1003:
985:
415:
309:
610:
495:
503:
221:
33:
684:
281:. In his early teens, Eltinge dressed in women's clothing and performed in saloons patronized by ranchers and miners. Upon discovering this in 1899, his father beat him and his mother sent him back to Boston, where the 17-year-old worked in dry goods as a salesman while studying dance.
300:. He is reported to have played the role so well that the next year the revue was written around him which led to minor roles elsewhere. But as to how he came to perform as a female a decade later with the Boston Cadets, sources differ. In some versions he was taking
288:
and
Eltinge were childhood friends. They met up again at boarding school in Boston when Eltinge was already making a name for himself on the vaudeville stage. He dared her to apply to one of the music halls, which was the start of her career on stage and in films.
656:
Eltinge was one of many show-business figures to be hit hard by the 1929 stock market crash. By the 1930s, the female impersonations that he had built his career on had begun to lose popularity, as did vaudeville in general. Eltinge resorted to performing in
304:
lessons from a Mrs. Wyman's dance studio when he demonstrated to his teacher a remarkable ability to emulate females. It is said to be Mrs. Wyman who encouraged
William to study the art of female impersonation.
553:
in 1917 and also in 1918. During this time he wrote and produced a vaudeville group called "The Julian
Eltinge Players". With this group he returned to the vaudeville stage appearing at New York City's
203:
and the death of vaudeville, Eltinge's star began to fade. He continued his show in nightclubs but found little success. He died in 1941 at his
Manhattan apartment ten days after a show at a nearby
1076:
277:, to Julia Edna Baker and Michael Joseph Dalton. It is believed that his father was a mining engineer and that early in his life he traveled out west with his father, ending up in
558:
in 1918, where he was paid one of the highest salaries in show business: $ 3,500 a week. The next year he returned again in a new vaudeville review with sets by the
1021:
864:
469:
the next year. The theater is now part of the AMC Empire 25 cineplex having been lifted and moved in its entirety down the block from its original location.
1116:
1111:
668:
nightclub in New York City. He was taken home and died in his apartment ten days later on March 7. His death certificate lists the cause of death as a
1061:
1096:
359:, Eltinge did not present a caricature of women but presented the illusion of actually being a woman. He toured simply as "Eltinge" which left his
1091:
1121:
1071:
961:
390:. The next year, Eltinge made his New York debut at the Alhambra Theater to critical acclaim. From 1908-09, he toured with Cohan and Harris
613:
Eltinge on a voyage to Japan with a woman (vaudeville actress
Laurette Bullivant) he identified to the photographer as his wife, c. 1920.
461:. Eltinge himself never performed in his namesake building. After serving as a legitimate theater for many years, it became a notorious
1066:
88:
1056:
784:
383:
260:
617:
Despite the graceful femininity he exhibited on stage, Eltinge used a supermasculine facade in public to combat the rumours of his
661:. Crackdowns on cross-dressing in public – an attempt to curb homosexual activity – prevented Eltinge from performing in costume.
144:
1032:
1081:
238:
1017:
555:
293:
242:
442:
to give
Eltinge one of the entertainment industry's highest honors, having a theatre named for him. A year to the day that
1086:
196:
292:
Most sources cite his first female role originally having been at the age of ten with the Boston Cadets Review at the
168:
1026:
998:
274:
60:
363:
unknown and his act included singing, dancing and quick costume changes in a variety of female roles, including a
231:
435:-like plot. The show only ran 56 performances in New York, but toured the nation successfully for several years.
140:
591:
in the U.S.). After filming, Eltinge continued touring onstage and did so until 1927. He also made two films,
451:
414:
546:
542:. His role in the film was again a double role with him playing both a male and said male in female garb.
774:
177:
153:
429:, at New York's Liberty Theater. In it, he played Hal Blake who disguises himself as "Mrs. Monte" in a
1106:
1101:
648:
as anybody virile." There is no existing record of a lover of either sex, though stories did abound.
308:
195:. By the time Eltinge arrived in Hollywood, he was considered one of the highest paid actors on the
669:
570:
124:
808:
478:
462:
399:
367:-like role called "The Sampson Girl". At the conclusion of his performances, he would remove his
1012:
967:
957:
780:
563:
431:
285:
188:
989:
689:
587:
578:
326:
200:
183:
128:
697:
623:
447:
158:
148:
112:
1002:
609:
494:
712:
640:
569:
By 1920, Eltinge was very wealthy and was living in one of the most lavish mansions in
465:
house and was shut down during a "public morality" campaign in 1943, before becoming a
458:
330:
278:
192:
1050:
884:
Vaudeville, Old & New: An
Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America, Volume 2
865:"A Theater's Muses, Rescued; Mural Figures Recall Celebrity of a (Well-Painted) Face"
618:
593:
466:
391:
337:
136:
1041:
702:
631:
502:
172:
157:, returning to vaudeville in 1918. His popularity soon earned him the moniker "Mr.
