1962 was a magical year in Los Angeles – the city was buzzing with optimism, Hollywood was at its glamorous peak, and women were starting to dream bigger dreams, even if they didn't quite know it yet. These 60 photographs capture LA ladies from every walk of life: movie stars pressing their hands into cement, church women gathering for prayer, a pioneering dental student juggling motherhood and medical school, and regular gals lining up to see the Beatles. From Beverly Hills to the Valley, from Hollywood Boulevard to quiet suburban neighborhoods, these images show women living their lives in a city that felt like the center of the universe. It was the last moment before everything changed forever, and these women were living it to the fullest.
#11 Eleanor Roosevelt In Los Angeles, California
6points
#12 Sophia Loren Pressing Her Hands Into Wet Cement At Hollywood Walk Of Fame, Hollywood
Report
6points
#13 Mrs. Fujimura, Wife Of The Pastor Of West L.A. Buddhist Church, Conducts Tea Ceremony
Report
6points
#14 Ruth Handler, Executive Of Mattel Toy Company, Posing With Collection Of Barbie Dolls
Report
6points
#15 Reseda's Honorary Mayor Introduces Carnival 'Queens'
5points
These images capture that sense that anything was possible in the City of Angels. Some of these women were already breaking barriers, like that determined dental student and the tiger trainer at Jungleland, while others were embracing the glamour and traditions of the time. What's beautiful about these photographs is how they capture women from every corner of LA society, all living their own version of the California dream.