Once one of the highest-paid entertainers in the U.S., Julian Eltinge ended his trailblazing career far from Broadway — in the quiet hills of Alpine.
In the 1910s and 1920s, Eltinge was a name that could fill theaters from coast to coast. Dubbed “the greatest female impersonator in the world,” Eltinge was a stage and screen sensation who charmed audiences with his uncanny portrayals of women, so convincing that many theatergoers reportedly had no idea he was a man until he stepped out of costume.
EARLY DAYS
Born William Julian Dalton on May 14, 1881, in Massachusetts, he was raised in Butte, Montana. From an early age, Eltinge was drawn to acting and female roles, encouraged by his mother. But when his father found out, he beat him severely — a harsh reminder of the strict gender norms of the time. At 17, Eltinge left for Boston, adopted a new name (rhyming with “sing”), and found acclaim on stage.
By 1920, he was one of the highest-paid performers in the country, starring in a string of Broadway hits and later silent films. He had his own cosmetics line, corsets, shoes, and even a beauty magazine: “Julian Eltinge’s Magazine of Beauty Hints and Tips.” A Broadway theater was named in his honor, and women idolized him for his glamour and poise.
Off-stage, Eltinge crafted a hyper-masculine persona — smoking cigars, posing in boxing photos, and getting into staged bar fights. He never married and had no public romantic partners, sparking quiet speculation about his private life. In the 1920s, any hint of homosexuality could ruin a career, and some believe his macho image may have been another performance, according to historians.
“He was a miracle of artistry,” actor Noël Coward once said of Eltinge’s stagecraft. “No one, man or woman, moved with more grace.” Others, like early vaudeville partner Bert Savoy, remarked on Eltinge’s discipline: “He rehearsed every move, every flutter of the hand. It wasn’t an act — it was art.”
FADING STAR
But by the 1930s, Eltinge’s star dimmed. The Great Depression, changing tastes, and increasing legal restrictions on cross-dressing pushed him out of the spotlight. He began performing at small nightclubs, a far cry from his former fame. He sold off many of his possessions — including his elegant home in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, which still stands today.
One of the places Eltinge quietly settled during this time was in Alpine, at 2690 South Grade Road. During the late 1920s, he lived on the rural property east of San Diego under his legal name, William Dalton. According to Alpine Historical Society President Bob Ring, Eltinge’s ranch was managed by Ring’s grandfather, Virgil Ring.
“My grandparents came to Alpine in the early 1920s because my grandmother had tuberculosis,” Bob Ring said. “My grandfather became the ranch foreman for Bill Dalton in the mid-1920s. My dad and aunts also lived on the ranch. They stayed until the property was sold in 1930 due to the Depression. My grandfather said Mr. Dalton was a good man and treated them well.”
Alpine’s climate had earned national recognition around World War I for being one of the most equable in the country, especially suited for people recovering from respiratory illnesses. Many, like the Rings, came for their health and stayed. Remarkably, the Alpine home where Eltinge once lived is also still standing, a quiet reminder of the performer’s final chapter in California, he said.
