Life, 1911-12-14 · page 40 of 40
Life — December 14, 1911 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Columbia Phonograph Company advertisement**, not a satirical cartoon. The page shows a theatrical scene featuring numbered cast members in elaborate operatic costumes (appearing to be from a classical opera production). The advertisement's purpose is straightforward: to promote the Columbia Graphophone and Grafonola record players by listing famous opera singers—names like Nordica, Fremstad, Mary Garden, and Caruso (likely among "scores of others")—who recorded *exclusively* for Columbia Records. The emphasis on "exclusively" and the claim that these recordings are "not otherwise obtainable" was the key selling point. The text assures buyers that Columbia records play on any disc machine and are superior in quality ("surface, tone, and durability"). This was a premium product advertisement targeting wealthy consumers interested in classical music during the early phonograph era. There is no satire or political commentary visible here—it's purely commercial messaging.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
G py PAM The eHusiet a yours command: whenever you please our friends suggest, if you own a Columbia Graphophone or Grafonola =the voices of !Nordica, ?Fremstad, $Mary Garden, ‘Alice Nielsen, SZenatello, *Bonci, 7Cavalier sConstantino, *Lipkowska, !Baklanoff, 'tAmato, "McCormack, 'Boninsegna, “Emmy Destin! 'sSSammarco, '¢Anselmi, '7Mardones—and cf David Bispham and scores of others, magnificent recorded, most of them not otherwise obtainable, for they are now singing exclusively for th Colurabia Phonograph Company. All Columbia Records may be played not only on the Columbia Graphophone ¢ Grafonola, but also on any other dise insteument; and every one of them is guarantee better than records of any other make, in surface, in done, and in durability. New catalogs of all the new instruments and records from any Columbia dealer or b mail from this office. | Columbia Phonograph Co., Gen’l 1 Columbia London: Farisfe'd, Ss. W. Box 245, Tribune Building, New Yor! &} Grafonola Toronto: McKinnon Sulldtng “Nonpareil” $150 ect aking Ais ahe While hie He ante comicbooks.com