Difference between revisions of "Percy Rogers Cooke"

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[[Percy Rogers Cooke]] (1980-1958) was an architect and amateur thespian who designed a number of theatres and cinemas in South Africa.
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[[Percy Rogers Cooke]] (1880-1958) was an architect and amateur thespian who designed a number of theatres and cinemas in South Africa.
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==Biography==
  
 
Born in Bristol in England on 26 March, 1880, the son of the Reverend James Surmon Cooke. He was educated at the Wesley Methodist Colleges in Bristol and in Sheffield, going on to attended the Crystal Palace School of Engineering and training as an engineer.  
 
Born in Bristol in England on 26 March, 1880, the son of the Reverend James Surmon Cooke. He was educated at the Wesley Methodist Colleges in Bristol and in Sheffield, going on to attended the Crystal Palace School of Engineering and training as an engineer.  
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He came to South Africa ''circa'' 1903 and was employed as an engineering assistant by the Town Engineer in Johannesburg. By 1906 he had been appointed second engineer with Germiston Municipality where he remained until 1909.  
 
He came to South Africa ''circa'' 1903 and was employed as an engineering assistant by the Town Engineer in Johannesburg. By 1906 he had been appointed second engineer with Germiston Municipality where he remained until 1909.  
  
He married in 1907 and in 1910 left the public service to open his own practice in Germiston in 1911, while living at Littlethorpe House in Malvern in Johannesburg . His 1911 Licentiate papers for membership of the RIBA were signed by JS BOWIE who confirmed that Cooke had been 'engaged on architecture' for five and a half years. It seems that for a short time Cooke had worked in association with Bowie. Cooke's address was in Germiston by 1914 when he was nominated to the Council of the Association of Transvaal Architects.
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In 1910 he left the public service to open his own practice in Germiston in 1911, while living at Littlethorpe House in Malvern in Johannesburg. By 1945 Cooke had founded the company '''[[Cooke and Dreyer]]''' in Johannesburg, in partnership with F.L. Dreyer.
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Cooke was twice married and had one daughter. He died at St James's Mission in Magaliesburg near Krugersdorp in 1958.
  
 
==His contribution to South African theatre and film==
 
==His contribution to South African theatre and film==
  
In 1914 he formed the [[Germiston Players]], an amateur theatrical company and in 1916 contacted [[I.W. Schlesinger]], the Director of [[African Theatres Ltd]], in an attempt to secure [[The Globe Theatre]] in Germiston for the players. This may have been the beginning of Cooke's association with Schlesinger.
 
He won a competition to redesign the [[Grand Theatre]] in Benoni, which led to his also designing small theatres in Brakpan, Springs and Witbank.
 
  
In 1920 he moved to Johannesburg, where Schlesinger commissioned him to design a synagogue in Doornfontein and a new wing for the Jewish Home for the Aged next to the synagogue. In 1926 Schlesinger commissioned Cooke to design a cinema-de-luxe in Smith Street in Durban. This was to be known as the [[Prince's Theatre]] (1932-33). Cooke was thereafter appointed architect to the [[African Consolidated Theatres]] and in 1927 was sent to Europe and to the United States of America by Schlesinger to investigate modern theatre design. In New York he met Thomas Lamb who taught Cooke "the secrets of [[atmospheric theatre]] with an illusion of sky and stars" (for instance, [[The Capitol Theatre]] 1931). Cooke stated that he designed [[The Alhambra Theatre]] in Cape Town in Lamb's office. He paid a further visit to the United States in 1930 to consult the acoustics authority, Professor Sabine (who he eventually tracked down in London) prior to designing the Colosseum Theatre in Johannesburg. Cooke was elected a member of the Acoustical Society of America at this time. His association with Schlesinger led to the design of some remarkable theatres and cinemas in South Africa in association with an accomplished team that included [[H.W. Spicer]], [[W. Timlin]] and [[A.S. Konya]], among others. The [[atmospheric theatres]] in South Africa, in particular [[The Colosseum]], Johannesburg, were amongst the few examples of this type of interior in the world and are now rare.  
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Besides his general work as an architect of churches, halls, schools, public buildings and the like, he would become one of the pioneers of cinema and theatre design in South Africa (along with his contemporaries, like the company [[Kallenbach, Kennedy and Furner]], though their approaches differed considerably). 
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===His theatre involvement===
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He appears to have been an enthusiastic amateur thespian, and in 1914 he formed the [[Germiston Players]], an [[amateur]] theatrical company and in 1916 contacted [[I.W. Schlesinger]], the Director of [[African Consolidated Theatres]], in an attempt to secure the [[Globe Theatre]] in Germiston for the players. This may have been the beginning of Cooke's association with Schlesinger and his comapnies.
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===Theatre and cinema design===
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He next won a competition to redesign the [[Grand Theatre]] in Benoni (in 1916), which led to his also designing small theatres for the towns of Brakpan, Springs and Witbank ''circa'' 1915. 
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In 1920 he moved to Johannesburg, where Schlesinger commissioned him to design a synagogue in Doornfontein and a new wing for the Jewish Home for the Aged next to the synagogue.  
 +
 
