[78-L] Victor 1616 curtain label Caruso

[Michael Biel]

zimrec at juno.com wrote:
> I recently turned up a copy of Victor 1616, Enrico Caruso doing O Sole Mio coupled with La Donna e Mobile.  Not necessarily unusual except that the label is maroon with gold print.  The label design shows an open stage curtain.  Above the Nipper logo are the letters VE which match the VE in a diamond in the wax.  Other than the fact that original recording is acoustical, what was the significance of using the special label design?  Was this record issued for a special occasion?
>
> Art
This was the label that was ONLY used for the Caruso re-recordings with 
electrical recorded accompaniment.  O Sole Mio was recorded Aug 15, 1932 
on BS 58967-1A, and La Donna e Mobile was recorded Dec 3, 1932 on BS 
71800-1.  Both were conducted by Shilkret. 

The label format was known as Record Label Circle 14-A with RCA Victor 
Company, Inc. Camden, NJ at the bottom which changed to No. 14 with RCA 
Manufacturing Co., Inc. Camden, N.J. U.S.A. starting 4/23/35.   There 
originally was a VE symbol on top center of the label which was removed 
Oct 10, 1935.  The label was discontinued May 7, 1937 and changed to the 
new Red Seal circle #73 with the license notice.  The printing plates 
were destroyed on Oct l, 1942.

Anything else you need to know? 

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com