Life, 1915-08-05 · page 44 of 44
Life — August 5, 1915 — page 44: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertisement**, not a political cartoon. It appears in *Life* magazine from August 5, 1915, promoting Columbia Graphophone Company's "Grafonola Leader" record player. The illustration shows a domestic scene: a man and woman enjoying music together outdoors (likely on a porch), with the Grafonola visible. The image reinforces the product's appeal as a leisure and entertainment device for middle-class homes. The ad emphasizes Columbia's competitive advantages: affordable records at 65 cents, a large catalog (4,000+ titles), and the "Leader" model's innovative "individual record ejector" feature—presented as a technological advancement that distinguishes Columbia from competitors. The price ($85) and financing options ("easy terms") target consumers with moderate means. The social context: this represents early 20th-century consumer culture, when phonographs were emerging as domestic status symbols and entertainment staples. The advertisement sells not just a machine, but a lifestyle of refined leisure.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Ask your dealer to play the latest Columbia double-disc records for you. There is a new Columbia record list of all the latest music, in- cluding the newest, popular dance hits, issued the 20th of every month. There are hundreds at 65 cents—the standard Columbia price. The big Columbia record catalog contains more than 4,000 records in every class of music, vocal and instrumental. The Columbia Grafonola ‘Leader’? at $85, as illustrated, is a striking example of Columbia suprema The ‘Leader’? embodies the newest dis- tinctive Columbia feature—the individual record ejector. With ordinary record ri $75. If vou have believed the difference in talking machines was mainly one of appearance—Acar the ‘‘Leader.’’ A beautiful, simple, convenient instrument with superb tone qualities. Other Grafonolas from 7.50 to $500—and on very easy terms if you wish. Columbia Graphophone Company Box H-270 Woolworth Bldg., New York Grafonola Leader, with ws Sorauen ue ey ' 3 Poocrs and Lesdeninthe individual record ; ; : ejector, $85. comicbooks.com