Synthetic Plastics Company

Synthetic Plastics Company, commonly abbreviated SPC, was a Newark, New Jersey manufacturer established by Daniel Kasen in the late 1920s. Its original business centered on molded plastic goods, particularly buttons for the garment trade and game components for the toy industry. The company later used its plastics and manufacturing capabilities as a foundation for a broader consumer-products operation. After the Second World War, Daniel Kasen and his brother Louis Kasen moved into recorded entertainment. In 1949 they established Peter Pan Records and operated the label through Synthetic Plastics Company until 1970. Peter Pan became especially associated with children's records, while SPC and its related companies issued inexpensive albums across several labels, including Ambassador, Guest Star, Parade, Prom, Promenade, Pirouette, Power Records, Spin-O-Rama, and Diplomat. Diplomat used the slogan “Fine records need not be expensive” and operated the children's imprint Rocking Horse. The company's recorded output covered children's music, budget albums, comedy, gospel, and sound-alike recordings. In the sound-alike market, SPC released performances by singers whose voices resembled well-known performers, often presenting the release as a tribute to the better-known artist while identifying the actual vocalist less prominently. The practice helped the company compete at low prices, although some releases were criticized by collectors for noisy sound resulting from inferior vinyl or source material. SPC also issued topical comedy, including the 1963 album “My Son, The President,” which satirized President John F. Kennedy and his family. During the 1960s, SPC entered Southern Gospel music through its Scripture label. Ron Page, a former member of the Oak Ridge Quartet, helped solicit performers, and many sessions were recorded in Nashville under the direction of pianist and composer David Reece. Artists associated with the Scripture releases included The Sego Brothers & Naomi, The Rangers Trio, Wendy Bagwell and the Sunliters, and The Goss Brothers. The company's success with children's recordings led it to adopt the name Peter Pan Industries in 1964. Peter Pan and its Power Records subsidiary subsequently became known for licensed audio-story productions using characters and settings associated with properties such as DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Star Trek, and The Six Million Dollar Man. In 1979, Peter Pan Industries entered the video market and developed a substantial health-and-fitness catalog. Its offerings included step workouts, walking exercise, spinning, and Pilates-related programs, as well as videos connected with personalities such as Leslie Sansone, Johnny G, Joanie Greggains, Denise Austin, and Tony Little. Daniel Kasen died in 1981, leaving his shares to his son Donald Kasen. Donald became an equal partner with his cousin Martin Kasen, the son of Louis Kasen. In June 1989, Donald acquired Martin's interest and became the sole owner and president and chief executive officer of Peter Pan Industries. In 2006, he changed the company's name to Inspired Studios, Inc. The New Jersey company later shared a name with a Florida corporation; in 2025, Inspired Studios, Inc. of New Jersey merged with Inspired Studios, Inc. of Florida. As a result, Synthetic Plastics Company is best understood as the predecessor identity of a family-controlled plastics, music, audio, and video business rather than as an active standalone brand.

