The True Stories Behind 11 Famous Sideshow Performers
Although the sideshow has mostly disappeared from the American landscape today , we can still look back on the performers of yesteryear and see how they became the icons of American circus culture . But the fib of the real - life mass behind the caption are sometimes just as interesting as what they could do on stage . 1. Schlitzie, The Last of the Aztecs Schlitze “ Schlitzie ” Surtees ( birth name unnamed , possibly Simon Metz ) is one of the most famed “ dope ” sideshow performers in history , primarily due to his role in Tod Browning ’s 1932 filmFreaks(and although Schlitzie ’s persona in the film , as well as on stage , was distaff , he was male off - stage ) ....