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Oriole Records

Record Label: 1924-1927. Orange and black.

Oriole Records (1924-1938)

Oriole (the US label not the UK label which is separate) was a budget label that was sold exclusively in McCrory’s chain of stores. This store was one of the many “five and dime” style stores. Records sold for $25 cents. McCrory’s started in Pennsylvania but went out of business in 2002. Manufactured by Scranton Button Company.

In 1929 American Record Company would take over Oriole. The first Oriole records were black on orange with 1923 displayed. By mid-1924 the 1923 copyright date disappears. The orange label would be replaced in 1927 by a design in gold on black and white. ARC would keep the label colors but shrink the label size.

In 1935, the colors change to gold on maroon but retaining the original design. Oriole Records would be dropped in 1938. The label contained my anonymous and pseudonyms. Indeed, Fletcher Henderson recorded under the pseudonym Sam Hill.

Music Genres: Pop, Country, “Race” records, Blues.

Pre-1941 Label: Orange, Black, and Maroon

Early Label 1924-1927

Record Label: 1924-1927. Orange and black.
Record Label: 1924-1927. Orange and black.

Mid Label: 1927-1935

Record Label: 1927-1935. Gold, black, white color scheme.
Record Label: 1927-1935. Gold, black, white color scheme.

Late Label: 1935-1938

Record Label: 1935-1938 Gold on maroon
Record Label: 1935-1938 Gold on maroon

1941-1945 Label: None

Post-WW2 Label: None

Numbers from start to 1945: 100-8000

Notes: The 8000 series are the race records.

Alabamy Bound: Fletcher Henderson Orch as “Sam Hill & His Orchestra” (take #3, with Louis Armstrong) / Bookers Dixie Jazz Band on Oriole 347. 

Oriole record label with oriole bird above record script. Orange in color. Alabamy bound in center of disc with Sam Hill and his orchestra as the band.

Sources:

-Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978.

-Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943). Mainspring Press, CO.2000.

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Melotone Records

Record Label: 1936-1938: Back to original blue and silver

 

Melotone Records (Nov. 1930-1938)

Melotone was owned by Brunswick Record Corporation and marketed as a budget-brand record. It was discontinued by 1938. Melotone labels were silver on blue, but in 1934 the colors were switched to gold on dark green. By late 1936 or early 1937 the label went back to silver on blue. Melotone would often carry duplicates of music found on other labels. Many of Melotone’s recordings were done under pseudonyms or anonymous. Several important artists recorded under this budget brand: Blind Boy Fuller, Eddie Cantor, Annette Hanshaw, Lead Belly, Gene Autry, Tex Ritter.

Music Genres: Pop, Country, Western, blues, jazz, swing, Cajun, Hawaiian, Mexican.

Pre 1941 Label: A combination of silver on blue or gold on dark green.

The original label was silver on blue. This color scheme was in production between 1930-1936.

Record Label: Early label. Original silver on blue
Record Label: Early label. Original silver on blue. 1930-1934.

Sometime in 1934 they made a switch to a gold and dark green label. This would be in production until 1936.

Record Label: 1934-1936. Gold and dark green.
Record Label: 1934-1936. Gold and dark green.

In the label’s final years they would switch back to the original silver on blue label. Note the “Full Range Recording” at the top.

Record Label: Early label. Original silver on blue
Record Label: 1936-1938. Back to the original blue and silver.

Blind Boy Fuller: I’m Goin’ to Move

1941-1945 Label: None

Post-WW2 Label: None

Numbers from start to 1945: 12000-13457. Prior to 1935 Melotone records started with an M. However, by 1935 some started with a “35” or a “5.” Some numbers for 1936 start with a “6.” Some numbers for 1937 start with a “7.” Some numbers for 1938 start with an “8.”  The early label Melotone’s numbering system would include the date as representative as the last 2 digits (12030 would mean a record was made in 1930).

Notes: None

Sources:
-Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978.

-Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943).Mainspring Press, CO.2000.

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Lesson Plan World History II SOL 11b

Lesson Plan World History II SOL 11b: Worldwide Great Depression

Standard: The student will demonstrate knowledge of political, economic, social, and cultural developments during the Interwar Period

Objective: Cite causes and assess the impact of worldwide depression in the 1930s.

