Cameo (3)

U.S. record label (1922 - 1930). Originally produced by the Cameo Record Corporation, and introduced as a 50¢ record of mediocre quality in February, 1922. The earliest releases had plain black labels and used a 200 catalog series. The quality of Cameo releases improved briefly in late 1922, with newly recorded material by popular performers such as Lucille Hegamin, William Robyn and Healy & Cross. These were better pressed and adorned with a distinctive red-and-blue striped label. However, Cameo was not able to compete with larger companies and within a year the quality of records began to deteriorate. Striped labels were replaced with a simpler design in gold on black and white and pressing quality declined markedly. In addition, the company relied on the usual freelance vocalists and studio orchestras under the direction of Bob Haring and Arthur Lange and used pseudonyms to mask its lackluster artist roster. By 1925, Cameo records were selling for 35¢. In October, 1927, Cameo merged with the Pathé Phonograph & Radio Corp. and the catalog series which had begun at 200 ended at 1288 in December 1927. In 1928 new releases used an 8000 catalog series, a 9000 series in 1929, and an 0100 series in 1930. Although the two companies maintained individual identities on the surface, recording operations were consolidated at Pathé's studio and master trading between the two divisions became commonplace. In July, 1929, the Cameo Record Corporation merged with the Regal Record Company, Inc. and the Scranton Button Company to form the American Record Corporation, and Cameo records drew on a common master pool that supplied other ARC dime-store labels. The Cameo label was discontinued by the end of 1930.