32:
994:
918:
Broadway: An
Encyclopedic Guide to the History, People and Places of Times Square
1033:
Review of
Eltinge film The Countess Charming / Calgary Herald - 03 November 1917
635:
515:
439:
364:
345:
220:
397:
By 1910, Eltinge had reached the height of his fame. Sime
Silverman, Editor of
355:. Unlike many of the female impersonation acts that existed at that time, like
932:
Beautiful: The Story of Julian Eltinge, America's Greatest Female Impersonator
707:
679:
531:
368:
356:
352:
341:
132:
123:
Cadets Revue at the age of ten in feminine garb, Eltinge garnered notice from
116:
371:, revealing his true nature to the surprise of the often unknowing audience.
1037:
971:
851:
Gay L.A.: A History of Sexual Outlaws, Power Politics, and Lipstick Lesbians
665:
658:
627:
drama critic Percy Hammond's using the term "ambisextrous" to describe him.
455:
204:
1029:- A comprehensive website with many images and much detailed information.
301:
1008:
387:
245: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
645:
559:
379:
375:
297:
162:
120:
476:, Eltinge performed in two other comedies that had similar success,
840:"The Ambisextrous Eltinge," Chicago Tribune, 6 December 1910, p. 8
608:
501:
493:
413:
307:
810:
On With the Show!: The First Century of Show Business in America
550:
739:
Profile#70 by Daniel Blum c. 1952 (this second edition c. 1954)
360:
214:
954:
L.A. Unconventional: The Men and Women Who Did L.A. Their Way
538:
in 1915. Eltinge's first real screen success came in 1917 in
882:
Cullen, Frank; Hackman, Florence; McNeilly, Donald (2007).
664:
On February 25, 1941, Eltinge fell ill while performing at
151:
written specifically for his talents starting in 1910 with
776:
The Vaudevillians: A Dictionary of Vaudeville Performers
336:
which opened September 19, 1904 at the Bijou Theatre in
403:, called him "as great a performer as there is today".
952:
Rasmussen, Cecilia (1998). "A Pioneer in Petticoats".
925:
The Oxford Companion to American Theatre, 3rd Edition.
634:
and many others who worked with him believed. Actress
425:
In 1911, Eltinge opened one of his most famous shows,
171:
beckoned Eltinge and in 1917 he appeared in his first
737:
Great Stars of the American Stage; A Pictorial Record
131:in 1904. As his star began to rise, he appeared in
94:
84:
68:
42:
23:
956:. Los Angeles: Los Angeles Times. pp. 94–96.
913:. Cambridge University Press, New York, NY. 1992.
1077:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
1022:New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
934:. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, 2024.
351:During this time, Eltinge began performing in
8:
927:Oxford University Press, New York, NY, 2004.
526:the next year. According to Anthony Slide's
181:. This led to other films, including 1918's
813:. Oxford University Press. pp. 246–247
107:(May 14, 1881 – March 7, 1941), born
1001:
896:Louisville Courier-Journal, March 8, 1941.
31:
20:
261:Learn how and when to remove this message
923:Bordman, Gerald and Thomas L. Hischak.
768:
766:
764:
762:
760:
758:
756:
754:
748:(The Red Letter, April 17, 1920, p.332)
729:
386:, who later presented him with a white
438:The success of this show led producer
378:debut at the Palace Theater. While in
849:Lillian Faderman and Stuart Timmons,
7:
941:. Winford Company, Dallas, TX. 1954.
920:. Facts on File, New York, NY. 1991.
853:, Basic Books: New York, 2006, p. 19
486:(with music by Kern) the next year.
243:adding citations to reliable sources
779:. Arlington House. pp. 46–47.
89:Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
1117:20th-century American male singers
147:. Eltinge appeared in a series of
14:
1112:20th-century American male actors
382:, Eltinge gave a performance for
127:and made his first appearance on
1062:American male silent film actors
986:Works by or about Julian Eltinge
863:Holusha, John (March 24, 2000).
682:
219:
1097:Male actors from Butte, Montana
230:needs additional citations for
1092:American vaudeville performers
911:The Cambridge Guide to Theatre
666:Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe
630:Eltinge may have been gay, as
528:The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville
325:Eltinge's first appearance on
199:; but with the arrival of the
1:
1122:20th-century American singers
1072:Blackface minstrel performers
1018:Photographs of Julian Eltinge
621:. This sexual duality led to
514:In 1914, Eltinge starred in
472:Following on the success of
418:Another publicity photo for
340:. The show was produced by
1138:
1067:American male stage actors
999:Internet Broadway Database
536:How Molly Malone Made Good
454:designed by noted theater
374:In 1906, Eltinge made his
275:Newtonville, Massachusetts
135:and toured Europe and the
98:Actor, female impersonator
61:Newtonville, Massachusetts
16:Actor, female impersonator
1057:American male film actors
886:. Routledge. p. 355.
