African Consolidated Theatres - Revision history

Darryl: /* African Consolidated Theatres (ACT) (1931-1970) */

2026-06-30T14:17:14Z

African Consolidated Theatres (ACT) (1931-1970)

Darryl at 14:16, 30 June 2026

2026-06-30T14:16:51Z

Darryl: /* African Consolidated Theatres (ACT) (1932-1970) */

2026-06-30T14:05:34Z

African Consolidated Theatres (ACT) (1932-1970)

Darryl: /* African Consolidated Theatres (ACT) (1932-1970) */

2026-06-30T13:58:44Z

African Consolidated Theatres (ACT) (1932-1970)

Darryl: /* Sources */

2026-06-30T13:56:28Z

Sources

Darryl: /* African Consolidated Theatres (ACT) (1932-1970) */

2026-06-30T13:56:11Z

African Consolidated Theatres (ACT) (1932-1970)

Darryl: /* African Consolidated Theatres (ACT) (1932-1970) */

2026-06-30T10:07:51Z

African Consolidated Theatres (ACT) (1932-1970)

Darryl: /* Productions */

2026-06-30T09:23:50Z

Productions

Darryl at 09:19, 30 June 2026

2026-06-30T09:19:32Z

Darryl: /* African Consolidated Theatres (ACT) (1932-1970) */

2026-06-30T09:18:40Z

African Consolidated Theatres (ACT) (1932-1970)

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 == [[African Consolidated Theatres]] (ACT) (1931-1970)==
-The [[African Theatres Trust]] (1913-1931) was a theatrical importing and distributing agency and management company founded by [[I.W. Schlesinger]] and [[A.H. Stodel]] ([[Harry Stodel]]). Eventually this empire grew to encompass the cinema industry as well and was renamed [[African Consolidated Theatres]] ([[ACT]]) in about 1932 following a merger with [[Kinemas]]. The company became central to the development of professional theatre and film in the country. It appears it continued to produce theatre until 1970.
+The [[African Theatres Trust]] (1913-1931) was a theatrical importing and distributing agency and management company founded by [[I.W. Schlesinger]] and [[A.H. Stodel]] ([[Harry Stodel]]). Eventually this empire grew to encompass the cinema industry as well and was renamed [[African Consolidated Theatres]] ([[ACT]]) in 1931 following a merger with [[Kinemas]]. The company became central to the development of professional theatre and film in the country. It appears it continued to produce theatre until 1970.
 Between 1920 and 1960 virtually no-one could play the cities without the support and involvement of [[African Theatres]]/[[African Consolidated Theatres]], or at least utilizing their facilities. The company bought the wardrobe of the [[Graaff-Reinet Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society]] upon its disbandment for £2000. In 1932 they contracted the Johannesburg [[REPS]] for a production of ''[[Dangerous Corner]]'' in [[His Majesty’s Theatre]]  and in 1933  for one of Shaw’s ''[[Arms and the Man]]''. In 1941, when the outbreak of war had seriously curtailed professional theatre in South Africa, African Theatres once again invited the [[REPS]] to take over the [[Standard Theatre]], and from then till the end of war in 1945, almost all of its work was ceded to the [[REPS]]. They later collaborated with [[NTO]] on a number of projects as well.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 Also found as [[African Consolidated Theatres Ltd]] ([[ACT]]).
-'''For more information pre-1932, see [[African Theatres Trust]].'''
+'''For more information pre-1931, see [[African Theatres Trust]].'''
-== [[African Consolidated Theatres]] (ACT) (1932-1970)==
+== [[African Consolidated Theatres]] (ACT) (1931-1970)==
 The [[African Theatres Trust]] (1913-1931) was a theatrical importing and distributing agency and management company founded by [[I.W. Schlesinger]] and [[A.H. Stodel]] ([[Harry Stodel]]). Eventually this empire grew to encompass the cinema industry as well and was renamed [[African Consolidated Theatres]] ([[ACT]]) in about 1932 following a merger with [[Kinemas]]. The company became central to the development of professional theatre and film in the country. It appears it continued to produce theatre until 1970.

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 == [[African Consolidated Theatres]] (ACT) (1932-1970)==
-The [[African Theatres Trust]] (1913-1931) was a theatrical importing and distributing agency and management company founded by [[I.W. Schlesinger]] and [[A.H. Stodel]] ([[Harry Stodel]]). Eventually this empire grew to encompass the mighty cinema industry as well and was renamed [[African Consolidated Theatres]] ([[ACT]]) in about 1932 following a merger with [[Kinemas]]. The company became  central to the development of professional theatre and film in the country. It appears it continued to produce theatre until 1970.
+The [[African Theatres Trust]] (1913-1931) was a theatrical importing and distributing agency and management company founded by [[I.W. Schlesinger]] and [[A.H. Stodel]] ([[Harry Stodel]]). Eventually this empire grew to encompass the cinema industry as well and was renamed [[African Consolidated Theatres]] ([[ACT]]) in about 1932 following a merger with [[Kinemas]]. The company became central to the development of professional theatre and film in the country. It appears it continued to produce theatre until 1970.
 Between 1920 and 1960 virtually no-one could play the cities without the support and involvement of [[African Theatres]]/[[African Consolidated Theatres]], or at least utilizing their facilities. The company bought the wardrobe of the [[Graaff-Reinet Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society]] upon its disbandment for £2000. In 1932 they contracted the Johannesburg [[REPS]] for a production of ''[[Dangerous Corner]]'' in [[His Majesty’s Theatre]]  and in 1933  for one of Shaw’s ''[[Arms and the Man]]''. In 1941, when the outbreak of war had seriously curtailed professional theatre in South Africa, African Theatres once again invited the [[REPS]] to take over the [[Standard Theatre]], and from then till the end of war in 1945, almost all of its work was ceded to the [[REPS]]. They later collaborated with [[NTO]] on a number of projects as well.

