At 17, Orin Snyder's mother was a radio star who played radio's first heroin addict
She also played radio's first abortion storyline, earning $289 a week.
Original Jurisdiction · Trial Lawyer To The Stars: Orin SnyderBy age 17, the mother of lawyer Orin Snyder was a star of radio soap operas, the serialized dramas families tuned in to hear in the evening.
Raised in Brooklyn, she ventured to Manhattan at age 12 to study tap dance, acting, and mime, Snyder said. She starred on leading programs including 21st Precinct and Nora Drake.
On radio, she played the first heroin addict heard on radio and what Snyder called "the first character on a radio station to have an abortion," parts he called very controversial. In those days before television, Snyder said "she brought home $289 a week," probably more money than her own father sometimes made in a year.
Questions people ask
How much was $289 a week at the time?
A great deal. In the network radio era before television, $289 a week would be equal to roughly $4,000 to $5,000 a week today, or more than $200,000 a year. For a teenager from Brooklyn, it meant outearning many adult men.
Why would an abortion storyline have been so controversial?
Abortion was illegal in most of the United States until 1973, and broadcasting followed strict standards against explicit or morally contentious material. A storyline about abortion risked alarming listeners, angering sponsors, and drawing condemnation from religious and civic groups.
Who is Orin Snyder?
Snyder is a litigator in New York whose clients have included Bob Dylan, Mariah Carey, and LeBron James. He grew up in Greenwich Village in the 1960s and 1970s, surrounded by artists, writers, and musicians, before building a career representing creative people and companies.