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Lola Montez's striking beauty and at-best tolerable dancing abilities caught
the attention of King Louis I of Bavaria, and hordes of California gold miners.
Born in Ireland (1818-1861) as Marie Dolores Eliza Rosanna Gilbert, Montez had
a scandalous relationship with King Ludwig that contributed to his downfall.
The Countess of Landsfeld (as Montez called herself) fled Europe for
California. Although miners booed Montez when she first performed her "spider
dance," this eccentric woman became the center of Gold Country's social whirl,
and was often seen walking her pet grizzly bear. Although she became famous,
she died in poverty.
photo courtesy of CA State Library
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