Life, 1912-12-19 · page 38 of 40
Life — December 19, 1912 — page 38: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **magazine advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It promotes *The Theatre Magazine* as a Christmas gift subscription. The page features actress **Frances Starr** in a dual role (Dorothy and Becky), likely from a theatrical production, positioned left. On the right is an image from "The Count of Luxembourg," showing a couple waltzing on stairs—presumably promoting theatrical content readers would receive. The advertisement's pitch targets early 20th-century gift-givers: it argues a magazine subscription is superior to typical "useless" Christmas gifts because it arrives **twelve times yearly**, offering sustained entertainment and education about theater and prominent stage stars. The $3.50 subscription ($7.00 value) includes framed portraits of actors. For modern readers: this reflects an era when magazine subscriptions were prestigious gifts, theater was popular entertainment, and theatrical personalities were celebrated like modern celebrities. The "gift that comes 12 times a year" concept—the subscription's recurring value—was the advertiser's main selling point.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Gift that comes 12 times a year Are you going to give the usual ‘“‘useless’’ Christ- mas gift that is laid aside the day after Christmas and soon forgotten ? Or will it be a gift that will be anticipated and wel- comed not only on Christ- mas Day but every month in the year? A subscription to > * THE THEATRE Frances Starr in the dual role of Dorothy and Becky MAGAZINE affords real enjoyment to the recipient. It brings the broadenin, influence of the theatre and the education and entertainment o Playdom for a whole year. Each issue contains a wealth of pictures and entertainment, and an exquisitely colored cover, which is a work of art. Subscriptions will start with the special Christmas number, which will be forwarded with a beautiful card in the name of the viver. In addition will be sent a handsome portfolio, con- aining a set of six wonderfully colored portraits of prom= inent stars—11x 15—ready for framing. $7.00 The price of a yearly subscription to The Theatre is worth $3.50. The price of the pictures is also $3.50. This special for offer gives you $7.00 worth for $3.50. Can you think $3.50 of a better gift to give either to yourself or to your friend ? If you desire, you may order the subscription sent to one name, and the pictures to another—thus making two gifts—each worth $3.50—for the price of one. THE THEATRE MAGAZINE, 10 West 38th Street, New York Bie The waltz on the stairs in “The Count of Luxembourg”’ Tue THeatre Macazixe, 10 W. 38th St., ‘ork Enclosed is $ Tue TueatRe 3} of pictures. Subscription to be sent to Recipient's Name Address rear City State__ Portfolio to be sent to same address?___or Recipient's Name Address___ City Sender's Name Address__ City. comicbooksead