490:Hollywood and film career
482:which opened in 1914 and
446:opened, Woods opened the
165:and musical comedy star.
119:. After appearing in the
30:
807:Toll, Robert C. (1976).
644:article that he was "as
831:Variety, April 1, 1910.
773:Slide, Anthony (1981).
321:Broadway and vaudeville
1082:Cross-dressing in film
1027:Julian Eltinge Project
614:
511:
499:
422:
344:and included music by
317:
937:Winford, E. Carlton.
652:Later years and death
612:
599:The Fascinating Widow
549:, Eltinge made three
540:The Countess Charming
505:
497:
474:The Fascinating Widow
444:The Fascinating Widow
427:The Fascinating Widow
420:The Fascinating Widow
417:
408:The Fascinating Widow
314:The Fascinating Widow
311:
178:The Countess Charming
154:The Fascinating Widow
109:William Julian Dalton
47:William Julian Dalton
1087:American drag queens
508:Moving Picture World
498:Julian Eltinge, 1925
284:The early film star
273:Eltinge was born in
239:improve this article
909:Banham, Martin ed.
670:cerebral hemorrhage
577:. He appeared with
571:Southern California
534:in a film entitled
141:command performance
117:female impersonator
115:and film actor and
930:Erdman, Andrew L.
869:The New York Times
615:
520:The Crinoline Girl
512:
500:
479:The Crinoline Girl
423:
334:Mr. Wix of Wickham
318:
161:" for the popular
111:, was an American
963:978-1-883792-23-7
581:in the 1920 film
506:Advertisement in
286:Pauline Frederick
271:
270:
263:
189:Rudolph Valentino
102:
101:
79:New York City, US
1129:
1005:
990:Internet Archive
975:
897:
894:
888:
887:
879:
873:
872:
860:
854:
847:
841:
838:
832:
829:
823:
822:
820:
818:
804:
798:
797:
795:
793:
770:
749:
746:
740:
734:
692:
690:Biography portal
687:
686:
685:
588:The Isle of Love
579:Rudolf Valentino
575:Villa Capistrano
530:, he also had a
266:
259:
255:
252:
246:
223:
215:
201:Great Depression
184:The Isle of Love
149:musical comedies
139:, even giving a
75:
56:
54:
37:Eltinge, c. 1908
35:
21:
1137:
1136:
1132:
1131:
1130:
1128:
1127:
1126:
1047:
1046:
982:
964:
951:
948:
946:Further reading
906:
901:
900:
895:
891:
881:
880:
876:
862:
861:
857:
848:
844:
839:
835:
830:
826:
816:
814:
806:
805:
801:
791:
789:
787:
772:
771:
752:
747:
743:
735:
731:
726:
721:
698:Bothwell Browne
688:
683:
681:
678:
654:
624:Chicago Tribune
607:
492:
448:Eltinge Theatre
412:
384:King Edward VII
323:
294:Tremont Theater
267:
256:
250:
247:
236:
224:
213:
159:Lillian Russell
80:
77:
73:
64:
58:
52:
50:
49:
48:
38:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1135:
1133:
1125:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1074:
1069:
1064:
1059:
1049:
1048:
1045:
1044:
1038:Julian Eltinge
1035:
1030:
1024:
1015:
1009:Julian Eltinge
1006:
995:Julian Eltinge
992:
981:
980:External links
978:
977:
976:
962:
947:
944:
943:
942:
935:
928:
921:
914:
905:
902:
899:
898:
889:
874:
855:
842:
833:
824:
799:
785:
750:
741:
728:
727:
725:
722:
720:
717:
716:
715:
713:Andrew Tribble
710:
705:
700:
694:
693:
677:
674:
653:
650:
641:New York Times
606:
603:
583:An Adventuress
556:Palace Theatre
516:silent picture
491:
488:
459:Thomas W. Lamb
450:on New York's
432:Charley's Aunt
411:
405:
348:among others.
