Schlitzie(alternatively spelledSchlitzeorShlitze;September 10, 1901 – September 24, 1971), possibly bornSimon Metz[1]and legallySchlitze Surtees,was an Americansideshowperformer. He also appeared in a few films, and is best known for his role in the 1932 movieFreaks.His lifelong career on the outdoor entertainment circuit as a major sideshow attraction withBarnum & Bailey,among others, made him a popular cultural icon.
Schlitzie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 10, 1901 The Bronx,New York, U.S. |
| Died | September 24, 1971(aged 70) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Schlitze Surtees |
Biography
editSchlitzie's true birth date, name, location and parents are unknown; the information on hisdeath certificateand gravesite indicate that he was born on September 10, 1901, inThe Bronx,New York,[2]though some sources have claimed that he was born inSanta Fe,New Mexico.[3]Claims that he was born inYucatán,Mexico, are mistaken reflections of Schlitzie's occasional fanciful billing as "Maggie, last of the Aztec Children".[3]Information about Schlitzie's identity at birth may never be known, the information having been lost as he was handed off to various carnivals in a long line of mostly informal guardianships throughout his career.
Schlitzie was born withmicrocephaly,aneurodevelopmental disorderthat left him with an unusually small brain and skull, a small stature (4 feet (120 cm)),[4]myopia,and severeintellectual disability.It is possible that these features were caused bySeckel syndrome.It was said Schlitzie had the mental age of a three-year-old: he was unable to care fully for himself and could speak only in monosyllabic words and form a few simple phrases.[3]However, he was able to perform simple tasks, and it is believed that he could understand most of what was said to him, as he had a very quick reaction time and the ability tomimic.[5]Those who knew Schlitzie described him as an affectionate, exuberant, sociable person who loved dancing, singing, and being the center of attention, performing for anyone he could stop and talk with.[3]
Career
editOn the sideshow circuit,microcephalicpeople were usually promoted as "pinheads" or "missing links",and Schlitzie was billed under such titles as" The Last of the Aztecs "," The Monkey Girl ", and"What Is It?".In some sideshows, he was paired with another microcephalic performer.[citation needed]
Schlitzie was often dressed in amuumuuand presented as either female orandrogynousto add to the mystique of his unusual appearance. Those who knew him alternately used masculine and feminine pronouns. Hisurinary incontinence,which obliged him to weardiapers,made dresses practical for his care needs,[6]although it is possible that the incontinence did not develop until later in life and was simply a side-effect of age.[4]
The sideshow circuit was a tremendous success for Schlitzie; throughout the 1920s and 1930s he was employed by many upscale circuses, includingRingling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus,Clyde Beatty Circus,Tom Mix Circus,Crafts 20 Big Shows, and Foley & Burke Carnival.[7]In 1928, Schlitzie made his film debut inThe Sideshow,a drama set in a circus, which featured a variety of actual sideshow performers.
Freaksand later work
editSchlitzie landed his best-known role as an actor inTod Browning's 1932 horror filmFreaks.LikeThe Sideshow,Freakstakes place at a carnival and features a number of genuine sideshow performers, includingconjoined twinsDaisy and Violet Hilton,"The Living Torso"Prince Randian,and dwarf siblingsHarry and Daisy Earles.Schlitzie has a scene of (unintelligible) dialogue with actorWallace Ford.Two other "pinheads" also appear in the film. When referring to Schlitzie, other actors use feminine pronouns.
WhenFreakspremiered in 1932, cinema audiences were scandalized by the appearance of sideshow performers. The United Kingdom banned the film for thirty years. The film was a financial failure, and Browning, although he went on to make several more films for MGM, retired in 1940.
Schlitzie appeared in bit roles in various movies and is credited with a role in the 1934exploitation filmTomorrow's Childrenas a mentally defective criminal who undergoesforced sterilization.
