Life, 1920-10-28 · page 46 of 46
Life — October 28, 1920 — page 46: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **full-page advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It promotes the Victrola, an early phonograph/record player manufactured by Victor Talking Machine Co. of Camden, New Jersey. The two photographs show the product's appeal: listeners enjoying recorded music at home (left) and at formal events (right), claiming the home experience matches live opera performances. The famous "His Master's Voice" logo—the dog listening to a gramophone—appears in the circular trademark. The pitch emphasizes that Victor Records were made specifically for Victrola machines, creating a complementary product ecosystem. Pricing ranged from $25 to $1,500 (substantial sums in this era), making it aspirational technology for middle to upper-class households seeking cultural refinement without attending live performances. This reflects early 20th-century attitudes about bringing "high culture" into homes via mechanical reproduction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Either at home or at the opera you hear the greatest artists When you hear the greatest artists in your own home on the Victrola, you experience the same thrill of delight that comes when attending their actual performances. You hear the same famous artists just as they are—just as they want you to hear them—when you play their Victor Records on the Victrola. The records made for the instrument. The instrument made for the records. Victrolas $25 to $1500. Victor dealers every- where. New Victor Records demonstrated at all dealers on the Ist of each month. VICTROLA ‘REG. U. 8. PAT. OFF, Victor Talking Machine Co... fectrola” identify ell our products Look under the id! Lock on the label! Camden, New Jersey VICTOR TALKING MACHINE C0. Camden.N. J. comicbooks.con™l