| In 1945 a story hit the press that I thought might have relevance in ascertaining the true identity of Schlitzy. A 50 year old mild-mannered California streetcar conductor named Francis Van Wie had been accused of bigamy. The local D.A., in an effort to stop the public (potential jurors) from being sympathetic to the man, dug into Van Wie's past and uncovered a host of other examples of illegal or improper activities committed by the middle-aged lothario, one of which involved the exhibition of a retarded child. "In the matter of the "pinhead' child, it was learned, Van Wie, apparently headed his own sideshow for a while during the 1930's and exhibited the afflicted child as a star performer. The child, known as "Schlitzy" had a deformed head, and although 14 years of age had the mentality of a baby. It was the son of Joseph Candelaria, an Albuquerque barber, from whom Van Wie assertedly obtained it on the promise of paying $1 a day. The show was not paying, it was learned, and Van Wie skipped with the youngster." |
| "SCHLITZY" CANDELARIA ?? |
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| Actual news clippings of the Candelaria custody case, April 1938 |
| As it turned out the boy in question was named Albert Candelaria and was only 14 years old at the time - too young to be the "Schlitzie" we're interested in. Joseph, Albert's father, was actually from Atrisco, a residential suburb of Albuquerque. This would not be the first time a parent gave up their mentally retarded child to a carnival for renumeration. But it was interesting that Van Wie decided to bill him as "Schlitzy" indicating that by then our Schlitzie was well-known in the outdoor amusement business. Less than honest showman were known to "borrow" another performer's stage name to promote their own act, justifying it by spelling the name differently. This author has found the Joseph Candelaria family in the 1930 U.S.Census. They had six children at the time and it appears they had another mentally challenged child, a daughter named Sefora. Who knows, maybe after things cooled down Mr. C. sent her on the road too! |
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| (above) The boy in question, Albert Candelaria. (right)This photo was undated but that sure resembles Albert. What do you think? |
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| Another photo of "Chong" when part of a "smallest man and woman" act. |