Officials who wrote some of the L.A. area's old laws appear to have acted for no greater purpose than a good belly laugh. But there are real reasons for some of these laws. For instance, those regarding horses were largely passed to favor and protect the horse in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when horses were still the primary mode of transportation. An old ordinance won't allow acrobats to perform on any city sidewalk in L.A. because the city fathers decreed acrobatics might frighten some of the local horses. Clothing laws, by and large, originated around the same time period.
Doctors practicing in Long Beach, for example, seem to have a special social responsibility.
A physician is required to inspect each female at the dance. The doctor must ascertain that the woman is, in fact, complying with this archaic law. Any laws having to do with Sunday were usually written and passed as the need arose with the intent of keeping the Sabbath holy. The church has enormous influence on laws pertaining to gambling, curfews for young women, women drinking alcoholic beverages, flirting, and even eating ice cream. In Bonsall, no one is allowed to read the Sunday paper while sitting in a rocking chair on their front porch while church services are in session.