Essential Knowledge

Causes of the Worldwide Great Depression
-German reparations
-Expansion of production capacities and dominance of the United States in the global economy
-High protective tariffs
-Excessive expansion of credit
-Stock Market Crash of 1929

Impact of worldwide depression
-High unemployment in industrial countries
-Bank failures and collapse of credit
-Collapse of prices in world trade
-Nazi Party’s growing importance in Germany; Nazi Party’s blame of European Jews for economic collapse

Activities

Great Depression Data. Note: Data is taken from the Great Depression part of the unit. Students are put into groups and using their data analysis chart (see below) analyze the information:
Interwar Period Curriculum Unit

Great Depression Data Analysis. Note: May need to edit out my chart examples
Great Depression Data Analysis

Great Depression Curriculum Unit:
The Great Depression Curriculum Unit

Videos

America in the 20th Century Great Depression-Blackline Masters and Viewing Guide:
America in the 20th Century Great Depression Instructions

America in the 20th Century Great Depression-Instructions and Teachers Guide:
America in the 20th Century Great Depression Blackine Masters

America in the 20th Century Great Depression Video Link

Americas Hope and Sorrow Great Depression Viewing Guide:
America’s Economy Sorrow and Hope Viewing Guide

Click here to go back to the World History II Lesson Plan Page

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Lesson Plans World History II SOL 11a

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 11a League of Nations

Standard:
The student will demonstrate knowledge of political, economic, social, and cultural developments during the Interwar Period

Objective:
Describing the League of Nations and the mandate system.

Essential Knowledge

League of Nations
-International Cooperative Organization
-Established to prevent future wars
-United States not a member
-Failure of League because it did not have power to enforce its decisions

The mandate system
• During World War I, Great Britain and France agreed to divide large portions of the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East between themselves.
• After the war, the “mandate system” gave Great Britain and France control over the lands that became Iraq, Transjordan, and Palestine (British controlled) and Syria and Lebanon (French controlled).
• The division of the Ottoman Empire through the mandate system planted the seeds for future conflicts in the Middle East.

Activities to support lesson
League of Nations :Documents for students to analyze
League of Nations Document Analysis :Instructions for analysis
League_of_Nations_Cartoon_Analysis_Worksheet :Worksheet to analyze political cartoons
League of Nations Cartoon Analysis :Political Cartoon Analysis
 League of Nations Analysis:Worksheet on League of Nations
InterWar Period Curriculum Unit : Interwar Period Curriculum Unit

Click here to return back to the World History II Lesson Plan Page

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Emerson Records

Emerson Record Label 1923

Emerson Records: 1915-1928

Emerson Records was founded by Victor H. Emerson a former employee of Columbia records. Emerson Records were part of the Emerson Phonograph Company (also founded by Victor Emerson).  The first Emerson discs were 5.5in. and 7in. discs of various New York musicians recorded under the band name “Emerson Symphony Orchestra”. After World War One the business expanded to include 9in. and 10in. records. To market to the immigrants they created a line of 12in. classical records. Emerson then began to contract with musicians such as Eddie Cantor to record exclusively for the label. The rapid expansion after World War One coupled with a newly opened recording studio in Los Angeles over-extended the company.

It would be bought up by the Scranton Button Company in 1924. The company produced buttons made out of shellac so it had the production to also make shellac records out of the same material.

The Scranton Button Company would eventually stop selling Emerson Records and apply the Emerson name only to radios. Late Emerson records are very rare and are identified by an “Electrosonic Emerson” meaning Emerson switched to using microphones to record. This switch occurred as the Scranton Button Company was phasing the line out. By 1928 Emerson was no longer a label and parts of the catalog were sold or leased to other companies.

While the record branch would no longer exist the name Emerson and the factories that produced phonographs would be used to produce household electronics graduating from phonographs to radios to TVs, air-conditioners, and now other small consumer electronics. Indeed, Emerson exists today as Emerson Radio and includes the iconic oversized treble clef as part of its logo.

Music Genres: Classical, Pop, Ethnic, Foreign, Jazz, Urban Blues, and “Race-Records”.

Numbers from label start to 1945: 300-10903 with the 19000 series being ethnic German music and the 12000 series being ethnic Italian music.

Pre-World War II Label: Black, Blue, Red (being the Premier label designed to compete with Columbia’s Red Seal), or Maroon always with a shield.

Emerson Record Label Early
Black, Blue, Red (for Premier), or Maroon always with a shield.

Emerson would have a label change in mid-1923. The label would drop the shield and favor an oversized musical treble clef. Colors would be the same as the early Emerson label.