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In 1926 Schlesinger commissioned Cooke to design a [[cinema-de-luxe]] in Smith Street in Durban. This was to be popularly known as the [[Prince's Theatre]] (built 1932-33). Cooke was thereafter appointed architect to the [[African Consolidated Theatres]] and in 1927 was sent to Europe and to the United States of America by Schlesinger to investigate modern theatre design. In New York he met Thomas Lamb who taught Cooke how to design an [[atmospheric theatre]], with its illusion of sky and stars. He paid a further visit to the United States in 1930 to consult the acoustics authority, Professor Sabine prior to designing the [[Colosseum Theatre]] in Johannesburg. He was elected a member of the Acoustical Society of America at this time.
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His association with Schlesinger led to further work, designing some remarkable theatres and cinemas in South Africa in association with an accomplished team that included [[H.W. Spicer]], [[W.M. Timlin]] and [[A.S. Konya]], among others. The [[atmospheric theatres]] in South Africa, in particular [[The Colosseum]], Johannesburg, were amongst the few examples of this type of interior in the world and are now rare.
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===Some theatres and cinemas designed by Cooke===
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''The [[venue]]s designed by Cooke are listed alphabetically:''
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[[Alhambra Theatre]] (1929-1930). Cape Town
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[[Bijou Theatre]], Cape Town, (renovated: 1930)
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[[Capitol Theatre]], Pretoria (1931)
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[[Cinema]] in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town (1927).
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[[Cinema de Luxe]], proposed: 1927. Cape Town
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[[Colosseum Theatre]]. East London,  1936
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[[Colosseum Theatre]] Central Johannesburg (1931) 
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[[Empire Cinema]],  Kroonstad (1940).
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[[Gaiety Theatre]] Braamfontein, Johannesburg (1928).
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[[Grand Theatre]], Benoni (1916).
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[[Grand Theatre]], Pietermaritzburg (1931)
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[[Opera House]] Cape Grand Parade, Town (reconstruction 1930).
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[[Orpheum Theatre]], Johannesburg (1931).
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[[Playhouse]], Durban (1927).
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[[Plaza Kinema]], Pretoria (1928).
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He also designed a theatre for Mayfair, Johannesburg (1931).
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==Sources==
  
Cooke was among the pioneers of cinema design in South Africa but KALLENBACH, KENNEDY & FURNER were also in the field at the same time, and the differences in the approaches of the two firms to cinema design make for interesting comparison. P Morton Shand, author of Modern Theatres and Cinemas (1930) probably spoke for the modernism of cinemas such as those designed by Kallenbach, Kennedy and Furner when he described the atmospheric theatre as 'this nauseating stick-jaw candy atmospherics' or 'outside-in' interiors' (Shand 1930:19). Cooke's only surviving theatre of this kind is the former Prince's Theatre, now the Playhouse, in Durban. (Wolsley SPICER's role in the design and execution of these theatres was considerable. Cooke and Spicer worked in association with each other several times but did not enter into a partnership. They designed a house for L Miller (co-founder of the OK Bazaars) in Parktown in 1933.) c1935 Cooke was asked to design the headquarters of the Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM) in Johannesburg, but for some reason he left the project when the building had reached foundation level (completed by architects at the University of the Witwatersrand headed by Professor GE PEARSE).
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https://artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/archframes.php?archid=292
  
