To hear sound anywhere, anytime and as often as you want was the essence of the wonder of phonograph and the revolution of recorded sound. Ephemeral sound had been captured and phonograph advertising would later declare that recorded voices are immortal. Victor used the phrase “Victor Supremacy” for decades and it was primarily meant to convey the supremacy of its technology and its recording artists. But it also was a claim of Triumph over the ephemeral - Supremacy over mortality - Preservation of culture for Posterity - “Art perpetuated for all time.”
The following ads are just a few of the examples of where the phonograph could be heard. Through the decades the reality of the "anywhere, anytime and as often as you want" continued to grow in scope and magnitude with recorded sounds now even going beyond planet Earth.
Hear it "right on your porch among the cooling breezes..." - Munsey's Magazine, 1904
Music in Camp, Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly, 1902
Have one at your summer home for pleasant evenings, Country Life in America, 1905
"No matter where you go, you can transport a veritable theatre with you." The Metropolitan Magazine, 1906
"Ideal for the Garden -- Houseboat -- or Yacht".
The Graphic Summer Number, 1907
May 30, 1908 River Parade with Gramophone in middle boat
The Edison Phonograph Monthly, September 1907
The Phonogram, December 1900
The Edison Phonograph Monthly,
September 1907
"Home, Clubhouse, Yacht, Camp..." The Talking Machine World, July 1908
"At home or in our summer retreat" Summer Time is Victor Time, The Talking Machine World, July 1910
"Find a shaded spot and listen with comfort..." The Talking Machine World, July 1915
Columbia Grafonola - "Portable, compact, easy to stow anywhere in the car." The Automobile, June 1916
Portable Grafonolas for Vacationists. The Talking Machine World, July 1918
The Talking Machine World, August 1923
The Phonograph an Adjunct to Travel
It is said that one of the western railroad lines, running from Chicago to the coast, has added a Phonographic equipment to its library and observation coach. Records of the best orchestral and operatic music now regale the passengers who care to listen, and while speeding across the prairie at a mile-a-minute clip, one can hear the greatest operatic stars in the world singing their favorite numbers. Two performances are to be given daily, at stated hours, the matinees consisting of lighter music, the evening program of operatic selections. Travel in these days of enterprise is becoming a delight instead of a nightmare. - The New Phonogram, February 1910
Take a Victrola with you... 1913
Columbia Graphophone at the campfire, Country Life in America, 1915 (PM-2009A)
"Music for camp and cottage"
- Domestic Talking Machine, The Talking Machine
World July 1917
The Columbia Grafonola "Music Wherever You Go" - The Ladies' Home Journal, 1920
"Take Music Wherever You Go" The Ladies' Home Journal, 1919
RPPC May 9, 1919
The Columbia Grafonola "Vacation Model" - The Delineator, 1920
Roof of an apartment building with Victor Talking Machine and records, ca. 1919
"Living on Skyscraper," ca. 1919 Library of Congress - Photo by Bain News Service, N.Y.C.
The Portola - Perfect for Outings,
The
Talking Machine World,
August 1920
"Good Music, Anywhere, Anytime!" The Saturday Evening Post, 1923
Brilliantone Needles for The Ideal Vacation, The Talking Machine World, June 1923
The Sonora Portable - "a piece of luggage that round the world travelers will covet."
The Talking Machine World, April 15, 1927
"You must have a Portable
for your holidays this year" - Punch, 1929
Listening to music in Russia, circa 1935
"Take music with you on Your Vacation," RCA Victor, 1939
1962 Phillips Auto-Mignon MK60 45 RPM Record Player designed for cars (radiomuseum.org)
Best Buy 2020 POS Display for Sony Portable Speakers - Bring them anywhere!
For more advertisements of portable phonographs see PhonoAds - Portable Phonographs
Phonographia