Edward A. Preisendanz

Edward Adam Preisendanz was the son of Rudolph and Annie Preisendanz. He was born in Camden, NJ, on November 14, 1883. Rudolph Preisendanz worked in the wagon-building trade. He first worked for Jacob Rettberg, then opened his own shop, and later bought Rettberg’s West Jersey Wagon Works at 15–17 Market Street. The business grew to 15–21 Market Street and built and repaired both light and heavy wagons for many Camden businesses. The firm also kept a lumber and storage yard across the street at 14 Market Street. Rudolph later acquired Jacob Rettberg’s wagon showroom, like a car dealership, at the northwest corner of Delaware Avenue and Market Street.

When Edward was born, the family lived at 122 Elm Street. The 1887–1888 Camden City Directory shows Rudolph had moved to 109 Linden Street, and his business was then a short walk away at 111 Front Street. Another son, Rudolph Jr., was born in 1890. The family was still at 109 Linden Street then. By the turn of the century, the family had moved to 211 Pearl Street.

The wagon business did well, but Rudolph Preisendanz Sr. had heart trouble. He suffered a near-fatal attack around Christmas 1907 and recovered, but then had a fatal heart attack on January 28, 1908. His sons Edward and Rudolph Jr. (known as Rud) took over the business. Mrs. Preisendanz, daughter Henrietta, and Rud Jr. were still living at 211 Pearl Street when the 1910 Census was taken.

Edward married in 1907. At the time of the 1910 Census, he and his wife Claudia lived at 215 Elm Street. Their daughter Annie was born in 1910. The house had been damaged when a tree fell during a tornado that hit Camden on April 2, 1903. The family remained at 215 Elm Street at least until 1914.

Edward registered for the draft in September 1918. He and Claudia were then living at 636 Penn Street, across from prominent Camden attorney Howard M. Cooper. They lived on Penn Street through at least 1927. By 1929, Edward, his family, and his widowed mother had moved to 1381 Kenwood Avenue in Parkside.

By 1917 the family business had moved to 34–44 North 5th Street. That property was taken during the construction of City Hall and became the park known as Roosevelt Plaza. The business, then called Rudolph Preisendanz Sons and run by Rud Preisendanz Jr., later moved to 1706–1716 Federal Street in East Camden, where it made truck bodies. That site had been an automobile dealership as late as 1929.

In the 1920s, Edward and his brother Rud joined Lee J. Gill, a contractor from Merchantville, to form the Gillanz Company, a real estate firm. Their office was at 4 North 2nd Street.

Edward and Rud Jr. ran the family business through 1930. Both brothers helped with the fundraising drive that led to building the Walt Whitman Hotel. Edward was a charter member of Camden’s Rotary Club. Their father, Rudolph Preisendanz Sr., had been active in civic groups like the Camden Lodge of Elks, and both sons followed him in the Elks.

In 1930 the brothers sold the body business to longtime employee Robert Becker. Edward and Rud Preisendanz Jr. then started the Broadcast Advertising Company. In the 1930s this firm leased the city-owned radio station WCAM.

Edward Preisendanz died suddenly on October 6, 1933. Newspapers reported he had been stricken with what they called acute indigestion. He was 49 years old. He was survived by his daughter Anna, his mother Mrs. Anna C. Preisendanz, and his brother Rud Jr. By January 1938, Rud Preisendanz Jr. had passed away. By 1947 the body works had closed, and a Food Fair grocery store stood at 1706–1716 Federal Street.

Offering the pick of local talent under skillful direction in an ambitious revue, the annual Elks Frolic for 1928 will be presented Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings in the Elks auditorium at Cooper and Seventh Streets.

“Hi-Hat” is the title of the new revue and the appearance of Elsa Dorn is a feature. The revue opens with an act programmed as “Hits and Bits,” in which Rud Preisendanz will act as master of ceremonies. From that point on, the revue makes its way through a series of dances, songs, spectacles and comedy skits until its conclusion.

William H. Iszard, chairman of the frolic committee, also becomes an actor in the performance. Others in the cast include the following.

Benton Vansciver, Ronald Hollingsworth, Fred Peterson, Elmore Craft Jr., Dorothy McDonna, Bernice Hendrickson, Lillian Hill, Jeanette Smith, Dot McGuire, Dot Hemphill, Bill Geyer.

Catherine Hill, Lillian Starke, Irma Huff, Virginia Simms, Mary Hall, “Billie” Dryer, Anna Prayne, Margaret Printz.

Justin McCarthy, Dorothy Ferat, Ed Brewer, Charles Wright, Fred Peterson, Dave Reese, Biel Davis, Bill Huff, Lillian Hill, Roland Hollingsworth, Ed Kelly, Al Durfer, Ed Preisendanz, Bert Poland, Curt Hitchner, Jack Sauerhoff, Perrin G. Somers Jr., Alberta O'Hara.

Harry Todd, Pete McGuire, Bill Gravenstine, Paul Horompo, Frances Brabazon, Irma Huff, Ella Huff, Eleanor Townsend, Bernice Hendrickson, Lillian Hill, Jeanette Smith, Mary Hall, Anna Prayne, Margaret Printz, Marie Carmichael, Elmore Craft, Charles Wright, Joe Hill, Larry Callahan, Harry Glazer, William Ambright, Frank Garrison, Ralph Willey, Jr., William Leckfeld.

