1. The inaugural inductee to the International Circus Hall of Fame, Leitzel died in hospital two days after a fall during a live performance.
13 Facts About Lillian Leitzel
1. 2.
Lillian Leitzel was born as Leopoldina Alitza Pelikan in a family of circus performers.
3.
Lillian Leitzel's father was most likely Willy Dosta, an itinerant circus performer; another possible candidate was Edward J Eleanore, a Hungarian army officer and theater performer.
4.
Lillian Leitzel's mother, Nellie Pelikan, was a Czech circus acrobat.
5.
Lillian Leitzel spent her childhood in Germany, where she lived with her maternal grandparents.
6.
The group later dissolved and its members returned to Europe, but Lillian Leitzel continued to attempt to perform in the American vaudeville circuit.
7.
Lillian Leitzel's act included one-armed planges, momentarily dislocating the shoulder during each plange.
8.
Lillian Leitzel was the first performer in history to command her own private Pullman car completely furnished with her own baby grand piano.
9.
Lillian Leitzel agreed to terms and performed for the Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic in 1918 and 1919.
10.
Further, Lillian Leitzel was known to fly off the handle and fire then rehire her personal maid, Mabel Cummings, several times a day.
11.
Lillian Leitzel married Clyde Ingalls in 1920, and the couple divorced in 1924.
12.
Lillian Leitzel was buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
13.
Lillian Leitzel was the first inductee elected into the International Circus Hall of Fame in 1958.