (1920s)
Homestead Records was a United States based record label of the 1920s and early 1930s. The first pressings were produced by the Regal Record Company and drew on the same material as Regal, Banner and related labels. Pressings were made by the Scranton Button Company. When Regal became part of the...
in the US, to the Imperial label, and Edison Bell Winner in the UK, and to Angelus, Lyric Records and Summit in Australia.
Crown also produced a very rare label called "Gem". All known Gem's were exactly the same as the issue on Crown (for example, Joel Shaw's Crown 3414 of "Yeah Man" b/w "Jazz Pie" was also issued on Gem 3414). No one seems to know who the Gem's were sold by, but the few copies that have turned up were in the New York/New Jersey area.
The last known Crown master was recorded on August 8, 1933.
In 1939-40, many Crown sides were issued on Varsity, all from dubbed masters.