Empire Theatres Company

The Empire Theatres Company (known as Empire Theatres S. A. Limited – managed by Edgar Hyman).

History

In July 1894, the Empire Theatres Company entered into a lease of the Globe Theatre in Johannesburg, which was renamed the Empire Palace of Varieties and was formally opened on 1 December 1894, with a programme of famous British variety artists, including W. C. Fields, Marie Lloyd, and Kate Harvey. Its bar also became an informal stock exchange.

In 1913 Isidore W. Schlesinger bought Africa's Amalgamated Theatres and the Empire Theatres Company, as well as several other companies, thereby forming the African Theatres Trust Ltd on 10 April 1913, with A.H. Stodel (Harry Stodel) as partner. The aim was to set up a theatre circuit in South Africa and then import international shows to tour the country.

For more information

For more information, see African Theatres Trust Ltd.

Sources

https://johannesburg1912.com/2013/07/29/theatres-in-early-johannesburg/

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