It may have never happened before or since but in January 1949 the Los Angeles basin experienced a snow fall. Here can be seen houses and trees overlooking the Silver Lake Reservoir all blanketed in snow. Silver Lake residence William P. Taube had this photo in his collection and graciously offered me the opportunity to scan it for my Silver Lake archives.

Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

© All Rights Reserved

Villa Capistrano is an elegant Italianate villa originally designed for Julian Eltinge, America's first drag superstar by the renowned architect brothers Francis Pierpont and Walter Swindell Davis, best known as creators of the courtyard apartment. Eltinge established himself as the greatest female impersonator in the history of the American theater. Unlike other gender illusionists of his time, who typically presented themselves as caricatures of femininity, Eltinge presented the illusion of actually being a woman. No one before or since has rivaled his success. His solo debut in New York in 1907, in which he parodied the Gibson Girl was a smash hit and catapulted him to the pinnacle of female impersonators. As Varitety enthused, "The audience was completely deceived as to Eltinge's sex, until he removed his wig... his act is far and away above what is described as female impersonation." Removing his wig to the audience's great amazement became a regular part of his act, always delivered at a high point of the performance for maximum effect.

Notes taken from the book, Silver Lake Chronicles: Exploring an Urban Oasis in Los Angeles. Used the permission. Photo courtesy of the Bill Taube Photo Collection. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

© All Rights Reserved

Villa Capistrano is an elegant Italianate villa originally designed for Julian Eltinge, America's first drag superstar by the renowned architect brothers Francis Pierpont and Walter Swindell Davis, best known as creators of the courtyard apartment. At the time the mansion was built, the property extended all the way down to Silver Lake Reservoir. A fancy pergola with reflecting pool shown here provided a fitting entrance to the villa overlooking Silver Lake Reservoir on the west.

Eltinge established himself as the greatest female impersonator in the history of the American theater. Unlike other gender illusionists of his time, who typically presented themselves as caricatures of femininity, Eltinge presented the illusion of actually being a woman. No one before or since has rivaled his success. His solo debut in New York in 1907, in which he parodied the Gibson Girl was a smash hit and catapulted him to the pinnacle of female impersonators. As Varitety enthused, "The audience was completely deceived as to Eltinge's sex, until he removed his wig... his act is far and away above what is described as female impersonation." Removing his wig to the audience's great amazement became a regular part of his act, always delivered at a high point of the performance for maximum effect.

Notes taken from the book, Silver Lake Chronicles: Exploring an Urban Oasis in Los Angeles. Used the permission. Photo courtesy of the Bill Taube Photo Collection. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

© All Rights Reserved

Villa Capistrano is an elegant Italianate villa originally designed for Julian Eltinge, America's first drag superstar by the renowned architect brothers Francis Pierpont and Walter Swindell Davis, best known as creators of the courtyard apartment. Eltinge established himself as the greatest female impersonator in the history of the American theater. Unlike other gender illusionists of his time, who typically presented themselves as caricatures of femininity, Eltinge presented the illusion of actually being a woman. No one before or since has rivaled his success. His solo debut in New York in 1907, in which he parodied the Gibson Girl was a smash hit and catapulted him to the pinnacle of female impersonators. As Varitety enthused, "The audience was completely deceived as to Eltinge's sex, until he removed his wig... his act is far and away above what is described as female impersonation." Removing his wig to the audience's great amazement became a regular part of his act, always delivered at a high point of the performance for maximum effect.

Notes taken from the book, Silver Lake Chronicles: Exploring an Urban Oasis in Los Angeles. Used the permission. Photo courtesy of the Bill Taube Photo Collection. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

© All Rights Reserved

Villa Capistrano is an elegant Italianate villa originally designed for Julian Eltinge, America's first drag superstar by the renowned architect brothers Francis Pierpont and Walter Swindell Davis, best known as creators of the courtyard apartment. Eltinge established himself as the greatest female impersonator in the history of the American theater. Unlike other gender illusionists of his time, who typically presented themselves as caricatures of femininity, Eltinge presented the illusion of actually being a woman. No one before or since has rivaled his success. His solo debut in New York in 1907, in which he parodied the Gibson Girl was a smash hit and catapulted him to the pinnacle of female impersonators. As Varitety enthused, "The audience was completely deceived as to Eltinge's sex, until he removed his wig... his act is far and away above what is described as female impersonation." Removing his wig to the audience's great amazement became a regular part of his act, always delivered at a high point of the performance for maximum effect.

Notes taken from the book, Silver Lake Chronicles: Exploring an Urban Oasis in Los Angeles. Used the permission. Photo courtesy of the Bill Taube Photo Collection. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.

© All Rights Reserved