Colorful Revue With Snappy Features Delights Big

Colorful arid melodious, bearing the mark of skillful coaching and disclosing notable talent, the annual Elks' Frolic was given its first performance last evening.

An appreciative audience applauded the various performers and their skits as the array of “Camden and South Jersey talent offered their musical or humorous wares from the stage of the Elks” auditorium, at Seventh and Cooper Streets.

Open to the public, the revue, which hears the title of “Hi-Hat,” is to be presented again this evening and tomorrow evening, Not only does the large cast bear no hint of amateurishness in the performance, but through the frolic, the public is given an opportunity to see a number of men prominent in business and professional circles in Camden turn entertainers for the evening. William H. Iszard, former assemblyman, is a member of the cast of “Hi-Hat.” So is Rud Preisendanz, exalted ruler of the Camden Elks' Lodge and prominent businessman.

The opening act, Hits and Bits, gives opportunity to a group of clever singers and dancers. Prominent In this act is Preisendanz as “master of ceremonies.” The specialties introduce Justin McCarthy, Bill Guyer, Jannette Smith, Dorothy Ferat, Cliff Okerson, Charles Wright, Virginia Sims and Joe Hill. A dancing chorus composed of Dorothy McDonna, Bernice Hendrickson, Lillian Hill, Jannette Smith, Dot McGuire, Dot Hemphill, Catherine Hill, Lillian Starke, Francis Brahazon, Mary Hall, Bernice Hendrickson and Irma Huff, execute a series of timed dances. Miss Elsa Dorn has an important role in this and subsequent scenes.

A blackface novelty introduces Pete McGuire and Harry Toll in “The Transfer Men.”

A juvenile diversion features Kathleen Lyle and Ruth Matthiessen. It is called “We Moderns” and depicts a child's idea of the modern flapper and her collegiate boyfriend.

A sketch dealing with one of the vital problems of the day entitled “Pre-War Scotch,” serves to introduce David Reese as a bellboy, Bill Huff and Bill Geyer are two salesmen, and Bill Davis as the proprietor of a rural hotel.

Modern Fairy Tales sung by Katherine Hill and Lillian Stark, tells the song story of fairy tales of the past compared to fairy tales of modern times. The sketches are played by Lillian Hill and Justice McCarthy.

Another playlet of the “collegiate” mode is called “The Elopers.” Special song numbers by Perrin G. Somers are interpolated in the act.

“The Musica1 Tourists,” a parody on the popular songs of the day, coupled in such a manner that they tell the story of the purchase of a second-hand touring car, is one of the hits of the performance. In. this act are Ed Kelly, Al Durfer, Ed Preisendanz, Ben Hardy, Harry Todd, Bill Guyer and Jack Sauerhoff.

The Elks' “Madcap Dancing Ensemble” introduces a series of clever dances by Frances Brahazon, Alberta O'Hara and Virginia Sims. In this are acrobatic, ballet, waltz, clog, buck and eccentric dancing.

The closing scene, beautifully mounted in costumes and scenery, has, has been given the title “Palate D'Or.” Prominent among the performers are Charles Murray, Bert Poland, Jack Sauerhoff, Ed Kelly, Bill Gravenstine, Elsa Dorn, Pete McGuire, Ed Preisendanz, Harry Todd, Al Durfer, Dave Reese, Dot McGuire, Dorothy McDonna, Irma Huff, Pail Horompf, Lillian Starke, and Rud Preisendanz. A mixed chorus of fifteen voices lends color to the scene. Am augmented orchestra was under the direction of Perrin G. Somers, director of the frolic.

The curtain rises promptly at 8:30.

All Types of Jobs Handled By Becker Body Company

Business is good at the Becker Body Company plant, Seventeenth and Federal streets.

The photograph accompanying this article gives a glimpse of one corner of the shops. It could be duplicated anywhere in the plant and every picture would show skilled craftsmen busy working.

The work of the Becker Company consists of the repair of damaged automobile bodies and in the repainting or enameling of bodies. The plant is also equipped to handle all truck repairs and to manufacture new truck bodies as well as handle repair work.

The firm employs experienced, blacksmiths, metalsmiths, expert carriage painters and stripers, finishers, welders, woodworkers and others. The plant is carefully departmentalized so that whatever the work, there is always a skilled and expert craftsman to take care of it.

It Is the result of having hundreds of customers that keeps Becker's busy. In truck work they have a following among dairy firms, bakeries, meat packers, and other indus-tries who send their work here. The truck department is busy right now and in addition to being crowded with repair work there are half a dozen big bodies being manufactured that look as though they may be intended for beer trucks.

The company's work on pleasure cars comes largely from insurance companies and automobile dealers of South Jersey. Robert Becker who took over the business of R. Preisendanz and Sons three years ago, was for 15 years associated with the Preisendanz firm.

A resolution was passed protesting an increase in power authorized by the federal government to Station WORC and WEPS, of Worcester, Mass. An increase to 1280 kilocycles and to 500 watts causes interference in broadcasting, from WCAM, the resolution pointed out.

Another resolution was adopted by the commission clarifying to the federal government its position relative to responsibility as· to operation of WCAM. It was pointed out in the resolution that the mayor and city clerk had entered a supplemental agreement with the Broadcast Advertising Company, which leases the station from Camden. The government desired to establish that nothing be construed in the agreement which would relieve Camden from responsibility in operation of the station.