After the death of his first wife he married Mabel (nee Cecil) on 21st February 1942 and on 11th October 1944 had a daughter Gillian, Cooke's only child. His second wife died on 12th June 1950 and he looked after his daughter until his own death in 1958.
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https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/south-africa?order=desc&page=2&sort=name&status=closed
  
Cooke was in partnership with FL DREYER in Johannesburg by 1945 (cf COOKE & DREYER). Among their buildings is the Central House building (1948) in Pretorius Street in Pretoria. Cooke died at St James's Mission in Magaliesburg near Krugersdorp; his home was in Parkwood, Johannesburg.
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Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
LRIBA 1911; MRSA, Lon; Mem Acoustical Soc of New York. (AB&E Feb 1927; Afr Archt Feb 1914:314; Building June 1922:45; Cinema, theatre and general construction. Nov 1931:32-33; LRIBA papers (1911; McTeague 1985; The Capitol Theatre, 1931; TAD MHG 3327/58; Greig 1971; Outspan 12.10.1956; SAWW 1916) Publ: Conditions of building industry in America, SAB Feb 1928:37; The charm of lovely suburban gardens, The Star 5 Sep 1928 suppl:12; Amateur acting brought me to theatre architecture, Outspan 12.10.1956 (portr).
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== Return to ==
  
This record has been corrected by Gillian McKay (nee Rogers Cooke), daughter of Percy Rogers COOKE. "He was an amazing person!" she says, she also kindly sent us the portrait photograph.
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Return to [[ESAT Personalities  R]]
  
All truncated references not fully cited in 'References' are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon.
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Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
  
List of projects
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
With photographs
 
With notes
 
  
African Broadcasting Transmitting Station: 1928. Maraisburg, Gauteng - Architect
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Return to [[Main Page]]
Alhambra Theatre: 1929-1930. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
 
Amnercosa House, for Anglo-American: 1924. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
 
Bijou Theatre renovated: 1930. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
 
Capitol Theatre: 1931. Pretoria, Gauteng - Architect 
 
Central Methodist Church: 1925. Benoni, Gauteng - Architect
 
Church Hall, Malvern: 1926. Malvern, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
 
Cinema: 1927. Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
 
Cinema de Luxe, proposed: 1927. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
 
Colosseum Theatre: 1936. East London, Eastern Cape - Architect 
 
Colosseum Theatre: 1931. Central, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect 
 
CTC Bazaars: 1936. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
 
Duchess Court: c1935. Berea, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
 
Empire Cinema: 1940. Kroonstad, Free State - Architect
 
Escom House (Van Eck Building): 1937. Central, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Design Architect 
 
Gaiety Theatre: 1928. Braamfontein, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
 
Garage and filling station: 1928. Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect
 
Grand Theatre: 1916. Benoni, Gauteng - Architect
 
Grand Theatre: 1931. Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect
 
Hillbro House: 1924. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
 
Hortor's, add: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
 
Hospital and house, Randfontein Estates: 1934. Randfontein, Gauteng - Architect
 
Hotel Edward: 1937 : c1970. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Design Architect 1937 
 
House George Lenz: 1926. Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
 
House Miller - Janeal: 1936. Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
 
Ismarena Mansions: 1934. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
 
King's Court Hotel: 1938. East London, Eastern Cape - Architect
 
Kingsway Mansions: 1928. Auckland Park, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
 
Municipal Offices: 1923. Heidelberg, Gauteng - Architect
 
Netherlands Bank - Second: 1926. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
 
Olivanna Chambers: 1935. Krugersdorp, Gauteng - Architect
 
Opera House reconstruction, Grand Parade: 1930. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
 
Orpheum Theatre: 1931. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
 
Playhouse: 1927. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect 
 
Plaza Kinema: 1928. Pretoria, Gauteng - Architect
 
Prince's Cinema de Luxe: 1927. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect 
 
Theatre: c.1915. Brakpan, Gauteng - Architect
 
Theatre: c.1915. Emalahleni (Witbank), Mpumalanga - Architect
 
Theatre: c.1915. Springs, Gauteng - Architect
 
Theatre, Mayfair: 1931. Mayfair, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
 
Vacuum Oil Co Stores: 1926. Pretoria, Gauteng - Architect
 

Latest revision as of 06:12, 13 November 2023

Percy Rogers Cooke (1880-1958) was an architect and amateur thespian who designed a number of theatres and cinemas in South Africa.


