Fred Archer

In 1929 Myrna Loy was an unknown actress and dancer in Hollywood, attracting attention for her darkly exotic beauty and sophisticated hard edged acting. This photograph, from the lavish Vitaphone early talkie “Show of Shows” features Loy in an orientalist jazz age view by Fred R Archer that predicts her iconic turn in The Mask of Fu Manchu. This is an exceedingly rare and beautiful view of the Hollywood icon.