Schlitzie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Schlitzie
Born	(1901-09-10)September 10, 1901 The Bronx, New York City, US
Died	September 24, 1971(1971-09-24) (aged 70) Los Angeles, California, US

Schlitzie was a famous American performer who entertained people in circuses and sideshows for many years. He was born around 1901 and passed away in 1971. Schlitzie was also known for his role in the 1932 movie Freaks. He became a well-known figure in popular culture because of his long career with big circuses like Barnum & Bailey.

Biography

Schlitzie's exact birth date, real name, and parents are not fully known. Records show he was likely born on September 10, 1901, in The Bronx, New York. Some people thought he was from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Stories that he was from Yucatán, Mexico, were just part of his show, where he was sometimes called "Maggie, last of the Aztec Children." It is hard to know his true background because he was cared for by many different circuses during his life.

Schlitzie was born with a condition called microcephaly. This meant he had a smaller-than-usual brain and skull. He was also short, about 4 feet (122 cm) tall, and had poor eyesight. He also had a severe intellectual disability, meaning he learned and understood things differently. It was thought that Schlitzie understood things like a three-year-old. He could not fully take care of himself and spoke mostly in single words or simple phrases. However, he could do easy tasks and seemed to understand much of what was said to him. He was quick to react and could copy what others did. People who knew Schlitzie said he was a loving, happy, and friendly person. He loved to dance, sing, and be the center of attention. He would perform for anyone who would stop and talk with him.

Career

In sideshows, people with microcephaly were often called "pinheads" or "missing links." Schlitzie was given names like "The Last of the Aztecs," "The Monkey Girl," and "What Is It?" Sometimes, he performed with another person who also had microcephaly.

Schlitzie often wore a long, loose dress called a muumuu. This was done to make his unusual appearance seem even more mysterious. People who knew him sometimes used male words and sometimes female words to describe him.

Schlitzie was very successful in the sideshow world. In the 1920s and 1930s, he worked for many famous circuses. These included Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Clyde Beatty Circus, and Tom Mix Circus. In 1928, Schlitzie appeared in his first movie, The Sideshow. This film was about a circus and featured many real sideshow performers.

Schlitzie in 1938, known as The Last of the Aztecs

Freaks and later work

Schlitzie got his most famous acting role in Tod Browning's 1932 horror film Freaks. Like The Sideshow, this movie was set at a carnival. It also featured many real sideshow performers. These included conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton and "The Living Torso" Prince Randian. Schlitzie has a scene where he talks (though his words are hard to understand) with actor Wallace Ford. Two other "pinheads" also appear in the film. When other actors talk about Schlitzie in the movie, they use female words.

When Freaks first came out in 1932, many moviegoers were shocked by the performers. The United Kingdom even banned the film for thirty years. The movie did not make much money. Tod Browning, the director, stopped making films in 1940.

Schlitzie appeared in small roles in other movies too.

In 1935, while Schlitzie was working with the Tom Mix Circus, a man named George Surtees adopted him. George was a chimpanzee trainer in the same show. He became Schlitzie's legal guardian. In 1941, Schlitzie had his last movie role. He played "Princess Bibi," a sideshow act, in the film Meet Boston Blackie.

Hospitalization

Schlitzie continued to perform in sideshows while George Surtees cared for him. After George Surtees passed away in 1965, his daughter, who was not involved in show business, placed Schlitzie in a Los Angeles county hospital.

Schlitzie stayed in the hospital for some time. Then, a sword swallower named Bill "Frenchy" Unks recognized him. Bill was working at the hospital during the off-season. Bill said that Schlitzie seemed to miss the carnival very much. Being away from the public made him very sad. Hospital officials decided that the best thing for Schlitzie was to let him go back to the sideshow. He became a ward of Bill's boss, showman Sam Alexander. Schlitzie stayed with the sideshow until 1968.

Final years

In his later years, Schlitzie lived in Los Angeles. He sometimes performed in sideshows both locally and in other countries. He often performed in Hawaii and London. His last big show was at the 1968 Dobritch International Circus. This was held at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Schlitzie also became a well-known sight performing on the streets of Hollywood. His caretakers would sell souvenir pictures of him. Schlitzie spent his last days near Santa Monica Boulevard. He liked to go to MacArthur Park with his guardian. There, he would feed the pigeons and ducks and perform for people walking by.

On September 24, 1971, Schlitzie passed away at the age of seventy. He died at Fountain View Convalescent Home. His death certificate listed his official name as "Shlitze Surtees." Schlitzie was buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Rowland Heights.

Cultural legacy

In the 1960s, the movie Freaks became popular again. It was one of the first "midnight movies" and became a cult classic. In 1994, the film was chosen by the National Film Registry. It was recognized as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." The movie was how most people came to know Schlitzie. He remains one of the most memorable characters in the film.

Schlitzie's famous image has been used on many products. These include masks, hats, shirts, and dolls. Schlitzie has also inspired characters in comics and video games. He was an inspiration for Bill Griffith's comic strip Zippy the Pinhead. He also inspired the circus character Bertram in Red Dead Redemption 2. Bill Griffith has also written a graphic novel about Schlitzie called Nobody's Fool.

A new documentary about Schlitzie is being made. It is called Schlitzie: One of Us and is directed by Steve Belgard.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Schlitzie para niños