Drag may be under fire today by the enforcers of “family values,” but in the early 1900s female impersonators were the mainstay of family entertainment - on the vaudeville stage and the silver screen. Julian Eltinge, largely forgotten today, was hailed as America's greatest female impersonator at that time, entertaining audiences in the United States and Europe with perfect displays of feminine grace and manners.
In a conversation with journalist David Hunt, historian Andrew L. Erdman, author of "Beautiful: The Story of Julian Eltinge, America's Greatest Female Impersonator," shares fascinating insights into Eltinge's unique ability to engage audiences with his charismatic and boundary-pu...