Life, 1916-01-06 · page 48 of 48
Life — January 6, 1916 — page 48: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not satire. It promotes the Victrola (Victor's phonograph) by featuring **Melba**, the famous Australian opera singer Dame Nellie Melba, one of the world's most celebrated performers of the era. The ad's central claim—"Both are Melba"—equates hearing her Victor recording with experiencing her live performance. A portrait of Melba in profile appears alongside the phonograph record, visually suggesting they're equivalent. The advertisement leverages Melba's international fame (noted as "beloved of three continents") to convince consumers that recorded music faithfully captured a live artist's voice. This was a major selling point in the early phonograph era, when sound quality was still questionable. The copy emphasizes Victor Records' superiority and encourages purchase of machines priced $10–$400. This reflects early 20th-century consumer marketing that used celebrity endorsements to legitimize new recording technology.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
January 6, 1916 Victor Record of “Lo, Here the ; Gentle Lark” _ Melba sung by Melba © Broothorn Both are Melba The Victor Record of Melba’s voice is just as truly Melba as Melba herself. To hear Melba on the Victrola is as thrilling as hearing her on the concert or operatic stage. Both ways you actually hear Melba, with all the wonderful power and brilliancy, the captivating ease of execution, the warmth and beauty of voice, which make the famous diva the beloved of three continents. The proof is in the hearing. Any Victor dealer in any city in the world will gladly play for you any of the thirty Melba records, or Victor Records by any other of the world’s greatest artists. There are Victors and Victrolas in great variety of styles from $10 to $400. Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J., U.S. A. Berliner Gramophone Co., Montreal, Canadian Distributors Always use Victor Machines with Victor Records and Victor Needles the combina There is no other way to get the unequaled Victor tone. Victrola ‘New Victor Records demonstrated at all dealers on the 28th of each month comicbooks.com