Life, 1916-10-19 · page 4 of 42
Life — October 19, 1916 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising, not satire or political commentary**. It's a Victrola phonograph advertisement from the Victor Talking Machine Co. (Camden, N.J.). The ad features portraits of five famous opera singers and musicians of the era—Caruso, Melba, Gluck, McCormack, Paderewski, and Kreisler—presented as endorsers. The central claim is that these "world's greatest artists" chose the Victrola as superior for reproducing their performances at home. The famous "His Master's Voice" trademark (dog listening to gramophone) appears at bottom center. This is straightforward product promotion leveraging celebrity endorsement, not political satire. The names and images serve to establish the Victrola's prestige and fidelity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Victrola XVI, $200 Other styles of A fal q c Victrola XVI, electric, $250 : the Victor and Victrola M°CORMACK Mahogany or ‘oak $10 to $400 Ovtise The world’s greatest artists true to life! The artists you want to hear in your home are the noted singers and musicians who are the favorites of the music-loving public; who by reason of their exceptional brilliance are uni- versally recognized as the world’s greatest artists. Their performances in your home are all due to the wonderful achievements of one in- strument—the Victrola. The artists themselves have chosen the Victrola as the only instrument capable of bringing their superb art into the home in all its natural beauty. That is why they make Victor Records exclusively. Any Victor dealer will gladly show you the complete line of Victors and Victrolas and play the music you know and like best. Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J., U. S. A. Berliner Gramophone Co., Montreal. Canadian Distriiutors New Victor Records demonstrated at all dealers on the 28th of each month Victrola Important warning. To insure Victor quality, always look ofds can be safely and sa for the famous trademark,"His Mas played ealy with Vicor Now aor ter’s Voice.” It Is on every Victrola Weta Recurde cman be setae and every Victor Record. It is the only played on machines with jeweled or way to identity genuine Victrolas and other reproducing points. Victor Records. PADEREWSKI