Synthetic Plastics Company began in the late 1920s in Newark, New Jersey, as a plastics manufacturer founded by Daniel Kasen. Its early products included garment buttons and plastic parts for games and toys. This manufacturing base placed the company in the growing American market for inexpensive molded consumer goods. The Kasen family later diversified into recorded entertainment. Daniel and his brother Louis founded Peter Pan Records in 1949 and ran the label under Synthetic Plastics Company. The business assembled a group of labels aimed at different low-cost and specialty segments, including Ambassador, Guest Star, Parade, Prom, Promenade, Pirouette, Power Records, Spin-O-Rama, and Diplomat. Diplomat also operated Rocking Horse, a children's imprint. The label portfolio allowed SPC to distribute children's material, popular music, comedy, gospel, and tribute-style recordings without relying on a single brand. SPC's children's catalog became its most important area of recognition. Its records were marketed as affordable home entertainment, and the company argued in 1950 that this intended use exempted Peter Pan releases from contributions sought by the American Music Performance Trust Fund. The dispute illustrates the tension between the company's low-price home-record strategy and the music industry's royalty and performance-payment systems. The company was also active in sound-alike albums. Rather than hiring the famous artist named or depicted in a release's marketing, SPC commonly used a vocalist with a similar style or voice. The actual singer could be credited in small type, while the packaging emphasized that the record was a tribute to a better-known performer. Some albums were later reissued under the real vocalist's name if that performer gained recognition. The approach was commercially efficient but produced a catalog with uneven audio quality, as some pressings used inferior vinyl or source recordings. In the 1960s, the company broadened its music activity into Southern Gospel. Ron Page, previously associated with the Oak Ridge Quartet, recruited performers for the Scripture label. Nashville sessions were directed by David Reece, and the label recorded groups including The Sego Brothers & Naomi, The Rangers Trio, Wendy Bagwell and the Sunliters, and The Goss Brothers. SPC also released topical comedy, including the 1963 Clan-label album “My Son, The President,” which focused on John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Caroline Kennedy. In 1964, the corporation changed its name to Peter Pan Industries, reflecting the commercial importance of its children's-record division. Through Peter Pan and Power Records, it became known during the 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s for audio adaptations and story productions based on licensed entertainment properties. The catalog included material connected with DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Star Trek, and The Six Million Dollar Man. Peter Pan Industries entered video in 1979. It developed fitness and wellness programming involving step exercise, walking workouts, spinning, and Pilates-related instruction. The company introduced or distributed programs associated with Leslie Sansone, Johnny G, Joanie Greggains, Denise Austin, and Tony Little, helping it move from children's audio and budget records into specialized home-video programming. Daniel Kasen died in 1981. His shares passed to his son Donald, who then became an equal partner with Martin Kasen, Louis Kasen's son. In June 1989, Donald bought Martin's interest and assumed sole ownership, serving as president and chief executive officer of Peter Pan Industries. In 2006, he renamed the business Inspired Studios, Inc. In 2025, the New Jersey and Florida companies operating under the Inspired Studios name merged. These later corporate changes mark the end of Synthetic Plastics Company as an independent operating identity and place it within the business's longer family-controlled succession.

• 2025

  Inspired Studios companies merge

  [1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Inspired Studios, Inc. of New Jersey merged with the similarly named Florida corporation.

• 2006

  Name changes to Inspired Studios

  [1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The company adopted the name Inspired Studios, Inc.

• 1989

  Donald Kasen becomes sole owner

  [1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Donald Kasen purchased Martin Kasen's shares and became sole owner, president, and chief executive officer.

• 1981

  Donald Kasen inherits his father's shares

  [1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Following Daniel Kasen's death, his shares passed to Donald Kasen, who became a partner with Martin Kasen.

• 1979

  Entry into fitness video

  [1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Peter Pan Industries entered video and built a health-and-fitness programming business.

• 1964

  Corporate name changes to Peter Pan Industries

  [1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The company adopted the Peter Pan Industries name after the success of its children's-record activities.

• 1963

  Release of "My Son, The President"

  [1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  SPC's Clan subsidiary released a topical comedy album centered on President John F. Kennedy and his family.

• 1950

  Royalty contribution dispute

  [1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The American Music Performance Trust Fund challenged SPC over contributions related to Peter Pan recordings.

• 1949

  Peter Pan Records is founded

  [1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Daniel and Louis Kasen founded Peter Pan Records and operated it through Synthetic Plastics Company.

• Formation as a plastics manufacturer

  [1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Daniel Kasen established the Newark company in the late 1920s to manufacture buttons and toy or game components.

A low-cost, mass-market consumer-products company that evolved from plastics manufacturing into children's entertainment, budget recorded music, licensed audio storytelling, and fitness video programming.

• Garment components

  Plastic buttons

  One of SPC's original product lines was molded plastic buttons supplied to the garment industry. These products represented the company's initial manufacturing focus before its later diversification into entertainment.

• Toy components

  Toy and game parts

  SPC manufactured plastic components used in toys and games during its early plastics-manufacturing period. The line complemented its button business and used the same general molded-plastics capabilities.