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 == [[African Consolidated Theatres]] (ACT) (1932-1970)==
-The [[African Theatres Trust]] (1913-1931) was a theatrical importing and distributing agency and management company founded by [[I.W. Schlesinger]] and [[A.H. Stodel]] ([[Harry Stodel]]). Eventually this empire grew to encompass the mighty cinema industry as well and was renamed [[African Consolidated Theatres]] ([[ACT]]) in about 1932. The company became  central to the development of professional theatre and film in the country. It appears it continued to produce theatre until 1970.
+The [[African Theatres Trust]] (1913-1931) was a theatrical importing and distributing agency and management company founded by [[I.W. Schlesinger]] and [[A.H. Stodel]] ([[Harry Stodel]]). Eventually this empire grew to encompass the mighty cinema industry as well and was renamed [[African Consolidated Theatres]] ([[ACT]]) in about 1932 following a merger with [[Kinemas]]. The company became  central to the development of professional theatre and film in the country. It appears it continued to produce theatre until 1970.
 Between 1920 and 1960 virtually no-one could play the cities without the support and involvement of [[African Theatres]]/[[African Consolidated Theatres]], or at least utilizing their facilities. The company bought the wardrobe of the [[Graaff-Reinet Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society]] upon its disbandment for £2000. In 1932 they contracted the Johannesburg [[REPS]] for a production of ''[[Dangerous Corner]]'' in [[His Majesty’s Theatre]]  and in 1933  for one of Shaw’s ''[[Arms and the Man]]''. In 1941, when the outbreak of war had seriously curtailed professional theatre in South Africa, African Theatres once again invited the [[REPS]] to take over the [[Standard Theatre]], and from then till the end of war in 1945, almost all of its work was ceded to the [[REPS]]. They later collaborated with [[NTO]] on a number of projects as well.

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:56, 30 June 2026
Line 136:		Line 136:

	[[Walter Greyvenstein\|Greyvenstein, Walter]] 1988. ''The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa''. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.		[[Walter Greyvenstein\|Greyvenstein, Walter]] 1988. ''The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa''. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.
		+
		+	https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/827035/the-130-year-old-south-african-company-that-remains-a-household-name-in-entertainment/?__cf_chl_f_tk=R71mUtHukeMkqeZs1uSB7BYi6fBAVxtSX2jCsesMgQQ-1782827732-1.0.1.1-eX749ehudzSeZRC8B64WN7UeZaOmIdXnVoywXq.3MqE

	Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]]		Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:56, 30 June 2026
Line 12:		Line 12:

	[[Hymie Udwin]] was an executive at ACT for many years.		[[Hymie Udwin]] was an executive at ACT for many years.
		+
		+	[[African Consolidated Theatres Ltd]] was acquired by [[20th Century Fox]] in 1955.

	==Productions==		==Productions==

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:07, 30 June 2026
Line 10:		Line 10:

	Between 1920 and 1960 virtually no-one could play the cities without the support and involvement of [[African Theatres]]/[[African Consolidated Theatres]], or at least utilizing their facilities. The company bought the wardrobe of the [[Graaff-Reinet Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society]] upon its disbandment for £2000. In 1932 they contracted the Johannesburg [[REPS]] for a production of ''[[Dangerous Corner]]'' in [[His Majesty’s Theatre]] and in 1933 for one of Shaw’s ''[[Arms and the Man]]''. In 1941, when the outbreak of war had seriously curtailed professional theatre in South Africa, African Theatres once again invited the [[REPS]] to take over the [[Standard Theatre]], and from then till the end of war in 1945, almost all of its work was ceded to the [[REPS]]. They later collaborated with [[NTO]] on a number of projects as well.		Between 1920 and 1960 virtually no-one could play the cities without the support and involvement of [[African Theatres]]/[[African Consolidated Theatres]], or at least utilizing their facilities. The company bought the wardrobe of the [[Graaff-Reinet Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society]] upon its disbandment for £2000. In 1932 they contracted the Johannesburg [[REPS]] for a production of ''[[Dangerous Corner]]'' in [[His Majesty’s Theatre]] and in 1933 for one of Shaw’s ''[[Arms and the Man]]''. In 1941, when the outbreak of war had seriously curtailed professional theatre in South Africa, African Theatres once again invited the [[REPS]] to take over the [[Standard Theatre]], and from then till the end of war in 1945, almost all of its work was ceded to the [[REPS]]. They later collaborated with [[NTO]] on a number of projects as well.
−
−	~~African Consolidated Theatres was later sold to [[20th Century Fox]] in the 1950s after Schlesinger's death.~~

	[[Hymie Udwin]] was an executive at ACT for many years.		[[Hymie Udwin]] was an executive at ACT for many years.

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 Productions staged by [[African Consolidated Theatres]]  include:
-: ''[[Dangerous Corner]]'' (in association with [[Johannesburg Reps]])
+: ''[[Dangerous Corner]]'' (in association with [[Johannesburg Reps]]); ''[[The Barber of Seville]]''
 : ''[[Arms and the Man]]'' (in association with [[Johannesburg Reps]]); ''[[Children in Uniform]]''; ''[[Nine Till Six]]'', ''[[Verborge Sonde]]''; ''[[Misdade van die Vaders]]'' ; ''[[Aida]]''