The Play Typer Guy

#30 The Beautiful Life Of Julian Eltinge With Author Andrew Erdman

Stephen Robinson Episode 30

Friend of the podcast Dr. Andrew Erdman joins us to discuss Beautiful: The Story of Julian Eltinge, America's Greatest Female Impersonator. His book is a compelling read about a major figure on stage and screen who was sadly forgotten although his legacy endures today. I enjoyed chatting with Andy about Eltinge’s career and this fascinating period in pop culture history. 

“Beautiful” is out on May 17. You can order it here (https://www.magersandquinn.com/product/BEAUTIFUL/26331176) and of course on Amazon.

In this episode, you will hear:

  • How Andrew chose Julian Eltinge to write about in this book
  • A brief history of female impersonation/drag in America
  • The lead in to Vaudeville and Variety shows
  • Sexual/gender coding in male roles and how they have been viewed throughout the years
  • How the waning popularity of Vaudeville drove Eltinge’s career
  • And more!


Guest Info:

Historian and psychotherapist Andrew L. Erdman revels in uncovering misunderstood aspects of cultural history and how they relate to misunderstood parts of ourselves. Thanks to a grandfather who remembered the glory days of Dreamland and Luna Park, Andrew often visited Coney Island, the spiritual home of American cheap amusements.

A doctoral program in theatre studies led him to a deepened interest in the history of popular culture. He stumbled across the remarkable female impersonator Julian Eltinge while researching his prior book about vaudeville’s Eva Tanguay, a hugely popular, irreverent comedienne who prefigured Bette Midler and Madonna despite being virtually unable to sing, dance, or act.

His books including Beautiful: The Story of Julian Eltinge, America’s Greatest Female Impersonator, and Queen of Vaudeville: The Story of Eva Tanguay connect the broad sweep of history to our very real, inner lives. 

A theatre kid who aspired to be a rockstar, Erdman grew up to write for scholarly journals, magazines, television shows, and the stage. He also got trained in social work and psychoanalysis.

​Andrew would like to express his deep gratitude to Sigmund Freud, Theodore Dreiser, Carol Burnett, and the coterie of theatre nerds at his all-boys sports camp who sometimes played girls' and women’s parts, always to the roaring approval of many a fellow in the audience.


Links:

https://www.andrewerdman.com/

Connect with Stephen:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SER1897
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ThePlayTyperGuy
Email: ser1840@gmail.com


Join the Player Typer Guy Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/stephenrobinson