Sean Paul Murphy, Writer

Sean Paul Murphy, Writer
Sean Paul Murphy, Storyteller

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Grave Tales #40: Morris M. "Miles Murphy" Snyder

I am an avid genealogist. The past is very important to me. I spend a lot of time in cemeteries photographing tombstones to upload on website the FindAGrave.

I enjoy recognizing long dead people by putting memorials to them online. However, every once and a while something grabs me about a specific grave. It could be the name, or the dates or a ceramic photo. In those cases, I feel compelled to dig a little deeper. That's what this series of blogs is about: The tales behind those graves. Some of my subjects will be heroes. Some will be villains. Some will be victims. And some will linger in between, like most of us. However, don't be surprised if the tales are inherently tragic. These are grave tales. They all end in death.

Sometimes it's hard to explain why I find myself drawn toward one grave instead of another. Other times, it's a no brainer. When I'm wandering through Hebrew Orthodox Memorial Cemetery, and I see a grave for Morris M. Snyder, aka Miles Murphy, I take notice immediately. I needed to know more about this guy who chose to partake in my Irish heritage. I discovered that he was a burlesque comic and club manager.

Miles Murphy
photo by S.M. Freed

Here's his story:

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 9 May 1964, Sat:


M.M. SNYDER
DIES AT AGE 66
-----
Comedian Had Performed
At Many Baltimore Theaters
-----

     Morris M. Snyder, Baltimore born comedian who performed his vaudeville routines on the Block for 50 years, died early yesterday morning at his home, 2507 East Snyder avenue.
     The 66-year old entertainer had been ill since December.
     Known for years to habitues of The Block as "Miles Murphy," Mr. Snyder, who dressed as a bum and dished up a varied slapstick routine of humor, had worked all of the theaters and many of the night spots on East Baltimore street.

Started Selling Candy

     Born and raised in East Baltimore, he became acquainted with the burlesque end of show business by selling candy in the dimly-lit theaters.
     Described by his friends as a "natural born comedian," Mr. Snyder studied the comedy routines of the performers who appeared on the bills between the "girlie" acts, and quickly demonstrated a knack for mimicry and ad-libbing that won him attention.
     He developed his own routines and finally broke into the business by filling in when other performers became ill or "didn't show."
     "Miles Murphy" eventually became well-known to local agents and he worked at the Rivoli theater during the peak of the old vaudeville days. He also performed at the Clover, Globe, Gayety and other theaters which dotted The Block before vaudeville faded and was replaced by the strictly "bump and grind" girlie shows.

Had Chance To Travel

     During World War II, he was offered a chance to travel with a road show, but he stayed in Baltimore to be with his family, and worked a long run at the 2 O'Clock Club.
     About five years ago, when practically all of the theaters had been closed on The Block, the comedian forsook the stage to work as a salesman in one of the book shops in the 400 block of East Baltimore street.
     Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Betty Workmeister Snyder, three sons, Daniel, Patrick and Douglas Snyder, and two daughters, Mrs. Albert Fabreziania and Mrs. Daniel Weinstein.

Nowadays, everyone associates burlesque with stripping. That wasn't always the case. While beautiful women were always part of a burlesque performance, the comedy was once equally important. Historically, burlesque humor had an edge of social commentary. In America, burlesque comedians also specialized in ethnic and immigrant humor, which probably explains Snyder's Irish persona.

Snyder indeed had a long career in burlesque.  Here are a few references to him from trade papers:

Billboard, 9 January 1926:


Billboard, 11 April 1942:


Billboard, 28 November 1942:

Billboard, 25 September 1948:

Snyder moved up from strictly performing to club management, and, in the world of burlesque, that could lead to controversy. Snyder became embroiled in one a few years later.

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 06 Aug 1956, Mon:


STRIPPER IS FINED
FOR SOLO SHOW
-----
$20 Is Levied For Indecent
Act; Manager Also Assessed
-----

     The platinum blonde kid sister of a red-headed stripper well known in Baltimore made her debut in Central Police Court yesterday.
     Faye Flemming (known professionally as Faye Harlow), an 18-year-old burlesque performer is following in the spike-heeled footsteps of her sister known professionally as Blaze Starr.
     Miss Flemming was fined $20 and costs by Chief Magistrate Meyer M. Cardin after pleading guilty to giving an indecent performance before about 150 patrons of the arts at the Clover Theater late Saturday night.

"Exposed Her Person"

     Lieut. Hyman Goldstein, of the rackets Division, testified that when the theater in "the Block" on East Baltimore street was raided, Miss Flemming was doing a solo act. In the process, the lieutenant said, she "she exposed her person."
     The art lovers liked it, he said, and asked for more. Miss Flemming gave it to them, in the form of an encore.
     The whole shebang was one big encore for Miss Flemming, the lieutenant said, since she currently is starring at a near-by "Block" night club.

"Something Extra Special"

     The Clover venture was "something extra special" he said.
     Also charged after the raid were Miles Murphy, 57, manager of the Clover, and Simon Hyman, 34, a laborer. Murphy was fined $20 for operating an indecent show, while Hyman's case was dismissed.
     The arrests were made after a man approached Patrolman Charles Gross in front of the theater and asked him if he would like to witness "a good hot show." Mr. Gross said sure, and went inside.
     Ten minutes later, Lieutenant Goldstein and Patrolman Edgar Kirby rushed into the house and shouted "This is a raid."
     The assembled connoisseurs rushed outdoors through several doors. Mr. Murphy, the manager, also exited rapidly, but later gave himself up to the police.
     At the hearing yesterday, Entrepreneur Murphy was embarrassed to find himself lacking $1.50 court costs. In a spirit of good fellowship, Lieutenant Goldstein lent him the cash.

I have read few stories that summed up Baltimore and The Block so wonderfully. The cops raid the place -- after enjoying the show -- and then the police Lieutenant lends Snyder the money to pay his court costs.... I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the tone of that story.

The Baltimore Sun obviously had no hard feelings about Snyder. Here's a nice little story featuring him about Baltimoreans expressing their relief over the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis. 

The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 29 Oct 1962, Mon:

Sadly, I couldn't find any footage of Snyder performing any of his routines, or a detailed description of them. In their absence, I am including a routine from perhaps the two most famous burlesque performers in American history: Abbott and Costello. Many people think the routine "Who's On First" originated with them, but that is not true. It was decades old before the duo started performing their own version of it. It was a mainstay of burlesque comedy. I would not be surprised if Snyder and one of his partners also performed it. In fact, I would be surprised if he didn't! 

 

Remember, there is a story behind every grave. You never know what you're missing when you walk past one....

Grave Tales:

My novel Chapel Street is now available! You can buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & Noble. Chapel Street is the tale of a young man battling a demonic entity that has driven members of his family to suicide for generations. It was inspired by an actual haunting. 


Learn more about the book, click Here.

Listen to me read some chapters here:


Read about the true haunting that inspired the novel here:

The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 1, An Introduction
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 2, The House
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 3, This Is Us
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 4, Arrival
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 5, Methodology
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 6, Clara's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 7, Clara's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 8, My Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 9, My Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 10, My Tale, Pt. 3
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 11, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 12, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 13, John's Tale, Pt. 1 
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 14, John's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 15, Come Inside!
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 16, Marion's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 17, Marion's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 18, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 19, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 20, Lisa's Tale
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 21, Recap, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 22, Recap, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 23, Recap, Pt. 3

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