Emerson Record Label 1923
Record Label: Mid-1923. The New Emerson label. Black or Red or Blue. With an oversized treble clef.

1941-1945 Label: None

Post-World War II Label: None

Notes: None

Sources: 

-Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978.

-Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943). Mainspring Press, CO.2000.

-Emerson Premier Label

-Emerson Records, a History and Discography.

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Lesson Plans World History II SOL11c Rise of the Dictators

Lesson Plans World History II SOL: 11c Rise of the Dictators

Standard WH II:  The student will demonstrate knowledge of political, economic, social, and cultural developments during the Interwar Period by

Objectives:  examining events related to the rise, aggression, and human costs of dictatorial regimes in the Soviet Union, Germany, Italy, and Japan, and

Lesson Plans
Introduction: A Bell-ringer activity
Notes: Students copy-down and discuss teacher generated notes
Activities: Students complete various in class activities to support learning including video analysis, maps, charts, diagrams, graphic organizers, worksheets, text-book questions, group discussion, KWL Charts etc.
Assessment: Informal, Formal, Exit-Questions, Teacher Questioning. Quizzes, Tests, Projects

Essential Knowledge:

U.S.S.R. during the Interwar Period — Joseph Stalin
• Entrenchment of communism
• Stalin’s policies: Five-year plans,
• Great Purge

Germany during the Interwar Period — Adolf Hitler

  • Anti-Semitism
  • Inflation and depression
  • Democratic government weakened
  • Extreme nationalism
  • National Socialism (Nazism)
  • German occupation of nearby countries

Italy during the Interwar Period — Benito Mussolini

  • Rise of fascism
  • Ambition to restore the glory of Rome
  • Invasion of Ethiopia

Japan during the Interwar Period — Hirohito and Hideki Tojo

  • Militarism
  • Industrialization of Japan, leading to drive for raw materials
    • Invasion of Korea, Manchuria, and the rest of China

Activities That Support Lesson Plans

Rise of Adolph Hitler 1 :A reading assignment in 4-parts.
 Rise of Adolph Hitler 2
Rise of Adolph Hitler 3
Rise of Adolph Hitler 4
Stalin Red Terror Biography Questions: Questions to go with the A&E (Biography) Channel’s program on Stalin
Hitler and Stalin-Roots of Evil:  Premium Video Viewing Guide of 24 questions to go with the History Channel’s program on Hitler and Stalin

 Hitler and Stalin Roots of Evil Video:

 

Joseph Stalin Biography The Red Terror: Playlist. Comes in 5 parts.

 

Click here to return to my Virginia SOL Lesson Plan Page

 

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Lesson Plans World History II SOL 10b Treaty of Versailles

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 10b: Treaty of Versailles 

Standard WH II: The student will demonstrate knowledge of the worldwide impact of World War I by

Objectives: explaining the outcomes and global effect of the war and the Treaty of Versailles.

Lesson Plans
Introduction: A Bell-ringer activity
Notes: Students copy-down and discuss teacher generated notes
Activities: Students complete various in class activities to support learning including video analysis, maps, charts, diagrams, graphic organizers, worksheets, text-book questions, group discussion, KWL Charts etc.
Assessment: Informal, Formal, Exit-Questions, Teacher Questioning, Quizzes, Tests, Projects

Essential Knowledge:

Major leaders

  • Woodrow Wilson
  • Kaiser Wilhelm II

Outcomes and global effect

• Colonies’ participation in the war, which increased demands for independence
• End of the Russian Imperial, Ottoman, German, and Austro-Hungarian empires
• Enormous cost of the war in lives, property, and social disruption

Treaty of Versailles

  • Forced Germany to accept responsibility for war and loss of territory and to pay reparation
  • Limited the German military
  • League of Nations

Activities That Support Lesson Plans

 Treaty of Versailles Simulation: Students are divided into groups that represent players at the peace conference. Students role play as diplomats and work out a peace based on their national interests. I normally assign each student to a country. Once in groups students select their roles and then they receive their countries packets which contain character sheets, option sheets, and answer sheets. Once nations have selected their options they go to other countries to try to get support. After the diplomat stage, we discuss and the class votes which option to go with.

