Happy birthday, Ruth Etting.

Ruth Etting was born on November 23, 1897 in David City, Nebraska. She moved to Chicago when she was 17 to attend art school. She began singing in a nightclub and was a featured singer by 1918. She married the Gimp--Moe Snyder, a Chicago gangster. He ran her career and she was America's sweetheart. She sang many songs that were hits at the time and many of which we (some of us anyway) still know and love. Ten cents a Dance and Shine on Harvest Moon are among them. The marriage fell apart and she became involved with the piano player. The Gimp shot him and he went to prison. Etting divorced him and married the piano player.

With this scandal, she lost her luster as America's sweetheart and was never able to revive her career.

In 1955, the movie Love Me or Leave Me was made loosely based on Ruth Etting. Etting was played by Doris Day and the Gimp was played by James Cagney. I love the movie and recommend seeing it.

Several years ago, I attended the Ruth Etting Days in David City. In researching for this blog, I found a website in her honor. Please go to ruthetting.com. You can learn more about her songs and her life.

Happy birthday, Ruth Etting.

Nebraska Nellie