The new organic electroluminescent display device has a carrier-transporting layer and/or an organic luminous layer composed of a nematic liquid crystal or a liquid crystal dispersing a carrier-transporting low-molecule therein. When the organic luminous layer is to be bestowed with faculty as a liquid crystal, it is made of a nematic liquid crystal. Both the carrier-transporting layer and the organic luminous layer may be bestowed with faculty as a liquid crystal. Since the liquid crystal is incorporated in the carrier-transporting layer and/or the organic luminous layer, the display device can be driven as a liquid crystal display device in a dark place by charging with a voltage lower than a light emission initiating potential. Of course, it is driven as an electroluminescent display device when it is charged with a voltage higher than the light emission initiating potential. Use of an electroluminescent liquid crystal as a organic luminous layer enables omission of a carrier-transporting layer.