Columbia Grafonola

This advertisement from Life magazine (August 3, 1916) promoted the the Columbia Grafonola as "The Stage of the World." This was an important theme for the phonograph because it emphasized what no home entertainment machine had ever done before. In your home, anytime you wanted, the owner of these machines could summon the greatest artists of the world. "Whatever you desire, whatever your mood, whichever great artist you want to hear -- your wish is reality, as soon as expressed."