The showman most often associated with Athelia throughout her career was Pete Kortes.
Like fellow showman and carnival owner Jimmy Strates, Pete was born in Greece. His family immigrated to the U.S. when he was 15. Pete married at age 27 and it it is believed by then he was already in the theatrical business.
The story is told that the pinheads Athelia and Schlitzie were originally exhibited together and that when the duo were split up Pete got Athelia. This possibly would have been in the early 1920's but has yet to be verified.
At any rate, unlike Schlitzie who was bandied about from showman to showman, Athelia stayed with Pete for the rest of her career. |
