I'm in tears watching this video. I have a MASSIVE soft spot for Schlitzie. REST IN PEACE Schlitzie XXXX. To the people who got a headstone for Schlitzie may God bless you because you NEVER forgot him and you gave him and his memory RESPECT. Well Done
As a boy, I was lucky enough to see Schlitzie perform live at a side show at the C.N.E. (Canadian National Exhibition) in Toronto in the late 1960s. I don't recall the exact year, but will guess I was 11 or 12, & that it might have been 1967 or 1968, not long before Schlitzie retired from the side show circuit (he stopped permanently in 1968). I attended with my friend of the same age. We decided to check out the CNE side show partly 'cause it advertised a pinhead, as we'd both seen & enjoyed the 1932 movie "Freaks" with pinheads in it. At the time, I wasn't sure if the CNE pinhead was one of the ones we'd seen in the movie, but later research soon suggested it must be THE same Schlitzie we saw in the movie! The wikipedia write up for Schlitzie says he loved performing & became depressed when a guardian removed him from side show work for awhile & put him in a hospital. He was so depressed, his doctors decided he'd be happier & better off working again, so he was placed under new guardianship with someone who could oversee his performing career. Attending the CNE sideshow, I recall it was in a fairly good sized tent. The main stage was both broad and deep. Instead of there being a hidden back stage, performers whose turn to perform hadn't yet come up were seated at the rear of the stage, visible. That's where we first spied Schlitzie, sitting quietly near the rear of the deep stage, facing sideways, before his turn to perform came up. Seeing him live, I remember Schlitzie & a man as MC standing on stage together. Schlitzie wore one of his odd looking "dresses," although he was presented as being a man, not a woman as he sometimes was. It was basically a comedy routine with the MC playing straight-man saying things Schlitzie would respond to animatedly with smiles, nods, & gestures that were amusing or comical looking. Or else, Schlitzie would do something, and the MC would say something to him about it in response. But Schlitzie was as silent as Harpo Marx, or Teller of Penn & Teller. Probably 'cause he didn't speak clearly, as you can tell in the film "Freaks" when he speaks. My most vivid memory of him physically was of him standing near the edge of the stage facing the audience at one point and responding to something the MC to his left was saying. He was nodding his head up and down with fast, short nods, with an odd looking, slightly open-mouthed, toothy smile, wide eyed.He definitely had some weird charisma, & seemed oddly fascinating, & slightly disturbing 'cause he was, well, - a bona fide freak! And he seemed to be enjoying being center of attention of the audience. After all, he, not the MC, was the star! At this late date, I can still remember just one bit of content of their routine. At one point Schlitzie pointed into the audience & the MC suggested the naughty pinhead was pointing at a girl in the audience he was supposedly interested in, & that the guy she was with likely wouldn't take kindly to Schlitzie taking an interest in his girl. Naughty Schlitzie! I recall three other performers at the side show. One guy kept his hands clasped, & used his arms as a skipping rope by dislocating his arms at his shoulders repeatedly on each "skipping" rotation of his arms. Another guy had such capacious cheeks he could stuff his mouth full of many golf balls. Plus, there was a sword swallower. We also saw the fat lady, "Dainty Dora," as a separate attraction in another part of the midway. She sat in a large chair and spoke matter-of-factly offering stats on how many pounds she weighed, and the huge numbers of inches her various measurements were: bust, waist, hips, and thighs. Sadly, in this day & age live freak shows are deemed too politically incorrect. By the early 1970s, the freak show era ended at the CNE. by then freaks were no longer allowed. Aside from fat ladies (which are way too common nowadays, not novelties as they were in 1967), I say bring back the side show freaks!
Hermesacat I have this disorder an I low key feel lyk I act like him. I’m inoy relying to this comment because is interesting what you said about him. I don’t look like him but I do have the same shape of head. An I’m extremely handsome but ehh this can just be me :)
@@strawberryseason But did it have pinheads, fat ladies, people with odd physical deformities, conjoined twins, etc. (i.e. the politically incorrect types of freaks)? Or just people with weird talents (sword swallowing, etc.)? the latter types are still acceptable in 2020. Of course, circuses still exist too (e.g. Cirque de Soleil) but ones with animal acts are uncommon in the west 'cause they're deemed politically incorrect today due to animal cruelty concerns.
