Life, 1912-05-30 · page 3 of 44
Life — May 30, 1912 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily a **Columbia Phonograph Company advertisement** for their "Princess" model Grafonola (an early phonograph/record player), priced at $75. The large decorative illustration shows a densely packed crowd of figures in what appears to be a concert hall or musical gathering—a common artistic convention of the era to suggest cultural sophistication and mass appeal. The advertisement emphasizes the machine's quality by referencing famous opera singers and classical musicians whose recordings are available, including names like Caruso, Galli-Curci, and others. This marketing approach associated the product with high-culture prestige. The ornate art style and lavish imagery are typical of 1920s luxury goods advertising, designed to appeal to middle-class aspirations for refinement and entertainment in the home.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sy DTI UUOU Wee ne ue This new Grafonola “Princess” (price $75) isa beautiful mahogany table, ready at all times to serve all the purposes of such a table, worthy of its place in any part of any room in the house, yet like- wise ready to provide music of any class you happen to desire, and capable of all the quality of tone of any instrument by which you may happen to judge it. This instrument is the first to embody the fone shutters, an exclusive Columbia feature, replacing the ordinary hinged doors. not miss the opportunity of hearing this most versatile of all musical instruments render ‘lections by Emmy Destinn, Olive Fremstad, lian Nordica, Mary Garden, Alice Nielsen. Maria Gay, Zenatello, Slezak, David Bispham and any of the other great artists whose voices appeal to you. GO TO YOUR NEAREST DEALER or write to the Columbia Phonograph Company, Gen’l Box 270, Tribune Building New York comicbooks.com