“Drag Queen” became “Drag” in 2009, when RuPaul became an international celebrity, turning his success as RuPaul Female Impersonator, recording artist, spokesperson, actor, author and talk show host into a reality competition television series, RuPaul’s Drag Race, which he produces, hosts and judges to this day.
[New York, 1915]. Vintage original borderless 12 1/2 x 8 3/4″ (32 x 22 cm.) black-and-white print still photo, trimmed for publication, with tears reinforced with tape, and stickers of an old photo agency on verso. An ink hologram note on back reads “Julian Eltinge Cousin Lucy Cohan Theatre”. Photo shows signs of handling, GOOD.
COUSIN LUCY was a show with music by Jerome Kern. Julian Eltinge was the most famous female impersonator of his time.
“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.
“Hollywood beckoned Eltinge and in 1917 he appeared in his first feature film, The Countess Charming. This led to other films, including 1918’s The Isle of Love with Rudolph Valentino and Virginia Rappe. By the time Eltinge arrived in Hollywood, he was considered one of the highest paid actors on the American stage; but with the arrival of the Great Depression 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 following a show at a New York City nightclub.” (Wikipedia)
The four gifted LGBTQ individuals featured in this month’s blog, Dorothy Arzner, Julian Eltinge, Karyl Norman and Anna Sosenko, made significant contributions in their respective fields during the first half of the 20th Century. It is our pleasure to celebrate their talents and accomplishments.
Hollywood Portrait Photography came into existence at the beginning of the 20th Century, following the relocation of the film industry from the east coast to Hollywood. These fledgling studios needed to create interest in their motion pictures by promoting the actors who stared in them. From 1910 – 1970, there[…]
Vintage original MGM 8 x 10” (20 x 25 cm.) photo, USA. #MGM-3163. One small repair on verso of blank upper right margin, near fine.
Novarro was born in Durango, Mexico. His family moved to Los Angeles in 1913 to flee from the Mexican Revolution. He entered silent films in 1917, first in bit parts. By the mid-1920’s, with the death of Valentino, he was acclaimed as the screen’s leading “Latin lover.” His popularity waned by the mid-1930’s, when MGM did not renew his contract. Novarro was a closeted gay, and he refused Mayer’s request to enter into a sham, so-called “lavender marriage,” which was almost certainly one factor in the effective end of his career.
A posed portrait of Novarro and Terry, who had already made three films together, including SCARAMOUCHE, and were preparing to shoot a fourth one.
Vintage original 10 x 8″ (25 x 20 cm.) black-and-white print still photo, USA. MGM studio printed text on back; a few marginal tears mended on verso, very good.
Novarro was born in Durango, Mexico. His family moved to Los Angeles in 1913 fleeing from the Mexican Revolution. He entered silent films in bit parts in 1917. By the mid-1920s, with the death of Rudolph Valentino, he was acclaimed as the screen’s leading “Latin lover”. His popularity waned by the mid-1930s when MGM did not renew his contract. Novarro was a closeted gay man, and he refused studio head Louis B. Mayer’s request to enter into a sham so-called “lavender marriage”, which was almost certainly one factor in the effective end of his career.
Profile shot of the handsome star coded RN-33. Text refers to Novarro’s upcoming film THE RED LILY, and to his success in getting the highly-coveted lead role of BEN-HUR, which would be released in 1925.