Five Special Events in Old Los Angeles

1910-1912

By 1910, Los Angeles was a rapidly growing, semi-rural boomtown transitioning from an agricultural community to a major urban center. Its population had tripled over the previous decade, reaching 319,000 and fueling a sense of optimism and possibility. While much of the city’s social life remained concentrated downtown, nearby communities such as Pasadena were already well established as resort destinations. Five banquet menus dating from 1910 to 1912 offer a window into this transitional period, just before automobile culture and the emerging film industry began to reshape the city and its dining culture. 

American Antiquarian Society

An excerpt from a press release on Sept. 9, 2026....

“Worcester, MA (September 9, 2026)— A gift of more than 2,600 early American menus and related ephemera has significantly increased the American Antiquarian Society’s (AAS) menu collection, expanding its ability to preserve culinary and social history in the United States during the nineteenth century. Spanning from 1841 to 1900, the collection includes menus, invitations, seating charts, and trade cards from restaurants and private dining events across the country and world. Henry Voigt, a longtime collector and authority on American menus, donated the collection this spring…”