Eliza Thompson: A Starlet Who Illuminated Victorian Burlesque Eliza Jane Trimble Thompson (1838 – 1908), later known as Lydia Thompson, wasn’t merely a dancer; she was a force of nature—a theatrical innovator who irrevocably altered the landscape of Victorian entertainment and captivated audiences across Europe and America. Born in Hillsboro, Ohio, her early life instilled within her a profound empathy for those struggling with addiction, an influence that would shape her lifelong dedication to temperance advocacy. However, it’s Thompson's dazzling career as a performer—particularly her pion…