Judge, 1917-12-15 · page 28 of 28
Judge — December 15, 1917 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire**, but a **Victrola phonograph advertisement** from Judge magazine. The page promotes the Victor Talking Machine Company's Victrola as a Christmas gift. It lists famous opera singers and musicians (Caruso, Galli-Curci, etc.) whose recordings could be played on the device, framing it as bringing "the artistic Genius of all the world" into homes. The image shows an idealized Christmas scene with Santa delivering a Victrola, surrounded by presents and a decorated interior with performers visible in the background—visualizing the luxury and entertainment the product promises. The ad emphasizes price range ($10-$400), availability through dealers worldwide, and legal trademark protection. For modern readers: this represents early 20th-century marketing of recorded music technology as aspirational entertainment—a luxury consumer good that democratized access to celebrated artists previously only available through live performance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Will there be a Victrola in your home this Christmas? Will Santa Claus usher into your home on Christmas morning the artistic Genius of all the world—the singers, the instrumentalists, the composers, the comedians who rule as the monarchs of Art and Laughter? Caruso, Alda, Calvé, De Luca, Farrar, Galli-Curci, Gluck, Hempel, Homer, Kreisler, Martinelli, McCormac Schumann-F Scotti, Tetrazz ictor Herbert, Harry Lauder, Sousa—these are names that promise you the and entertainment that the world has to offer. All these illustrious artists—and many more—make records excl The Victrola is the supreme gift- There are Victors and Victrolas in great variety of styles from $10 to $400, and thers gladly demonstrate them and play any music you wish to hear. “Victrola” is the Registered Trade mark of the Victor Talting Machi Company designating the products of this Company only. The use of the word Victrela upon or in the promotion or sale of any other Talking Machine or Phonograph products is misleading and illegal. enjoyed by all the family every day in the year. Victor dealers in every city in the world who will “HIS MASTERS VOICE™ REGUS PAT OFF comicbooks.com