I just happened to see the movie Freaks and Schlitze stole my heart. THere is something so endearing about him. I hope he was treated badly during his time in the circus. He seemed so sweet and gentle
For those of you wondering about what Schlitzie was saying, here’s the translation. 1:36: “Are you sure of that?” Well, I was telling some jokes, why? I want some of it, and I’m-a just get some up top, understand!” 1:54: “It’s no fun, it’s still a job! I was tryna’ understand your ass but you’re playing on, understand!
lol what a person. he was a good little fella. hope he is loved as he is in heaven. on earth, he was one of the few people called freaks, who could walk on the street without people calling him hurtfull names.
The information here is not right.... It is not known if his parents sold him or not...The fact is he Lived a better life had he been in a mental hospital....Jenny Lee and Elvira were actual sister who were rented @75 dollars a week...that was A LOT of money in those days.... Schlitzie was NOT raised by George Surtees. It is Unclear what is birth name was. Speculation has him as SImon Metz.....but Metz met Schlitzie later in life. G-d Gave of Schlitzie for a reason....and we are still talking about him 50 years after he died.
He had a heart of gold.I can't believe that people called him a freak.
Those were the times..and we have not much changed.
@@GladfromMan We are worse now I think.
I'm in tears watching this video. I have a MASSIVE soft spot for Schlitzie. REST IN PEACE Schlitzie XXXX. To the people who got a headstone for Schlitzie may God bless you because you NEVER forgot him and you gave him and his memory RESPECT. Well Done
Amen.
He was such a happy person(:
ʙᴜᴛ ) :
As a boy, I was lucky enough to see Schlitzie perform live at a side
show at the C.N.E. (Canadian National Exhibition) in Toronto in the late
1960s. I don't recall the exact year, but will guess I was 11 or 12,
& that it might have been 1967 or 1968, not long before Schlitzie
retired from the side show circuit (he stopped permanently in 1968). I
attended with my friend of the same age. We decided to check out the CNE side show partly 'cause it advertised a pinhead, as we'd both seen
& enjoyed the 1932 movie "Freaks" with pinheads in it. At the time, I
wasn't sure if the CNE pinhead was one of the ones we'd seen in the
movie, but later research soon suggested it must be THE same Schlitzie
we saw in the movie!
The wikipedia write up for Schlitzie says he loved performing &
became depressed when a guardian removed him from side show work for awhile & put him in a hospital. He was so depressed, his doctors
decided he'd be happier & better off working again, so he was placed
under new guardianship with someone who could oversee his performing
career.
Attending the CNE sideshow, I recall it was in a fairly good sized tent.
The main stage was both broad and deep. Instead of there being a hidden back stage, performers whose turn to perform hadn't yet come up were seated at the rear of the stage, visible. That's where we first spied Schlitzie, sitting quietly near the rear of the deep stage, facing sideways, before his turn to perform came up. Seeing him live, I remember Schlitzie & a man as MC standing on stage together. Schlitzie wore one of his odd looking "dresses," although he was presented as being a man, not a woman as he sometimes was. It was basically a comedy routine with the MC playing straight-man saying things Schlitzie would respond to animatedly with smiles, nods, & gestures that were amusing or comical looking. Or else, Schlitzie would do something, and the MC would say something to him about it in response. But Schlitzie was as silent as Harpo Marx, or Teller of Penn & Teller. Probably 'cause he didn't speak clearly, as you can tell in the film
"Freaks" when he speaks.
My most vivid memory of him physically was of him standing near the
edge of the stage facing the audience at one point and responding to
something the MC to his left was saying. He was nodding his head up and
down with fast, short nods, with an odd looking, slightly open-mouthed, toothy smile, wide eyed.He definitely had some weird charisma, & seemed oddly fascinating, & slightly disturbing 'cause he was, well, - a bona fide freak! And he seemed to be enjoying being center of attention of the audience. After all, he, not the MC, was the star!
At this late date, I can still remember just one bit of content of their routine. At one point Schlitzie pointed into the audience & the MC suggested the naughty pinhead was pointing at a girl in the audience he was supposedly interested in, & that the guy she was with likely wouldn't take kindly to Schlitzie taking an interest in his girl. Naughty Schlitzie!
I recall three other performers at the side show. One guy kept his hands
clasped, & used his arms as a skipping rope by dislocating his arms
at his shoulders repeatedly on each "skipping" rotation of his arms.
