Martin Snyder

Snyder was born and raised on Chicago's southwest side.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14490059/ruth_etting_1955/|title=Ruth Etting: They Called Her Chicago's Sweetheart |date=June 12, 1955 |author=Leonard, William |newspaper=Chicago Sunday Tribune |pages=28–29|access-date=April 1, 2015|via = Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} He was five years of age when he injured his leg in an accident.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13124429/moe_snyder_tells_of_etting_divorce/|title=Snyder Discloses Events Leading Up To Divorce In 1937|author=Othman, Frederick C.|date=December 15, 1938|publisher=Oshkosh Daily Northwestern|page=14|access-date=January 16, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

Snyder left school after the fourth grade and sold papers as a newsboy. He later worked in newspaper circulation, and then moved to a job with the Metropolitan Sanitary District.

Snyder had both political and entertainment world connections. He knew most of the nightclubs in Chicago and the people who performed there. He once served as a bodyguard for Al Jolson.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14490266/ruth_etting_dies/|title='Chicago's Sweetheart' Ruth Etting Dies at 82|page=11|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=September 25, 1978|access-date=January 17, 2017|via = Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} His second wife was the singer and entertainer Ruth Etting, whom he married in 1922 and whose career he aggressively promoted.{{efn|Snyder's aggressive behavior was well-known among those who had worked with Etting. It was said that most people working on Broadway were afraid of him.{{cite journal|url=https://archive.org/stream/radiomir00macf#page/n223/mode/2up|title=Secrets About Radio Marriages|author=Mitchell, Curtis|journal=Radio Mirror|publisher=Macfadden Publishing|pages=28–29|date=January 1936|access-date=January 16, 2017}} Ed Sullivan described Snyder as viewing the world as a battleground in the 1930s.}} Snyder and Etting met when she was performing at the Marigold Gardens. He divorced his first wife to marry Etting.

In 1927, the couple moved to New York City, where Etting landed a role in the Ziegfeld Follies. After a move to Los Angeles in the early 1930s, Etting was hired for some film roles, and The Chase and Sanborn Hour radio show with Jimmy Durante. Etting remained in Los Angeles for her radio work, while Snyder returned to Chicago.

By 1934, the aggressive and controlling management of Snyder began to create professional problems for Etting. She was not being considered for many jobs due to Snyder's arguments with those who employed her.{{cite journal|url=http://ia601006.us.archive.org/BookReader/BookReaderImages.php?zip=/15/items/radiomirro00macf/radiomirro00macf_jp2.zip&file=radiomirro00macf_jp2/radiomirro00macf_0208.jp2&scale=2&rotate=0|title=What's New On Radio Row|page=8|journal=Radio Mirror|publisher=Macfadden Publishing|date=January 1935|access-date=January 16, 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8172480/snyders_fighting_creates_career_trouble/|title=Daughter of Snyder Tells of Shooting|date=December 13, 1938|publisher=Oakland Tribune|access-date=January 4, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14490332/etting_alderman_shooting/|title=Tells Shooting By Ex-Husband Of Ruth Etting|date=December 14, 1938|page=10|publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=April 1, 2015|via = Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} Etting visited England for work in 1936, where Snyder managed to involve himself in a street fight soon after their arrival; this resulted in unfavorable publicity for Etting. Etting divorced Snyder on the grounds of cruelty and abandonment on November 30, 1937.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19371116&id=8rlRAAAAIBAJ&pg=3604,5558108 |title=Stage-Air Star Retires From Shows, Matrimony|date=November 16, 1937 |agency=United Press |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=January 16, 2014}} Snyder did not contest the divorce; he received a settlement from Etting.{{efn|Snyder received half of Etting's earnings at the time, $50,000, some securities and half interest in a home in Beverly Hills, California. Etting deducted the gambling debts of Snyder's she had paid and the cost of a home for Snyder's mother from the settlement.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19381213&id=a95PAAAAIBAJ&pg=1383,5432234|title=Screen Star Testifies in Snyder Trial|date=December 13, 1938|publisher=The Evening Independent|access-date=January 16, 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19371201&id=z7MhAAAAIBAJ&pg=1840,58770|title=Divorced, Ruth Etting Plans World Jaunt|date=December 1, 1937|publisher=Reading Eagle|access-date=January 16, 2014}}}}

