Martin Snyder
Encyclopedia
Martin "Moe" Snyder, commonly known as Moe the Gimp due to his lame left leg, was a Jewish-American gangster
from Chicago
, active in the 1920s and 1930s.
His second wife was the singer and entertainer Ruth Etting, whom he married in 1922 and whose career he aggressively promoted. In 1927, the couple moved to New York City
where Etting landed a starring role in the Ziegfeld Follies
. After a move to Los Angeles
where Etting had a film contract, the couple's marriage fell apart, and they were divorced on November 30, 1937.
In 1938, Snyder shot and wounded Etting's pianist and boyfriend Myrl Alderman; after which, Snyder was charged with kidnapping and attempted murder. In a sensational trial in L.A., he was found guilty and sentenced, but on appeal was released after a year in prison.
in the 1955 film Love Me or Leave Me
, a fictionalized biography of Etting, who was played by Doris Day
.
Gangster
A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Some gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from mob and the suffix -ster....
from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, active in the 1920s and 1930s.
His second wife was the singer and entertainer Ruth Etting, whom he married in 1922 and whose career he aggressively promoted. In 1927, the couple moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where Etting landed a starring role in the Ziegfeld Follies
Ziegfeld Follies
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
. After a move to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where Etting had a film contract, the couple's marriage fell apart, and they were divorced on November 30, 1937.
In 1938, Snyder shot and wounded Etting's pianist and boyfriend Myrl Alderman; after which, Snyder was charged with kidnapping and attempted murder. In a sensational trial in L.A., he was found guilty and sentenced, but on appeal was released after a year in prison.
Portrayal on film
Snyder was portrayed by actor James CagneyJames Cagney
James Francis Cagney, Jr. was an American actor, first on stage, then in film, where he had his greatest impact. Although he won acclaim and major awards for a wide variety of performances, he is best remembered for playing "tough guys." In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him eighth...
in the 1955 film Love Me or Leave Me
Love Me or Leave Me (film)
Love Me or Leave Me is a 1955 biographical film which tells the life story of Ruth Etting, a singer who rose from dancer to movie star. It stars Doris Day as Etting, James Cagney as gangster Martin "Moe the Gimp" Snyder, her first husband and manager, and Cameron Mitchell as pianist/ arranger Myrl...
, a fictionalized biography of Etting, who was played by Doris Day
Doris Day
Doris Day is an American actress, singer and, since her retirement from show business, an animal rights activist. With an entertainment career that spanned through almost 50 years, Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but only began to be noticed after her first hit recording,...
.
Sources
- Laura Damuth and Anita Breckbill. "Ruth Etting: Chicago's Sweetheart and L.A.'s Little Lady" in NLA Quarterly, Vol 31. No 4. Winter 2000 pp. 18–23.http://www.nebraskalibraries.org/nlaquarterly/2000-4-DamuthBreckbill.html