Another guy had such capacious cheeks he could stuff his mouth full of
many golf balls. Plus, there was a sword swallower.
We also saw the fat lady, "Dainty Dora," as a separate attraction in another part of the midway. She sat in a large chair and spoke matter-of-factly offering stats on how many pounds she weighed, and the huge numbers of inches her various measurements were: bust, waist, hips, and thighs.
Sadly, in this day & age live freak shows are deemed too politically
incorrect. By the early 1970s, the freak show era ended at the CNE. by then freaks were no longer allowed. Aside from fat ladies (which are way too common
nowadays, not novelties as they were in 1967), I say bring back the
side show freaks!
thanks for these great details!
Yes bring back the side show freaks, their lives were fantastic!!!! That was a lovely work of fiction, well, the bit that included you in it!
Hermesacat I have this disorder an I low key feel lyk I act like him. I’m inoy relying to this comment because is interesting what you said about him. I don’t look like him but I do have the same shape of head. An I’m extremely handsome but ehh this can just be me :)
The freak show genre has not completely died out. I went to one at the Cherry Festival in Northeast, Pennsylvania in 2012.
@@strawberryseason But did it have pinheads, fat ladies, people with odd physical deformities, conjoined twins, etc. (i.e. the politically incorrect types of freaks)? Or just people with weird talents (sword swallowing, etc.)? the latter types are still acceptable in 2020. Of course, circuses still exist too (e.g. Cirque de Soleil) but ones with animal acts are uncommon in the west 'cause they're deemed politically incorrect today due to animal cruelty concerns.
I love you, Schlitzie!
What a loving soul. Rest in peace.
I just happened to see the movie Freaks and Schlitze stole my heart. THere is something so endearing about him. I hope he was treated badly during his time in the circus. He seemed so sweet and gentle
He is still alive in our hearts
He was an amazing person he seemed so happy and he's not a freak he's unique R.I.P
Touching.
Schlitzie was a pretty handsome man when he grew his hair and beard out!
Their camera are still better than mine
Best video have ever watched.
10/10
would Schlitzie again
For those of you wondering about what Schlitzie was saying, here’s the translation.
1:36: “Are you sure of that?” Well, I was telling some jokes, why? I want some of it, and I’m-a just get some up top, understand!”
1:54: “It’s no fun, it’s still a job! I was tryna’ understand your ass but you’re playing on, understand!
"Never forgot his lines"? WHAT LINES!!!! Lmfao
lol what a person. he was a good little fella. hope he is loved as he is in heaven. on earth, he was one of the few people called freaks, who could walk on the street without people calling him hurtfull names.
So that's where the opening line in "Pinhead" by Ramones came from.
Yes, it is. Its where the whole song comes from
Wow. That outro just totally destroyed me. RIP buddie you were loved.
1:45 dab
im crying
R.I.P.
Song name please
@GUN “Amazing Grace”
The information here is not right.... It is not known if his parents sold him or not...The fact is he Lived a better life had he been in a mental hospital....Jenny Lee and Elvira were actual sister who were rented @75 dollars a week...that was A LOT of money in those days.... Schlitzie was NOT raised by George Surtees. It is Unclear what is birth name was. Speculation has him as SImon Metz.....but Metz met Schlitzie later in life. G-d Gave of Schlitzie for a reason....and we are still talking about him 50 years after he died.
Waaao his so cute
The characters american horror history is beariful😲😲
Where is his gravesite located?
John its in the Los Angles area
I think you have ringed Jenny Lee at the beginning of the video, schlitzie is behind her?
Does anyone have any idea what Schlitzie is saying?
Something along the lines of " I want the biggest thing" thats all I could make of it.
+Chris Snedden i think the word "hat" is in there, from what i can gather he wants the hat with the biggest feather
Joanne Russell gmail
strawberryseason
O
Well I know where AHS Freakshow got one of their scenes from
I don't get why Schlitzie was on American horror story??
+anthony vasquez Because AHH actual season is about freaks from circus
name of song?
If you mean the melody at the end it's Amazing Grace
Bienvenido a Doc Tops
Jaja
hello
Lastima que no está en Español
His god children
I love you
Ban an Pink.
cmon man, I cannot read anything, pass so fast -.- dislike
لا اله الا الله
fuck you...there is ONE G-d and it is not Allah.
Cómo mierda llegué aquí? :'v
bienvenido a doc tops :v