George Alexander Dobinson (1843-1910) was a true jack of all trades. Born in London, Dobinson immigrated to San Francisco in 1870. He settled in Los Angeles by 1876 and worked as an attorney, notary public, and debt collector. By 1880, he was also in real estate, partnering first with Tom E. Rowan and later with John A. Fairchild, notably on the Bonnie Brae tract. But G.A. Dobinson’s biggest contribution to L.A. was in the theatre. Performing in local stage productions since at least 1878, Dobinson became a drama critic for the Times and opened his own drama school in 1899. That’s when his first wife Emma divorced him (on grounds that he was ignoring her) and moved up to San Francisco with their only child Mary (1878-1949), a lifelong bachelorette. Three years later, Dobinson married his assistant principal Mrs. Florence Amy Young (1864-1953) and the two lived happily ever after. Dobinson Street was named in 1887 next to land Dobinson owned, although its original stretch is now part of Mott Street.
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