Kenneth Sonderleiter: Difference between revisions
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'''Kenneth Sonderleiter''' was an American bootlegger in [[Des Moines, Iowa]]. |
'''Kenneth Sonderleiter''' was an American [[Rum-running|bootlegger]] in [[Des Moines, Iowa]]. |
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== Life and career == |
== Life and career == |
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In 1921, shortly after entering the [[Bootlegging (alcohol)|bootlegging]] trade, Sonderleiter was arrested for violating the [[Volstead Act]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Bauer |first=Bryce T. |title=Gentlemen Bootleggers: The True Story of Templeton Rye, Prohibition, and a Small Town in Cahoots |publisher=[[Chicago Review Press]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-61374-848-0 |location=Chicago}}</ref>{{Rp|page=110}} Upon his release, he began purchasing large quantities of illegal liquor and publicized himself, going so far as to distribute business cards and brochures with information on where people could purchase alcohol from him.<ref name=":2" />{{Rp|page=111}} He quickly entered into a business arrangement with Joe Irlbeck, a fellow bootlegger who operated out of the [[Hotel Fort Des Moines]]. Under their arrangement, Irlbeck supplied [[Templeton Rye]] to Sonderleiter at wholesale prices for distribution.<ref name=":2" />{{Rp|page=|pages=111-112}} |
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| ⚫ | Sonderleiter operated a variety of businesses in Des Moines, including a [[penny arcade]], lunch stand, and [[zoo]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |date=1944-03-25 |title=Mumps Cramp Political Style of Arcade Owner |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dwwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT85&dq=%22Kenneth+Sonderleiter%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjswd-q78CGAxUVmYQIHe9cCa8Q6AF6BAgFEAI#v=onepage&q=%22Kenneth%20Sonderleiter%22&f=false |journal=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=56 |issue=13 |pages=86 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |date=1943-11-01 |title=Miscellany |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,933294,00.html |journal=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |volume=43 |issue=18 |pages=97}}</ref> He became known for his unique publicity tactics, which included selling monkey meat.<ref name=":0" /> In 1943, after failing to construct suitable housing for his zoo's lions, he claimed that he would sell "lionburgers" at his lunch stand.<ref name=":1" /> |
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Sonderleiter was assaulted by competing bootleggers in 1925 and spent six weeks in the hospital as a result.<ref name=":2" />{{Rp|page=175}} Shortly thereafter, one of his front businesses was raided and he was arrested and tried before a grand jury. Sonderleiter's defense, that he had been framed, was successful and the grand jury did not pursue charges.<ref name=":2" />{{Rp|page=176}} |
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operated a [[penny arcade]] in Des Moines, where he became known for his unique publicity tactics, which included selling [[monkey meat]].<ref name=":0" /> |
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In 1930, Sonderleiter and two associates disguised themselves as [[Prohibition agent|prohibition agents]] and kidnapped a local bootlegger who Sonderleiter suspected of hijacking a shipment of alchol from [[Chicago]].<ref name=":2" />{{Rp|pages=177-178}} |
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| ⚫ | Sonderleiter operated a variety of businesses in Des Moines, including a [[penny arcade]], lunch stand, and [[zoo]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |date=1944-03-25 |title=Mumps Cramp Political Style of Arcade Owner |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dwwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT85&dq=%22Kenneth+Sonderleiter%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjswd-q78CGAxUVmYQIHe9cCa8Q6AF6BAgFEAI#v=onepage&q=%22Kenneth%20Sonderleiter%22&f=false |journal=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=56 |issue=13 |pages=86 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |date=1943-11-01 |title=Miscellany |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,933294,00.html |journal=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |volume=43 |issue=18 |pages=97}}</ref> He became known for his unique publicity tactics, which included selling monkey meat.<ref name=":0" /> In 1943, after failing to construct suitable housing for his zoo's lions, he claimed that he would sell "lionburgers" at his lunch stand.<ref name=":1" /> |
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In 1944, Sonderleiter ran for city safety commissioner of Des Moines.<ref name=":0" /> He fell ill with a case of the [[mumps]] and, unable to campaign, finished eleventh out of fourteen candidates.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1944-04-08 |title=Operators Fail to Place a Member on Run-Off Ballot |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=swwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA69&dq=%22Kenneth+Sonderleiter%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjswd-q78CGAxUVmYQIHe9cCa8Q6AF6BAgEEAI#v=onepage&q=%22Kenneth%20Sonderleiter%22&f=false |journal=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=56 |issue=15 |pages=69 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> |