Treaty of Versailles Simulation Directions  : Directions, roles, and rules on how to organize the simulation
Treaty of Versailles Teacher Intro Sheet  : Teacher introduction sheet
Treaty of Versailles Character Sheet 1  : Character sheet for the United States
 Treaty of Versailles Character Sheets 2-6: Character sheets for Italy, Germany, France, Austro-Hungary, and Overseas Colonies. While not all these characters were at the conference or stayed until the end, I needed enough teams so all my students can take part.
Treaty of Versailles-Option and Answer Sheet : Countries use the option sheet to select a choice and record their answer on their answer sheet.

Europe Treaty of Versailles Comparison Map :Students compare and analysis a pre-ww1 map of Europe to a post-ww1 map.

Click here to return to the Virginia World History II SOL Page

 

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Conqueror Record Label

Conqueror Record Label: 1938-1942. Black color with shield.

 Conqueror Record Label

Produced from 1926-March 1942 exclusively for Sears at a price of 39 cents. Designed as an expensive label to complement the Silvertone, Supertone, and Challenge labels. Pressed by Regal Record Company from 1926-June 1929 and then pressed American Record Company (ARC) from 1929 onward. When ARC took over the pressing, they dropped all mention of Sears on the record.

The trumpeters were removed in 1934 and replaced by a simplified shield design. When ARC was bought by CBS in 1938, CBS kept the Conqueror label and packaged the label in sets. In the label’s final days (1938-1942) the Conqueror’s shield appeared as black rather than red. Many of Conqueror’s artists used pseudonyms and because Sears was at various times contracting three different record companies to produce music and those record companies often drew from the same catalogs or master records there is considerable duplication of music. However, some records may be alternate takes, and records produced after the 1938 acquisition tended to be artists from the CBS catalogs.

Music Genres: Country, Jazz, Blues, Swing, Pop.

Pre-WW2 Label: Red background with decorative rim and trumpeters.

Record Label: 1929-1934. Note the absence of Sears. May be in red or orange.
Conqueror Record Label: 1929-1934. Note the absence of Sears. It may be in red or orange. This indicates it was made by ARC.

From 1934-1938 the record label has a basic red shield without the trumpeters.

Record Label: 1934-1938. Red color with shield.
Record Label: 1934-1938. Red color with shield. Notice the lack of trumpeters.

1941-1945 Label: After being bought by CBS, the label switched to being all-black.

Conqueror Record Label: 1938-1942. Black color with shield.
Conqueror Record Label: 1938-1942. The black color with shield.

Post-WW2 Label: None.

Numbers from start to 1945:  7000-10000.  Numbers 7254-7277 are race and country artists.

Notes: Famous artists found on this record label include: Big Bill Broonzy, Lucille Bogan (aka: Bessie Jackson), Amos Easton aka Bumble Bee Slim, Lil Johnson, and Memphis Minnie. Other important artists include Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, and Gene Autry.

Listen to Dear Old Western Skies by Gene Autry on a 1934 Conqueror Record.

Listen to My Gage is going up by Memphis Minnie on a Conqueror Record most likely from the early 1930s.

Sources:
http://www.mainspringpress.com/sears-labels.html

Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978.

Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943). Mainspring Press, CO.2000.

The Blues Encyclopedia

Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921-1942

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Challenge Records

Challenge Record Label

 Challenge Records by Sears

The Challenge record label was a budget label for Sears. It was produced from 1926-1930. It was pressed by the Starr Piano Company and would duplicate recordings found on Gennett and Champion records. Most were of anonymous recordings.

The Challenge Label sold for 24 cents and is generally of inferior quality. Starr struggled to produce records and, in its final years, Sears used The Scranton Button Company to press the records using master records from Plaza Music Company.

Music Genres: Waltz, orchestra, race records, blues, country, popular, reprints of Gennett and Champion records.

Pre-WW2 Label: This was the only label design for the record production: 1926-1930. Green and Gold with a Knight in Armor imagery. Note: Wikipedia for some reason has the record below but in black and white which is inaccurate.

Challenge Record Label
Challenge Record Label by Sears: 1926-1930

1939-1945 Label: None by Sears

Post-WW2 Label: None by Sears.

Numbers from start to 1945: 101-810
The Challenge Label has an unknown number of recordings but the series consists of 3 digits.

 101–271, 301–431, 501–506 = Gennett

 532–698, 763–793, 811–999 = Plaza and successor American Record Corporation;

 700–760 and 801–810 = Miscellaneous sources

Note: Many of the country artists were pseudonyms.

Sources:

http://www.mainspringpress.com/sears-labels.html

Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921-1942