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Most of the photos on this site were extracted from reference images (high-resolution tiffs, 20 to 200 megabytes in size) from the Library of Congress research archive. (To query the database click here.) Many were digitized by LOC contractors using a Sinar studio back. They are adjusted by your webmaster for contrast and color in Photoshop before being downsized and turned into the jpegs you see here.
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Max and Annette: 1919
Submitted by Lileks on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 11:45am.
The Library of Congress title says this lady is "trying on a ring in Kohn’s, Minneapolis." One hates to question the LOC, but they mislaid a vowel. That's Max A. Kohen. For decades he ran a jewelry store known for its exuberant public relations and easy-credit promises; the newspapers of the teens and 20s always had a picture of laughing M. A. K., face cleaved by his grin. [View full size.]
The customer? Annette Kellerman, the million-dollar mermaid, proponent of the scandalous one-piece bathing suit, and the first woman to attempt to swim the English Channel. She had a sister in Minneapolis. [Annette's bio | Max's bio]
Max's old store in the Loeb Arcade, and his streamlined store in 1936.
It sold then, too
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 11:14pm.
Following the links on Ms. Kellerman's bio, you can see that her lead role in the movie "A Daughter of the Gods" probably led Max to think her appearance in a photo op might help sell a little jewelry.
A nice house Max had, he did.
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 2:35pm.
Lady Spats
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 2:26pm.
Ms. Kellerman is sporting spats! Never knew that women wore them until now.
Imelda would faint
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 1:36pm.
Such elegance, until you get to the shoes!
Splish Splash
Submitted by Anonymous Arkie on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 11:54am.
Esther Williams starred in a biopic about this young lady; not her greatest effort, but interesting nonetheless.
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Today's Top 5