Woman in Los Angeles, California
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What it is:
Cabinet card measuring 4.25 x 6.5 inches.
What I know about it:
Photographer is Dewey of Los Angeles, California. Otherwise undated and unidentified.
Comments:
When I think of old Los Angeles, I think of a scrappy young film industry scrambling to create movies amid the orange groves and sunny beaches. I don’t think of people dressed like this, unless they’re on a set in costume. In fact, I don’t even think of Los Angeles as really existing when this photo would have been taken. But it was incorporated in 1850, and by the 1890s it had a population of over 50,000, a far cry from the 3.8 million people today, but still notable. I doubt this woman would have conceived of the explosive growth her town would soon be experiencing. But here she is, evidence that a Los Angeles of some vibrancy existed then. Another one of my preconceived notions has been successfully challenged, which is generally a good thing.
Pics of Then 
This is amazing. Los Angeles Town, i’d say. When there still could be a Main Street… Different times indeed.
Thanks, Alessandro, I’m glad you see what I mean. It just seems weird to think of Los Angeles as a quaint frontier town.
She looks like a fun person to hang around with, like she might burst into laughter at any moment.
Yes, she does.