Photograph of "Laughing Bill" Nickols (1862-1940)
American; c. 1930
Photographer Edward E. Cochems (1874-1935)
Gift of Mr. Charles D. Swanner
37104
William S. Nickols was nicknamed "Laughing Bill" because of his high hysterical and very contagious laugh, as proven by the men's faces in this photograph. A Santa Ana resident, Nickols was given free passes to the theatres in town and regardless of how poor a comedy was, if Bill started laughing the audience followed and the show was considered a success. Mr. Nickols came to Santa Ana about 1900 and died in 1940 at the age of seventy-eight.
This photograph was taken by Edward E. Cochems a commercial photographer who lived and worked in Santa Ana. Cochems left a plentitude of documentation of early Santa Ana including churches, hospitals, businesses, natural and residential areas. Residents such as "Laughing Bill" Nickols were regular subjects of his work as well.
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