In January 1938, Snyder began making threatening telephone calls to Etting, at first claiming she concealed assets from him when the divorce settlement was made. Snyder was also upset that Etting was now seeing her accompanist, Myrl Alderman. Snyder told Etting he intended to come to California and kill her.{{efn|Snyder continued to claim he was cheated in the settlement even after shooting Myrl Alderman.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13124630/myrl_alderman_shooting/|title=Ruth Etting's Husband Shot By Her Former Mate, Moe Snyder|date=October 17, 1938|publisher=The Lincoln Star|page=1|access-date=March 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} When he spoke with his daughter on the telephone, Snyder also threatened her, saying he "would fix her ticket too".{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13124697/etting_at_grand_jury/|title=Ruth Etting Tells Grand Jury Snyder Made Death Threats|date=October 19, 1938|publisher=The Lincoln Star|access-date=January 4, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}}} Etting obtained both police and private protection, but apparently believed the danger was past when Snyder did not appear soon after his telephone threats; she dismissed her bodyguards.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/880357/ruth_etting_bodyguards_after_snyder/|title=Two Bodyguards For Pretty Ruth Etting|date=January 6, 1938|page=9|publisher=News-Herald|access-date=August 24, 2014|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8168374/etting_releases_bodyguards/|title=Bodyguards Taken From Ruth Etting|publisher=The San Bernardino County Sun|date=January 9, 1938|access-date=January 4, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

Snyder detained Myrl Alderman at a local radio station on October 15, 1938. He forced the pianist to drive him to his former wife at gunpoint. Etting and Edith Snyder, his daughter, were in the house when Snyder and Alderman arrived. When Snyder was told Edith was in another part of the house, he forced Etting to call her into the music room, where he held Etting and Alderman at gunpoint. Snyder told them to be quiet and that he intended to kill them all. When Myrl Alderman tried to speak, he was shot by Snyder, who then told Etting, "I've had my revenge, so you can call the police."{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19381213&id=c4UbAAAAIBAJ&pg=3807,5149061|title=Death Threat Described By Ruth Etting|date=December 13, 1938|publisher=The Pittsburgh Press|access-date=January 16, 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19381213&id=c4UbAAAAIBAJ&pg=3807,5149061|title=Snyder Scored By Ruth Etting|date=December 13, 1938|publisher=The Pittsburgh Press|access-date=January 16, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/130218900/?terms=snyder%2Betting%2Bshooting|title=Slangy Phrases, Scandal Hints Enthrall Court As Ex-Spouse Of Ruth Etting Relates Shooting|date=December 16, 1938|page=11|publisher=The Palm Beach Post|access-date=January 14, 2014|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

Etting, who said the only gun in the house was hers, was able to go into her bedroom for the gun after the shooting of Alderman. When Snyder saw Etting with the gun, he wrestled it away from her; it fell to the floor where Edith Snyder picked it up and started shooting at her father. Edith's shots did not hit her father, but went into the floor.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19381017&id=CvBPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6522,4142564|title=Star's First Hubby Shoots At Successor|date=October 17, 1938|publisher=The Evening Independent|access-date=January 16, 2014}} Snyder's daughter said she shot at her father to save Ruth Etting.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8171460/snyder_shooting_reenacted/|title=Edith Snyder Weeps as Police Stage Reenactment of Shooting|date=October 19, 1938|publisher=The Cumberland News|access-date=January 4, 2017|via = Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{efn|At the police reenactment of the shooting three days later, Edith Snyder wept as she said, "I don't yet know whether I am sorry I missed my Dad or whether I am glad".}}

Snyder was charged with kidnapping Myrl Alderman and the attempted murder of Alderman, Etting, and his daughter, Edith, as well as California state gun violations.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19381209&id=WuEcAAAAIBAJ&pg=6116,5667287|title=Ruth Etting's Ex On Trial In Strange Case|date=December 9, 1938|publisher=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|access-date=January 16, 2014}} Snyder claimed that Myrl Alderman had a gun and shot at him first. He also said that Ruth Etting would not press charges against him because she was still in love with him.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8168851/snyder_claims_alderman_shot_at_him/|title=Ruth Etting's Secret Husband Shot By First|date=October 17, 1938|publisher=The Reading Times|access-date=January 4, 2017|via = Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8169046/snyderetting_still_loves_mewont/|title=But Etting Refuses to Reveal What Action She'll Take|publisher=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=October 17, 1938|via = Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} Snyder said he was drunk when he made the threatening calls to Etting and at that time, his intentions were to kill Etting and himself.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8169455/sntder_drunk/|title=Testimony of Snyder Heard|date=December 16, 1938|publisher=The San Bernardino County Sun|access-date=January 4, 2017|via = Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8171292/snyder_telephone_threats/|title=Snyder Claims Alderman Went for Gun|date=December 16, 1938|publisher=The Salt Lake Tribune|access-date=January 4, 2017|via = Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

