Life, 1911-03-02 · page 52 of 52
Life — March 2, 1911 — page 52: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not a political cartoon. It promotes Columbia's Grafonola phonograph by featuring **Lina Cavalieri**, a world-famous Italian dramatic soprano of the era. The ad's appeal relies on celebrity endorsement—Cavalieri's exclusive recordings for Columbia supposedly capture her voice at its "best," with perfect fidelity. The messaging emphasizes the Grafonola as a luxury household item ("the one perfect, complete musical instrument") positioned for upper-class homes. The elegantly dressed woman in the illustration represents refined taste and entertainment. The "double disc records" feature—two different selections per record—is presented as a technical innovation justifying the premium price ($7.50 for deluxe recordings). This reflects early 20th-century consumer culture: using celebrity endorsements and technological superiority claims to market expensive entertainment technology to affluent households.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CAll the Music of all the VYorla is at the command of the owner of a Columbia. Itis the one perfect, complete musi- cal instrument, the one ideal entertainer for all the household, for all the year around. Lina Cavalieri the world-famous dramatic sopran ings exclusively for the Columbia. In her Columbia records the soprano voiceisshow nat its best i very note isclear, true and musical, and, as reproduced. has exactly the Sune tonal and ¢ natic inflection as when rendered originally by the singer in our laboratory. Double Disc Records! Music on both sides! A different selection on each side! And both at only a few cents above the price of one. They may be played on any dise machine, of any make. Prices range from 65 cents for the regular 10-inch series to $7.50 for such magnificent recordings as the splendid sextette from “ Lucia” coupled on the reverse side with the great quartette from ‘* Rigoletto.” Catalog at any Col- umbia dealers or by mail. Columbia Grafonola ** Regent,” $200. Mahoxatay Library tabl ned with a hornless Graphophone ypes of the Grafonola fra Columbia hor Graphophones $17.50 to YOGRAPH CO. Box 270, Tribune Building, N.Y, fs and Leaders ta ; ¢ Tatking-Machine Art. anufacturers of Tall 7 achines in the Wi Toronto, Ont. Dealers we are not actively represented. March 2, 1911 comicbooks.com