Framed or unframed, desk size to sofa size, printed by us in Arizona and Alabama since 2007. Explore now.
Shorpy is funded by you. Patreon contributors get an ad-free experience.
Learn more.
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.
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.
Ms. Kellerman is sporting spats! Never knew that women wore them until now.
Such elegance, until you get to the shoes!
Esther Williams starred in a biopic about this young lady; not her greatest effort, but interesting nonetheless.
On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5