Life, 1927-04-21 · page 27 of 39
Life — April 21, 1927 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Kodak advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes the Ciné-Kodak, an early home movie camera system for consumers (circa 1920s-30s based on styling and price point of $140). The page shows a family scenario: people watching projected home movies of themselves and loved ones (Fred, Ethel, Dick, Edna) on a screen. The appeal is democratic—ordinary families could now create and project their own films, not just watch professional studio releases. The two illustrations of men with cameras demonstrate the camera's adjustable viewfinder (usable "at waist height or eye level"), marketed as an exclusive feature. **The "point"** is aspirational marketing: home movie-making transforms everyday family moments into entertainment. The ad emphasizes both amateur content ("your movie") and access to professional films via rental libraries, positioning Kodak as bringing Hollywood magic into the home. This reflects early consumer enthusiasm for amateur cinematography as a novelty and domestic entertainment medium.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Make a Movie of it with a Ciné-Kodak You may sight the Ciné- Kodak either at waist height or eye level—an exclusive feature, Ore on your Kodascope projector. Instantly a blank screen flashes up into a sparkling movie. And you and your Ciné-Kodak made that movie. In it are Fred and Ethel and Dick and Edna, the children, of course, and you yourself. It’s your movie and there’s a tingling thrill every time you see it. And to the magic of movies you make yourself is added the pleasure of professional releases rented from a nearby Kodascope Library. There are over 450 pictures to select from—comedies, dramas, animated cartoons for the youngsters and travelogues. Acomplete outfit now—Ciné-Kodak, Kodascope and screen—as low as $140), The thousands of Kodak dealers are now prepared to demonstrate the Ciné-Kodak. If your dealer is not yet ready, write us for Ciné-Kodak booklets. If it isn’t an Eastman, it isn’t a Ciné-Kodak You may sight the Ciné Kodak either at ge level or waist height—an ¢x- clusive feature. Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y., 2% Kodak City comicbooks.com