Biography

Born in Bristol in England on 26 March, 1880, the son of the Reverend James Surmon Cooke. He was educated at the Wesley Methodist Colleges in Bristol and in Sheffield, going on to attended the Crystal Palace School of Engineering and training as an engineer.

He came to South Africa circa 1903 and was employed as an engineering assistant by the Town Engineer in Johannesburg. By 1906 he had been appointed second engineer with Germiston Municipality where he remained until 1909.

In 1910 he left the public service to open his own practice in Germiston in 1911, while living at Littlethorpe House in Malvern in Johannesburg. By 1945 Cooke had founded the company Cooke and Dreyer in Johannesburg, in partnership with F.L. Dreyer.

Cooke was twice married and had one daughter. He died at St James's Mission in Magaliesburg near Krugersdorp in 1958.

His contribution to South African theatre and film

Besides his general work as an architect of churches, halls, schools, public buildings and the like, he would become one of the pioneers of cinema and theatre design in South Africa (along with his contemporaries, like the company Kallenbach, Kennedy and Furner, though their approaches differed considerably).

His theatre involvement

He appears to have been an enthusiastic amateur thespian, and in 1914 he formed the Germiston Players, an amateur theatrical company and in 1916 contacted I.W. Schlesinger, the Director of African Consolidated Theatres, in an attempt to secure the Globe Theatre in Germiston for the players. This may have been the beginning of Cooke's association with Schlesinger and his comapnies.

Theatre and cinema design

He next won a competition to redesign the Grand Theatre in Benoni (in 1916), which led to his also designing small theatres for the towns of Brakpan, Springs and Witbank circa 1915.

In 1920 he moved to Johannesburg, where Schlesinger commissioned him to design a synagogue in Doornfontein and a new wing for the Jewish Home for the Aged next to the synagogue.

In 1926 Schlesinger commissioned Cooke to design a cinema-de-luxe in Smith Street in Durban. This was to be popularly known as the Prince's Theatre (built 1932-33). Cooke was thereafter appointed architect to the African Consolidated Theatres and in 1927 was sent to Europe and to the United States of America by Schlesinger to investigate modern theatre design. In New York he met Thomas Lamb who taught Cooke how to design an atmospheric theatre, with its illusion of sky and stars. He paid a further visit to the United States in 1930 to consult the acoustics authority, Professor Sabine prior to designing the Colosseum Theatre in Johannesburg. He was elected a member of the Acoustical Society of America at this time.

His association with Schlesinger led to further work, designing some remarkable theatres and cinemas in South Africa in association with an accomplished team that included H.W. Spicer, W.M. Timlin and A.S. Konya, among others. The atmospheric theatres in South Africa, in particular The Colosseum, Johannesburg, were amongst the few examples of this type of interior in the world and are now rare.

Some theatres and cinemas designed by Cooke

The venues designed by Cooke are listed alphabetically:

Alhambra Theatre (1929-1930). Cape Town

Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, (renovated: 1930)

Capitol Theatre, Pretoria (1931)

Cinema in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town (1927).

Cinema de Luxe, proposed: 1927. Cape Town

Colosseum Theatre. East London, 1936

Colosseum Theatre Central Johannesburg (1931)

Empire Cinema, Kroonstad (1940).

Gaiety Theatre Braamfontein, Johannesburg (1928).

Grand Theatre, Benoni (1916).

Grand Theatre, Pietermaritzburg (1931)

Opera House Cape Grand Parade, Town (reconstruction 1930).

Orpheum Theatre, Johannesburg (1931).

Playhouse, Durban (1927).

Plaza Kinema, Pretoria (1928).

He also designed a theatre for Mayfair, Johannesburg (1931).

Sources

https://artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/archframes.php?archid=292

https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/south-africa?order=desc&page=2&sort=name&status=closed

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities R

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page