Life, 1924-04-03 · page 39 of 60
Life — April 3, 1924 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **product advertisement**, not a political cartoon. It promotes Eastman Kodak's new home motion-picture camera system (circa 1920s). The image shows children playing outdoors while adults operate the camera—illustrating the advertised ease of use. The famous slogan "You Press the Button; We do the rest" (Kodak's existing tagline) is adapted here for film: users simply operate the camera, and Kodak handles developing and printing. The advertisement emphasizes **democratization of filmmaking**: amateur users can now capture home movies as easily as still photography, with the option to rent commercial films (including Charlie Chaplin movies) through Kodascope Libraries for home projection. The $335 price point and claim of low operating costs position this as an accessible luxury for middle-class households. This represents early consumer culture marketing—selling not just a product but lifestyle convenience and family memory-making.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“You Press the Button; We do the rest” Ciné-Kodak for Motion Pictures Press the button and the tiny motor in your Ciné+Kodak cranks the camera steadily and evenly. that’s all. your favorite sport, of people and things that fit your fancy are as easy with the Ciné-Kodak as snap-shots now are with a Brownie. Then, after Eastman experts have “done the rest,” and your films are ready to run, turn the switch on your Kodascope and the 30x 40 inch pictures are projected in motion in your own home. Nor are you confined to personal pictures. Through Kodascope Libraries, Inc., Charlie You hold and point the camera— Motion pictures of the children, of crucial moments in Chaplin comedies, dramas, educational reels and animated cartoons may be secured at a modest rental. Price of complete outfit, including Ciné- Kodak with either motor drive or crank and tripod, Kodascope, Screen, etc., $335. The operating expense is less than 20 per cent of the operating expense of an outfit using stand- ard width film. Many Kodak dealers now have the Ciné-Kodak in stock. Descriptive booklet at any dealer's or from us Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., ti Kodak city comicbooks.com