While Schlitzie was performing with the Tom Mix Circus in 1935, George Surtees, achimpanzeetrainer with a trained-chimpanzee act in the show, adopted him, becoming his legal guardian.[6]In 1941, Schlitzie appeared in his final film role as "Princess Bibi", a sideshow attraction, inMeet Boston Blackie.[8]
Hospitalization
editUnder George Surtees' care, Schlitzie continued performing in the sideshow circuit; after Surtees' death in 1965, his daughter, who was not in show business, committed Schlitzie to a Los Angeles county hospital.[6]
Schlitzie remained hospitalized for some time until he was recognized bysword swallowerBill "Frenchy" Unks, who happened to be working at the hospital during the off-season. According to Unks, Schlitzie seemed to miss the carnival badly, and being away from the public eye had made him very depressed. Hospital authorities determined that the best care for Schlitzie would be to make him a ward of Unks' employer, showman Sam Alexander, and return him to the sideshow, where he remained until 1968.[6]
Final years
editIn his later years, Schlitzie lived inLos Angeles,occasionally performing on various sideshow circuits both locally and internationally (he frequently performed in Hawaii and London,[9]and his last major appearance was at the 1968 Dobritch International Circus held at theLos Angeles Sports Arena). Schlitzie also became a notable attraction performing on the streets ofHollywood,with his caretakers selling his stock carnival souvenir pictures. Schlitzie spent time in his final days on Santa Monica Boulevard. He liked going toMacArthur Parkat Alvarado Street and Wilshire Boulevard, where he would visit the lake with his guardian, feeding the pigeons and ducks and performing for passersby.[10]
Death
editOn September 24, 1971, at seventy years old, Schlitzie died at Fountain View Convalescent Home. Hisdeath certificatelisted his official name as "Shlitze Surtees" and his birthdate as 1901. Schlitzie was interred at Queen of Heaven Cemetery inRowland Heights.
Cultural legacy
editIn the 1960s,Freakswas rediscovered and enjoyed a long run as one of the firstmidnight movies,becoming acult classic,and in 1994 it was selected by theNational Film Registryas being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[11][12]The film became the public's major exposure to Schlitzie, who remains one of the more memorable characters in the film.
Schlitzie's iconic image has lent itself to many products, including masks, hats, shirts, models, clocks, snow globes, and dolls. Additionally, Schlitzie has been cited as an inspiration forBill Griffith'scomic stripZippy the Pinhead.[13]In 2019, Griffith releasedNobody's Fool,a graphic novel biography of Schlitzie.[14][15]
TheRamonessong "Pinhead," from the 1977 albumLeave Home,was inspired by him.[citation needed]
The 2018 gameRed Dead Redemption 2featured a side-mission which included a character called Bertram, whose appearance is modeled on Schlitzie.[16][17]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | The Sideshow | The Geek | Uncredited |
| 1932 | Freaks | Schlitzie the Pin Head | |
| 1932 | Island of Lost Souls | Furry Manimal | Uncredited |
| 1934 | Tomorrow's Children | Patient | Uncredited |
| 1941 | Meet Boston Blackie | Princess Betsy / Bird Woman | Uncredited |
References
edit- ^Hartzman, M. (2006).American Sideshow: An Encyclopedia of History's Most Wondrous and Curiously Strange Performers.New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin. p. 210.ISBN1585425303.Google books,retrieved 2013-01-16.
- ^"Schlitzie_Origins".Quasi-modo.net.Retrieved7 January2015.
- ^abcdHornberger, F. (2005).Carny Folk: The World's Weirdest Sideshow Acts.New York: Citadel Press. p. 129.ISBN0806526610.
- ^ab"Schlitzie FAQ".Quasi-modo.net.Retrieved2009-10-24.
- ^"Schlitzie Biography".Quasi-modo.net.Retrieved2009-10-24.
- ^abcd"Schlitzie the Pinhead".Thehumanmarvels. 24 August 2007.Retrieved2009-10-24.
- ^"Schlitzie".Altered Dimensions. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-12-23.Retrieved2009-10-24.
- ^"Meet Boston Blackie".Quasi-modo.net.Retrieved2009-10-24.
- ^Bill Griffith."Still asking," Are we having fun yet? "".English.ufl.edu.Retrieved2009-10-24.
- ^"Reminisces of Jaime D'Arcy-Garcia".Quasi-modo.net. 1971-09-24.Retrieved2009-10-24.
- ^"Complete National Film Registry Listing".Library of Congress.RetrievedJanuary 15,2017.
- ^"Mission - National Film Preservation Board".Library of Congress.RetrievedJanuary 15,2017.
- ^"Are We Having Fun Yet?".Zippythepinhead.Retrieved2013-02-18.
- ^Kausler, Mark."Moving The Island".Cat Blog.Retrieved27 November2019.
- ^Griffith, Bill.Schlitzie, Nobody's Fool: The Life and Times of Schlitzie the Pinhead(Abrams ComicArts,2019)ISBN978-1419735011.
- ^Gondal, Bilal (2023-07-13)."Who is Bertram RDR2: Background, Personality Analysis".Gamerz Gateway.Retrieved2023-08-25.
- ^"Which Red Dead Redemption 2 Characters Are Real People?".Screen Rant.2020-08-26.Retrieved2023-07-05.