Leopoldina Alitza Pelikan, later known as Lillian Leitzel, was born on January 2, 1891.
Lillian Leitzel, originally Leopoldina Alitza Pelikan, was born on January 2, 1891, in Breslau, Germany. Her birth into a family of performers laid the foundation for her future in circus arts, where she would grow into one of the most iconic aerialists of her time. Despite some confusion regarding her exact birth year, 1891 is widely recognized in several reliable sources. This era saw few women in such physically demanding entertainment roles, making Leitzel's future career all the more significant.