During Snyder's trial for the attempted murder of Myrl Alderman, Etting and Alderman were married in Las Vegas.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19381214&id=nBpAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4466,1482210|title=Ruth Etting Weds Pianist, Spouse Shot|date=December 14, 1938|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=January 16, 2014}} Snyder was found guilty and sentenced, but was released on appeal after a year in prison.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19391213&id=xFUsAAAAIBAJ&pg=3554,4074519 |title=Verdict Reversed In Ruth Etting, Snyder Conflict |date=December 13, 1939 |newspaper=The Spartanburg Herald |agency=Associated Press |location=Spartanburg, S.C. |page=5 |access-date=January 16, 2014}} In January 1940, he won a new trial, but was returned to jail in lieu of bail.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8175522/snyder_back_in_jail/|title=Moe Snyder Jailed to Await Hearing|date=January 13, 1940|publisher=Bradford Evening Star|access-date=January 5, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} In August 1940, Myrl Alderman asked the district attorney to drop further prosecution attempts against Snyder for the 1938 shooting.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2110240/alderman_drops_charges_against_snyder|title=Alderman is Ready to Drop Prosecution Against Moe Snyder|date=August 23, 1940|page=6|publisher=The Lincoln Star|access-date=March 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

Snyder returned to Chicago in 1940 and worked in the mail room at Chicago's City Hall. He was still living in Chicago and working in the City Clerk's office in 1972.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14490150/snyder/|title=Ruth Etting: They Called Her Chicago's Sweetheart |date=June 12, 1955 |author=Leonard, William |work=Chicago Sunday Tribune |page=36|access-date=April 1, 2015|via = Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/882010/moe_snyder_chicago_city_clerks_office/ |title=Movie Partly True |page=2 |date=May 20, 1972 |newspaper=San Antonio Express |access-date=August 25, 2014 |via = Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} In 1975, Snyder was interviewed for a Chicago Tribune article about the 1930s, where he claimed the stories about his mob connections were untrue. Snyder said he worked for a song publisher and that he knew various celebrities through that work.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14490453/snyder_in_1975/ |page=34 |title=Six With Special Reason to Remember |author=Blades, John |date=April 27, 1975 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |access-date=April 1, 2015|via = Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

Snyder had at least one child from his first marriage, a daughter, Edith. After her father and Etting were divorced, she remained living with her. Edith died of a heart condition in 1939.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13124836/death_of_edith_snyder/|title=Moe Snyder Weeps Bitterly at Death of 'Poor Little Baby'; Miss Etting Grieves at Loss|newspaper=The Lincoln Star|page=1 |date=August 5, 1939 |access-date=March 31, 2015 |agency=International News Service |via = Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} It is believed Snyder died in Chicago in 1981.{{cite web|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9V-NN12|title=Martin Moe Snyder 1893-1981-Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1939, 1955-1994|publisher=FamilySearch.org|access-date=April 1, 2015}}

Along with Ruth Etting and Myrl Alderman, Snyder sold his rights to his story to MGM for the film Love Me or Leave Me (1955).{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RVYEAAAAMBAJ&q=ruth+etting&pg=PA67|title=The Gimp Is Back, Still Rough On Ruth|pages=67, 70|date=June 20, 1955|magazine=Life|access-date=January 18, 2014}} James Cagney portrayed Snyder in the film, which was a fictionalized life story of Etting, who was played by Doris Day. Snyder was very dissatisfied with the way he was portrayed in the film.

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Category:Jewish American gangsters

Category:Gangsters from Chicago

Category:Place of birth missing

Category:Place of death missing

Category:1893 births

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Category:20th-century American Jews

Category:Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago people