Actor. Considered one of the greatest drag performers in the history of American Theatre. Born William J. Dalton in Newton, Massachusetts, he was sent by his mother to live with her sister in Boston in 1899. At this time he had taken the stage name Julian Eltinge. His first show was "Mr. Wix of Wickham", a British musical comedy. It opened September 19, 1904 at the Bijou Theater in New York City with new songs written by Jerome Kern at age 19, his first in any show. The plot became the basic format for most of his musical comedies and films, where a young man disguises himself as a woman to effect change in his, or someone else's life. He then moved into vaudeville, appearing in New York (1905 to 1906) followed by a tour of Europe including a Command Performance at Windsor Castle for King Edward VII. By 1910 he had a salary that rivaled any other performer and great fame. His act required forty-five minutes for the makeup alone, and a large number of quick changes. In 1911 the Eltinge Theatre (later named the Empire and still standing) was built in his honor. He performed dual roles in several silent films but his career had begun to wane. His last film appearance was as himself in a cameo role in "If I Had My Way", a Bing Crosby film from 1940. While performing at Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe in 1941 he was taken ill, went home and died in his apartment 10 days later. His funeral in New York was attended by over 300 people.
Actor. Considered one of the greatest drag performers in the history of American Theatre. Born William J. Dalton in Newton, Massachusetts, he was sent by his mother to live with her sister in Boston in 1899. At this time he had taken the stage name Julian Eltinge. His first show was "Mr. Wix of Wickham", a British musical comedy. It opened September 19, 1904 at the Bijou Theater in New York City with new songs written by Jerome Kern at age 19, his first in any show. The plot became the basic format for most of his musical comedies and films, where a young man disguises himself as a woman to effect change in his, or someone else's life. He then moved into vaudeville, appearing in New York (1905 to 1906) followed by a tour of Europe including a Command Performance at Windsor Castle for King Edward VII. By 1910 he had a salary that rivaled any other performer and great fame. His act required forty-five minutes for the makeup alone, and a large number of quick changes. In 1911 the Eltinge Theatre (later named the Empire and still standing) was built in his honor. He performed dual roles in several silent films but his career had begun to wane. His last film appearance was as himself in a cameo role in "If I Had My Way", a Bing Crosby film from 1940. While performing at Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe in 1941 he was taken ill, went home and died in his apartment 10 days later. His funeral in New York was attended by over 300 people.
Bio by: Vincent Astor
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