Circus Performer. Lillian Leitzel was a German-born American performer, who joined the Ringling Brothers Circus in 1915. Born into a family of circus trapeze performers, her father was Hungarian and her mother Czech. With her mother and aunts, she came to the United States in 1911 to perform with the Barnum and Bailey Circus, but within a short time, her mother and aunts returned to Europe, leaving her to perform alone. Her beauty led to posters proclaiming her as "The World's Most Marvelous Lady Gymnast" and "The Aerial Wonder." Her first marriage was to a circus prop hand, her second was to side show manager Clyde Ingalls both ending in divorce. In 1927 in Chicago, she married Alfredo Codona, who was a member of the Codona Family circus trapeze performers. On performing tours, they traveled to Europe, South America, and Mexico. On February 13, 1931, she had finished the first part of her act on the Roman Rings, and had climbed the web with the swivel and ring for the second half when the swivel snapped. She fell twenty feet to the ground, landing on her back and shoulders. She insisted that she was alright, saying "I can go on." At the time of her accident, her husband was performing in Germany, and rushed to her side. On Sunday morning, February 15, 1931, the "Undisputed Queen of the Aerialists" died from a concussion and complications from the fall.
Circus Performer. Lillian Leitzel was a German-born American performer, who joined the Ringling Brothers Circus in 1915. Born into a family of circus trapeze performers, her father was Hungarian and her mother Czech. With her mother and aunts, she came to the United States in 1911 to perform with the Barnum and Bailey Circus, but within a short time, her mother and aunts returned to Europe, leaving her to perform alone. Her beauty led to posters proclaiming her as "The World's Most Marvelous Lady Gymnast" and "The Aerial Wonder." Her first marriage was to a circus prop hand, her second was to side show manager Clyde Ingalls both ending in divorce. In 1927 in Chicago, she married Alfredo Codona, who was a member of the Codona Family circus trapeze performers. On performing tours, they traveled to Europe, South America, and Mexico. On February 13, 1931, she had finished the first part of her act on the Roman Rings, and had climbed the web with the swivel and ring for the second half when the swivel snapped. She fell twenty feet to the ground, landing on her back and shoulders. She insisted that she was alright, saying "I can go on." At the time of her accident, her husband was performing in Germany, and rushed to her side. On Sunday morning, February 15, 1931, the "Undisputed Queen of the Aerialists" died from a concussion and complications from the fall.
Bio by: Linda Davis
Inscription
In everlasting memory of my beloved
Lillian Condona
Copenhagen Denmark Feb. 15, 1931
Erected by he devoted husband
Alfredo Codona
Gravesite Details
Her grave marker consists of a 12-foot statue showing her husband donned in angel wings and embracing her. At the statue's base are Roman rings with one broken, as in the day of her death.
Family Members
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See more Leitzel memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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Geneanet Community Trees Index
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U.S., Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad, 1835-1974
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New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937
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New York, New York, U.S., Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018
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New York, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-current
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