• Children's audio · 1949

  Peter Pan Records

  Peter Pan Records was the company's principal children's-record identity after its formation in 1949. The catalog emphasized affordable home listening and helped drive the later corporate rebrand to Peter Pan Industries.

• Licensed audio stories

  Power Records

  Power Records became associated with licensed audio-story productions based on popular entertainment properties. Its releases during the Peter Pan Industries era connected recorded narration, music, and franchise storytelling for home audiences.

• Recorded music

  Budget and sound-alike albums

  SPC issued inexpensive albums across multiple labels, including tribute recordings performed by singers who resembled better-known artists. Packaging typically highlighted the referenced star while giving the actual vocalist less prominent billing.

• Home fitness video · 1979

  Fitness video programs

  After entering video in 1979, Peter Pan Industries developed programs covering step workouts, walking exercise, spinning, and Pilates-related training. The catalog included programming associated with several fitness personalities.

• 2025

  Merge the New Jersey and Florida Inspired Studios entitiesM&A

  Background

  Two corporations using the Inspired Studios name operated in New Jersey and Florida.

  Action taken

  Inspired Studios, Inc. of New Jersey merged with Inspired Studios, Inc. of Florida.

  Aftermath

  The merger consolidated the later corporate entities associated with the business's post-SPC history.

  Source

• 2006

  Rename the company Inspired StudiosStrategy

  Background

  The company's activities had moved well beyond its original plastics identity and the Peter Pan corporate name.

  Action taken

  Donald Kasen changed the corporate name to Inspired Studios, Inc.

  Aftermath

  The Synthetic Plastics Company and Peter Pan Industries identities became historical predecessor names.

  Source

• 1989

  Consolidate family ownershipOther

  Background

  Donald Kasen and Martin Kasen had held the business as equal partners following Daniel Kasen's death.

  Action taken

  Donald Kasen acquired Martin Kasen's shares and assumed sole ownership and executive control.

  Aftermath

  Donald Kasen remained the controlling owner and led the company through its later name change to Inspired Studios.

  Source

• 1979

  Enter the home-video marketProduct launch

  Background

  The company sought to extend its home-entertainment business beyond records and audio storytelling.

  Action taken

  Peter Pan Industries began producing and distributing video programming, particularly in health and fitness.

  Aftermath

  The company became a notable fitness-video producer, with programs covering walking, step exercise, spinning, and Pilates-related workouts.

  Source

• 1964

  Adopt the Peter Pan Industries nameStrategy

  Background

  The Peter Pan children's-record business had become a prominent part of the company's operations.

  Action taken

  Synthetic Plastics Company changed its corporate name to Peter Pan Industries.

  Aftermath

  The renamed company continued expanding through children's audio, licensed story records, and later video.

  Source

• 2025

  Inspired Studios entities merge[1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Inspired Studios, Inc. of New Jersey merged with Inspired Studios, Inc. of Florida.

• 2006

  Peter Pan Industries changes its name to Inspired Studios[1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Donald Kasen changed the company's corporate name to Inspired Studios, Inc., marking a later stage in the business's evolution beyond its original plastics and Peter Pan identities.

• 1989

  Donald Kasen becomes sole owner of Peter Pan Industries[1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Donald Kasen acquired the shares held by his cousin and business partner Martin Kasen, becoming the company's sole owner as well as its president and chief executive officer.

• 1979

  Peter Pan Industries enters the video business[1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Peter Pan Industries expanded from recorded music into video, developing a significant catalog of health and fitness programming.

• 1964

  Synthetic Plastics Company adopts the Peter Pan Industries name[1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company changed its name to Peter Pan Industries after building a successful children's-record business around Peter Pan Records.

• 1950

  American Music Performance Trust Fund challenges SPC over royalty contributions[1]Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The American Music Performance Trust Fund challenged Synthetic Plastics Company over alleged nonpayment of royalty-related contributions. A company spokesman argued that Peter Pan records were intended solely for home use and therefore should not be subject to the fund's contributions.

1. 1Synthetic Plastics Companyen.wikipedia.org