In 1944, Sonderleiter ran for city safety commissioner of Des Moines.<ref name=":0" /> He fell ill with a case of the [[mumps]] and, unable to campaign, finished eleventh out of fourteen candidates.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1944-04-08 |title=Operators Fail to Place a Member on Run-Off Ballot |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=swwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA69&dq=%22Kenneth+Sonderleiter%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjswd-q78CGAxUVmYQIHe9cCa8Q6AF6BAgEEAI#v=onepage&q=%22Kenneth%20Sonderleiter%22&f=false |journal=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=56 |issue=15 |pages=69 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> |
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== Personal life == |
== Personal life == |
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Sonderlieter was married to Faye Sonderlieter, who assisted in his bootlegging activities.<ref name=":2" />{{Rp|page=111}} |
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Sonderleiter was described in Bryce Bauer's 2014 book ''Gentlemen Bootleggers'' as being five feet and nine inches tall, with "classic good looks" and a lengthy scar across the front of his neck.<ref name=":2" />{{Rp|page=110}} |
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A [[speakeasy]] at the Iowa Taproom in Des Moines is named after Sonderleiter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ken’s – a not so secret speakeasy |url=https://iowataproom.com/kens/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Iowa Taproom}}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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* https://iowataproom.com/kens/ |
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* https://archive.org/details/gentlemenbootleg0000baue/page/174/mode/2up?q=%22Kenneth+Sonderleiter%22 |
* https://archive.org/details/gentlemenbootleg0000baue/page/174/mode/2up?q=%22Kenneth+Sonderleiter%22 |
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* https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/search/?keyword=%22Kenneth+Sonderleiter%22®ion=us-ia |
* https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/search/?keyword=%22Kenneth+Sonderleiter%22®ion=us-ia |
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Revision as of 14:33, 4 June 2024
Kenneth Sonderleiter was an American bootlegger in Des Moines, Iowa.
Life and career
In 1921, shortly after entering the bootlegging trade, Sonderleiter was arrested for violating the Volstead Act.[1]: 110 Upon his release, he began purchasing large quantities of illegal liquor and publicized himself, going so far as to distribute business cards and brochures with information on where people could purchase alcohol from him.[1]: 111 He quickly entered into a business arrangement with Joe Irlbeck, a fellow bootlegger who operated out of the Hotel Fort Des Moines. Under their arrangement, Irlbeck supplied Templeton Rye to Sonderleiter at wholesale prices for distribution.[1]: 111–112
Sonderleiter was assaulted by competing bootleggers in 1925 and spent six weeks in the hospital as a result.[1]: 175 Shortly thereafter, one of his front businesses was raided and he was arrested and tried before a grand jury. Sonderleiter's defense, that he had been framed, was successful and the grand jury did not pursue charges.[1]: 176
In 1930, Sonderleiter and two associates disguised themselves as prohibition agents and kidnapped a local bootlegger who Sonderleiter suspected of hijacking a shipment of alchol from Chicago.[1]: 177–178
Sonderleiter operated a variety of businesses in Des Moines, including a penny arcade, lunch stand, and zoo.[2][3] He became known for his unique publicity tactics, which included selling monkey meat.[2] In 1943, after failing to construct suitable housing for his zoo's lions, he claimed that he would sell "lionburgers" at his lunch stand.[3]
In 1944, Sonderleiter ran for city safety commissioner of Des Moines.[2] He fell ill with a case of the mumps and, unable to campaign, finished eleventh out of fourteen candidates.[4]
In 1945, Sonderleiter assisted with the capture of a polar bear that escaped from a railway car in Boone, Iowa.[5]
Personal life
Sonderlieter was married to Faye Sonderlieter, who assisted in his bootlegging activities.[1]: 111
Sonderleiter was described in Bryce Bauer's 2014 book Gentlemen Bootleggers as being five feet and nine inches tall, with "classic good looks" and a lengthy scar across the front of his neck.[1]: 110
A speakeasy at the Iowa Taproom in Des Moines is named after Sonderleiter.[6]
References
- https://archive.org/details/gentlemenbootleg0000baue/page/174/mode/2up?q=%22Kenneth+Sonderleiter%22
- https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/search/?keyword=%22Kenneth+Sonderleiter%22®ion=us-ia
- ^ a b c d e f g h Bauer, Bryce T. (2014). Gentlemen Bootleggers: The True Story of Templeton Rye, Prohibition, and a Small Town in Cahoots. Chicago: Chicago Review Press. ISBN 978-1-61374-848-0.
- ^ a b c "Mumps Cramp Political Style of Arcade Owner". Billboard. 56 (13): 86. 1944-03-25 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Miscellany". Time. 43 (18): 97. 1943-11-01.
- ^ "Operators Fail to Place a Member on Run-Off Ballot". Billboard. 56 (15): 69. 1944-04-08 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Sonderleiter Pulls Frank Buck Stunt". Billboard. 57 (24): 72. 1945-06-16.
- ^ "Ken's – a not so secret speakeasy". Iowa Taproom. Retrieved 2024-06-04.