331:musical comedy
322:
319:
279:Butte, Montana
269:
268:
227:
225:
218:
212:
209:
197:American stage
193:Virginia Rappe
105:Julian Eltinge
100:
99:
96:
92:
91:
86:
82:
81:
78:
76:(aged 59)
70:
66:
65:
59:
46:
44:
40:
39:
36:
28:
27:
25:Julian Eltinge
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1134:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1063:
1060:
1058:
1055:
1054:
1052:
1043:
1039:
1036:
1034:
1031:
1028:
1025:
1023:
1019:
1016:
1014:
1010:
1007:
1004:
1000:
996:
993:
991:
987:
984:
983:
979:
973:
969:
965:
959:
955:
950:
949:
945:
940:
936:
933:
929:
926:
922:
919:
915:
912:
908:
907:
903:
893:
890:
885:
878:
875:
870:
866:
859:
856:
852:
846:
843:
837:
834:
828:
825:
812:
811:
803:
800:
788:
786:0-87000-492-1
782:
778:
777:
769:
767:
765:
763:
761:
759:
757:
755:
751:
745:
742:
738:
733:
730:
723:
718:
714:
711:
709:
706:
704:
701:
699:
696:
695:
691:
680:
675:
673:
671:
667:
662:
660:
651:
649:
647:
643:
642:
637:
633:
628:
626:
625:
620:
619:homosexuality
611:
605:Personal life
604:
602:
600:
596:
595:
594:Madame Behave
590:
589:
585:(released as
584:
580:
576:
572:
567:
565:
561:
557:
552:
548:
543:
541:
537:
533:
529:
525:
521:
517:
510:, August 1917
509:
504:
496:
489:
487:
485:
481:
480:
475:
470:
468:
464:
460:
457:
453:
449:
445:
441:
436:
434:
433:
428:
421:
416:
409:
406:
404:
402:
401:
395:
393:
389:
385:
381:
377:
372:
370:
366:
362:
358:
354:
349:
347:
343:
339:
338:New York City
335:
332:
328:
320:
315:
310:
306:
303:
299:
295:
290:
287:
282:
280:
276:
265:
262:
254:
251:February 2017
244:
240:
234:
233:
228:This section
226:
222:
217:
216:
210:
208:
206:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
185:
180:
179:
174:
170:
166:
164:
160:
156:
155:
150:
146:
142:
138:
137:United States
134:
130:
126:
122:
118:
114:
110:
106:
97:
95:Occupation(s)
93:
90:
87:
85:Resting place
83:
72:March 7, 1941
71:
67:
62:
45:
41:
34:
29:
22:
19:
1042:Find a Grave
1020:held by the
953:
939:Femme Mimics
938:
931:
924:
917:
916:Bloom, Ken.
910:
904:Bibliography
892:
883:
877:
868:
858:
850:
845:
836:
827:
817:February 12,
815:. Retrieved
809:
802:
792:February 12,
790:. Retrieved
775:
744:
736:
732:
703:Karyl Norman
663:
655:
639:
638:stated in a
632:Milton Berle
629:
622:
616:
598:
592:
586:
582:
574:
568:
545:Settling in
544:
539:
535:
527:
523:
522:followed by
519:
518:versions of
513:
507:
483:
477:
473:
471:
443:
437:
430:
426:
424:
419:
407:
398:
396:
373:
350:
333:
324:
313:
291:
283:
272:
257:
248:
237:Please help
232:verification
229:
182:
176:
173:feature film
167:
152:
143:before King
108:
104:
103:
74:(1941-03-07)
57:May 14, 1881
18:
1107:1941 deaths
1102:1881 births
636:Ruth Gordon
601:, in 1925.
524:Cousin Lucy
484:Cousin Lucy
452:42nd Street
440:A. H. Woods
365:Gibson Girl
346:Jerome Kern
329:was in the
312:Eltinge in
211:Early years
1051:Categories
719:References
708:Bert Savoy
659:nightclubs
532:cameo role
410:and beyond
357:Bert Savoy
353:vaudeville
342:E. E. Rice
145:Edward VII
133:vaudeville
53:1881-05-14
562:designer
547:Hollywood
463:burlesque
456:architect
392:Minstrels
205:nightclub
169:Hollywood
125:producers
972:40701771
676:See also
327:Broadway
302:cakewalk
129:Broadway
997:at the
988:at the
400:Variety
388:bulldog
970:
960:
783:
646:virile
560:French
467:cinema
380:London
376:London
316:(1911)
298:Boston
163:beauty
121:Boston
724:Notes
551:films
187:with
113:stage
1013:IMDb
968:OCLC
958:ISBN
819:2024
794:2024
781:ISBN
597:and
564:Erté
191:and
69:Died
63:, US
43:Born
1040:at
1011:at
369:wig
361:sex
296:in
241:by
1053::
966:.
867:.
753:^
672:.
573:,
566:.
394:.
207:.
175:,
974:.
871:.
821:.
796:.
264:)
258:(
253:)
249:(
235:.
55:)
51:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
