Throwback Thursday and Lillian Leitzel
Her mother was aerial performer Nellie
Pelikan so Lillian Leitzel came by her talent naturally. She wanted to be like
her mother, so she worked hard to develop her skills and succeeded beyond her
wildest dreams. When she was about fourteen she joined her mother in the aerial
troupe.
She was a star almost immediately,
becoming known for her act on the Roman rings which took her up into the top of
the circus tent where she performed without a net. It is said that for the
finale of her act she would grasp the ring with one hand and flip over so
rapidly that her arm would dislocate and snap back into place with each
rotation.
Her act made her an international star
and she was voted “the most beautiful and attractive woman in all the world” by
American soldiers in World War I. She was the first performer with Ringling
Brothers to receive her own personal rail car.
She continued to wow audiences well into
her thirties, but during a performance in Copenhagen the inevitable happened. A piece of metal on her
rigging broke and she fell to the floor. She died two days later.
From the Big
Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Dance History Factoid #139:
“Lillian Leitzel was the first Ringling Brothers star
to have her own rail car.”
Link of the Day:
Quote of the Day:
“Fear?
When I am up so high? I am afraid, sometimes. But I tell myself I am not
afraid. And then I swing. And I swing my fear away.”
-Lillian
Leitzel
Help
expand the knowledge base!
Leave
a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!
My
latest books are coloring books! They are available on Amazon.
Want
to know more about me? Read my interview at Ballet Connections:
Or "Like" me on my
Facebook Author Page:
For interesting articles involving
mental health:
No comments:
Post a Comment