Schlitzie (alternatively spelled Schlitze or Shlitze; September 10,
1901 â€" September 24, 1971), possibly born Simon Metz and legally
Schlitze Surtees, was an American sideshow performer. He also appeared
in a few films, and is best known for his role in the 1932 movie
Freaks. His lifelong career on the outdoor entertainment circuit as a
major sideshow attraction with Barnum & Bailey, among others, made him
a popular cultural icon.Schlitzie's true birth date, name, location
and parents are unknown; the information on his death certificate and
gravesite indicate that he was born on September 10, 1901, in The
Bronx, New York, though some sources have claimed that he was born in
Santa Fe, New Mexico. Claims that he was born in Yucatán, Mexico, are
mistaken reflections of Schlitzie's occasional fanciful billing as
"Maggie, last of the Aztec Children". 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 with
microcephaly, a neurodevelopmental disorder that left him with an
unusually small brain and skull, a small stature (he stood about four
feet tall [122 cm]), myopia, and severe intellectual disability. It is
possible that these features were caused by Seckel syndrome. It was
said Schlitzie had the cognition 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. 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 to
mimic. 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.On the sideshow circuit, microcephalic people 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.
1901 â€" September 24, 1971), possibly born Simon Metz and legally
Schlitze Surtees, was an American sideshow performer. He also appeared
in a few films, and is best known for his role in the 1932 movie
Freaks. His lifelong career on the outdoor entertainment circuit as a
major sideshow attraction with Barnum & Bailey, among others, made him
a popular cultural icon.Schlitzie's true birth date, name, location
and parents are unknown; the information on his death certificate and
gravesite indicate that he was born on September 10, 1901, in The
Bronx, New York, though some sources have claimed that he was born in
Santa Fe, New Mexico. Claims that he was born in Yucatán, Mexico, are
mistaken reflections of Schlitzie's occasional fanciful billing as
"Maggie, last of the Aztec Children". 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 with
microcephaly, a neurodevelopmental disorder that left him with an
unusually small brain and skull, a small stature (he stood about four
feet tall [122 cm]), myopia, and severe intellectual disability. It is
possible that these features were caused by Seckel syndrome. It was
said Schlitzie had the cognition 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. 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 to
mimic. 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.On the sideshow circuit, microcephalic people 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.
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