Life — June 20, 1918 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily a **Victor Records advertisement**, not satire or political content. It features portraits of famous opera singers and classical musicians of the era, labeled with names including Caruso, Gluck, Calve, Sousa, and Lauder. The ad emphasizes that Victor Records capture "the living evidence of an artist's greatness" and claims superiority over competitors—only the Victrola phonograph player can properly reproduce these recordings. The accompanying product images show the Victrola XVII model at different price points ($275-$332.50). This is straightforward commercial marketing promoting both recorded music and the phonograph technology needed to play it, capitalizing on early 20th-century fascination with capturing and reproducing live performance.