Julian Eltinge - Ambisextrous Drag Queen female impersonator of the silent film era!
From the Southern California estate sale of a silent film collector! Very hard to find original silent film movie theater herald for THE WIDOW'S MIGHT.
The Widow's Might is a LOST 1918 American comedy silent film directed by William C. deMille and written by Marion Fairfax. The film stars JULIAN ELTINGE, Florence Vidor, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Mayme Kelso, James Neill and Larry Steers. The film was released on January 28, 1918, by Paramount Pictures.
"Clever Julian Eltinge, the well-known Paramount feminine impersonator, makes a very fascinating widow indeed in his newest production, "The Widows Might." As to his gowns, they are the very most gorgeous and fashionable of that well dressed actors feminine collection. The story begins with Dick Tavish, a young city chap, deciding to move out west and establish himself as a cowpuncher, because he has heard that there is money in cows. It is as a rancher that he meets and learns to appreciate Red, Cob and Pete, three fellow ranchers. And it is one of them, Red, who accompanies Dick to Coronalto, the fashionable resort, when they find they are being robbed of their money by Horace Hammer, a wealthy but unprincipled broker. As it happens, Dick is more than glad to get to Coronalto, for he has learned that pretty Irene Stuart, with whose pictured face he has oddly fallen in love during the long lonely watches at the ranch, is there also, and stopping at the same hotel as Hammer, the man they have come to see. How they succeed in getting back the deed to their land, and how Dick finally marries Irene after numerous excruciatingly humorous adventures, in which a baby figures prominently, is told in a charming manner; and Director William C DeMille has made "The Widows Might" one of the most popular of the clever stars entire repertoire."
Julian Eltinge (May 14, 1881 – March 7, 1941), born William Julian Dalton, was an American stage and film actor and female impersonator. After appearing in the Boston Cadets Revue at the age of ten in feminine garb, Eltinge garnered notice from other producers and made his first appearance on Broadway in 1904. As his star began to rise, he appeared in vaudeville and toured Europe and the United States, even giving a command performance before King Edward VII. Eltinge appeared in a series of musical comedies written specifically for his talents starting in 1910 with The Fascinating Widow, returning to vaudeville in 1918. His popularity soon earned him the moniker "Mr. Lillian Russell" for the popular beauty and musical comedy star.
Despite the graceful femininity he exhibited on stage, Eltinge used a supermasculine facade in public to combat the rumours of his homosexuality. This sexual duality led to Chicago Tribune drama critic Percy Hammond's using the term "ambisextrous" to describe him. Eltinge may have been a gay man, as Milton Berle and many others who worked with him believed. Actress Ruth Gordon stated in a New York Times article that he was "as virile as anybody virile." There is no existing record of a lover of either sex, though stories did abound.
Julian Eltinge as Dick Tavish
Florence Vidor as Irene Stuart
Gustav von Seyffertitz as Horace Hammer
Mayme Kelso as Mrs. Pomeroy
James Neill as Red
Larry Steers as Pete
George Mackenzie as Cob
William Elmer
This movie theater herald was from The Butler Theater in Tonopah, Nevada. When opened up completely it’s 7 x 8.3 inches. Used condition, off center crease mark, torn, etc. Please examine the images closely and ask any questions before purchasing. Shipped flat, solid and secure, inside of an archival quality extra thick 2 mil Crystal Clear resealable protective closure bag sleeve. Inventory# silentfilmcollection.