Life, 1927-12-01 · page 65 of 80
Life — December 1, 1927 — page 65: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily **advertising, not satire or cartoon content**. The page promotes Kodak's new Ciné-Kodak home movie camera as a Christmas gift solution. **What it reveals about 1920s culture:** The ad targets middle-class families seeking novel entertainment and "the new dramatic art" of home moviemaking. It emphasizes simplicity—"no need to focus," "no tripod," "no grinding crank"—appealing to amateur users intimidated by professional equipment. The promotional photograph at top shows a family gathered around a projection screen, establishing the social pleasure of viewing homemade films together—a revolutionary domestic activity at the time. **Historical significance:** This represents early consumer technology democratization. Rather than passive cinema attendance, families could now create their own content. The price ($140 for complete outfit) and marketing language ("thousands are choosing") indicate this was becoming accessible to affluent American households in the 1920s-1930s era. The inclusion of war films available for purchase references recent WWI footage, suggesting how newsreel content shaped popular understanding of current events.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Pi \ Now-for Christmas Enjoy the Maevc of the S7/ver Screen Home Movies —A New An. “What Shall I Give for Christmas NEW gift idea!Something different for Christmas The gift unusual, for one who already “has every- thing.” A family gift that carries with it a thousand thrills — that affords more genuine pleasure, more en- joyment to a greater number of people, than anything clse you might give No wonder thousands are choosing a Ciné-Kodak for Christmas. For think of the fun—the sport—the personal satis faction in home movie-making, the new dramatic art! The Miracle of Movies You Make Yourself Think of the movies you've always wanted to make—the children, friends, neighbors, outdoor trips. It’s so casy now anyone can do it with the assurance of professional results Into the marvelous Ciné- Kodak camera weighing only 5 pounds, Eastman Scientists have concentrated every necessity of movie production. Whata triumph in simplicity! No need to focus. No tripod No grinding crank. Everything is there that you need . . . the non-essentials have been done away with. Just sight the camera, cither from waist height or eye level Then press the button. A shutter whirls inside, and the film slides swiftly behind the always-ready lens. Instantly every Ss Weighs but 3 pounds action within the scene be fore you, every changing se quence of light and shadow, is registered for all time on your film After pressing the button, your work is done. No troublesome developing. No bother or fuss. We finish your films at no extra cost, and return them ready to run Then with equal case your films are shown. Switch on your Kodascope projector and instantly the screen becomes alive with action. Crisp and clear you see the pictures you've made. Drama . . . adven- ture... romance . . . in the lives of people you know and children you love parade before your eyes in a swift pattern of light and shadow. “Your own movies!” They are as casy as that to make « « Simplicity itself Ciné - Kodak embodies East- man’s forty years’ experience in devising casy picture-making methods for the amateur. Un biased by the precedents and prejudices of professional cinema camera design, the men who made “still” photography so + Ciné-Kodak? Simplest of All Home Movie Cameras Sight camera from waist or oye level er to that Age-Old Question— Qe casy have now made home movie-making equally sim- ple for you To supplement your pro: gram, Kodak Cincgraphs 100-foot reels of comedy, drama, travel, may be pur chased at $7.50 per reel, a full length feature pictures of famous stars may be rented from any Kodascope Library Official United States War Departement movies of the World War, filmed in action by the Signal Corps, are also ready for you to run. War Cinegraphs—200 feet per reel—$15 each Special authentic war thriller, “America Goes Over’’—-2000 feet—$150. Now casts only $140 Today a complete outfit, Ciné-Kodak, Kodascope Projector and Screen, may be had for $140. Give a Ciné-Kodak for Christmas Thousands of Kodak dealers have it ready toshow you. For additional information, mail coupon below EASTMAN KODAK CO. Please seod me, FREE and withoot ob Depe. LPs, Rochester, N.Y. ing te bow I can easily make wy owe movies Name Address comicbooks.com