Ruth Etting was born 1897 and died 1978. She lived in Nebraska and left
the state to hit the big time in Chicago at the age of 17,she found a job doing costumes for shows. Ruth
began to sing regular at the Marigold Gardens after trying out for a fill in. It was this club that Moe "The Gimp" Synder
entered her life.
In 1922 Moe married Ruth and he managed her to fame. Sydney got her a fine contract
from Columbia records in 1925. during her time with Columbia records she made over 60 hit records.
With recordings and radio appearances, as well as stage performances, cleared the
way for a film career. She plays in MGMs "Roman Scandals" (1933) with Eddie Cantor, the Jazz Age's "matter-of-fact" comedic
singer.
Ruth maintained prominence in show business throughout the 1930s, but her private
life was suffering at the hands of a jealous husband. There is no doubt Snyder was a man prone to violence.
The struggle for her divorce finally came in 1937. She had met pianist Mryl Alderman and planned to marry him.
A jealous Moe Snyder tried to stop the relationship by shooting Alderman in cold
blood. Fortunately for Ruth Etting, the man she truly loved survived the attack and were both married. Moe Snyder was convicted
of attempted murder.
She was known as the 'Sweetheart
of Chicago', 'Sweetheart of Columbia records', 'America's Radio Sweetheart', so she certainly earns 'Jazz Age Sweetheart'.
