“Berlin lost a legend here.” That’s what I always think standing before the Gedenktafel Rudolf Nelson Plaque. This plaque commemorates a man who shaped Berlin’s nightlife. Who exactly was Rudolf Nelson?
The Gedenktafel Rudolf Nelson Plaque marks a spot tied to a remarkable composer. Rudolf Nelson was born Rudolf Lewysohn in Berlin in 1878. He rose to fame as a composer and cabaret artist. Nelson significantly impacted Berlin’s vibrant cultural scene in the early 20th century.
Nelson came from humble beginnings. His family was poor Prussian Jewish. He showed musical talent early. Nelson studied piano at the Stern Conservatory. A turning point came with the Ueberbrettl. Ernst von Wolzogen founded this first Berlin cabaret. Nelson found inspiration.
Nelson started his cabaret career at Roland. It was a cabaret on Potsdamer Strasse. He accompanied his own songs on the piano. Nelson joined Paul Schneider-Duncker in 1904. They worked at the Chat Noir cabaret. It was located on Unter den Linden. This was Berlin’s most fashionable street. From 1907 to 1914, Nelson directed Chat Noir. “Das Ladenmaedel” became his most famous hit song. He also wrote operatic works such as “Miss Dudelsack”. Nelson made cabaret a night-time destination. The rich and famous wanted to be seen there.
In 1920, Nelson married singer Kaethe Erholz. That year, he opened the Nelson-Theater. It was on Kurfuerstendamm near the Sans Soucis restaurant. His revues became legendary. Top stars like Josephine Baker performed. Weintraub’s Syncopators and comic Max Ehrlich also appeared. Nelson also composed revues. These were for Berlin’s Metropol-Theater. It was located at the Admiralspalast.
The late 1920s brought sound films. Nelson entered this new field. He appeared in the 1929 film “Und Nelson Spelt.” In 1930, he started composing for movies. His screen credits include several films. “Nur Du” and “Dolly macht Karriere” are two examples.
The Nazis forced Nelson to flee Germany in 1933. He found a guest engagement in Vienna. Max Ehrlich joined him there. Anti-Semitism was rampant. Nazis disrupted the premiere yelling, “Jews get out of Vienna.” Police presence increased. The show had to end early.
Nelson moved to Zurich. He formed another new troupe. Eva Busch and Dora Paulsen joined. Max Ehrlich was a guest star again. Nelson emigrated to the Netherlands. He founded a theater troupe in Amsterdam. It became an important Exile cabaret revue. They staged performances from 1934-1942.
After the German conquest, Nelson was interned. He spent five years in a concentration camp. Nelson returned to Berlin in 1949. He reopened the Nelson-Revue-Gastspiel. In 1953, he was admitted to the Ordre national du Merite. Nelson received the Paul Lincke-Ring in 1959. It recognized his songs, revues, and operettas. He died in Berlin in 1960. He was 81.
So here stands the Gedenktafel Rudolf Nelson Plaque. It is a reminder of Berlin’s cabaret golden age. It is a celebration of his enduring artistic legacy. Nelson’s music and spirit live on in Berlin.