Bijou Theatre - Revision history

Darryl: /* Bijou Theatre, Plein Street */

2026-01-30T13:34:13Z

Bijou Theatre, Plein Street

Darryl: /* Bijou Theatre, Plein Street */

2026-01-30T13:32:43Z

Bijou Theatre, Plein Street

Darryl: /* Bijou Theatre, Plein Street */

2026-01-30T13:31:45Z

Bijou Theatre, Plein Street

Darryl: /* Bijou Theatre, Plein Street */

2026-01-30T13:30:56Z

Bijou Theatre, Plein Street

Darryl: /* Bijou Theatre, Plein Street */

2026-01-30T13:29:40Z

Bijou Theatre, Plein Street

Darryl: /* Bijou Theatre, Plein Street */

2026-01-30T13:28:44Z

Bijou Theatre, Plein Street

Darryl: /* The Bijou Theatre, Johannebsurg */

2026-01-30T13:21:02Z

The Bijou Theatre, Johannebsurg

Darryl at 13:17, 30 January 2026

2026-01-30T13:17:48Z

Darryl: /* The Bijou Theatre, Johannebsurg */

2026-01-30T13:11:05Z

The Bijou Theatre, Johannebsurg

Darryl at 13:05, 30 January 2026

2026-01-30T13:05:51Z

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 Productions performed there include:
-: ''[[A Quiet Family]]'', ''[[East Lynne]]'', ''[[Pygmalion and Galatea]]'', ''[[Brown and the Brahmins, or Captain Pop and The Princess Pretty-eyes!]]'', ''[[Leah, or The Jewish Maiden]]'', ''[[Lady Audley's Secret]]''.''[[The Pilgrim of Love]]'', ''[[A Happy Pair]]'', ''[[The Palace of Truth]]'', ''[[The Steeple Chase]]'', ''[[Caste]]'', ''[[Henry Dunbar, or A Daughter's Trial]]'', ''[[Hercules, King of Clubs]]'', ''[[The School for Scandal]]'',  ''[[Nobody's Child]]'' and ''[[Nursey Chickweed]]'', all by by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company.
+: ''[[A Quiet Family]]'', ''[[East Lynne]]'', ''[[Pygmalion and Galatea]]'', ''[[Brown and the Brahmins, or Captain Pop and The Princess Pretty-eyes!]]'', ''[[Leah, or The Jewish Maiden]]'', ''[[Lady Audley's Secret]]''.''[[The Pilgrim of Love]]'', ''[[A Happy Pair]]'', ''[[The Palace of Truth]]'', ''[[The Steeple Chase]]'', ''[[Caste]]'', ''[[Henry Dunbar, or A Daughter's Trial]]'', ''[[Hercules, King of Clubs]]'', ''[[The School for Scandal]]'',  ''[[Nobody's Child]]'', ''[[The Morning Call]]'', ''[[Lost in London]]'', ''[[The Duke's Motto, or I'm Here]]'',  ''[[Little Emily, or The Ark on the Lands]]'' and ''[[Nursey Chickweed]]'', all by by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company.
 '''For more information, see [[Oddfellows Hall]].'''

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 Productions performed there include:
-: ''[[A Quiet Family]]'', ''[[East Lynne]]'', ''[[Pygmalion and Galatea]]'', ''[[Brown and the Brahmins, or Captain Pop and The Princess Pretty-eyes!]]'', ''[[Leah, or The Jewish Maiden]]'', ''[[Lady Audley's Secret]]''.''[[The Pilgrim of Love]]'', ''[[A Happy Pair]]'', ''[[The Palace of Truth]]'', ''[[The Steeple Chase]]'', ''[[Caste]]'', ''[[Henry Dunbar, or A Daughter's Trial]]'' and ''[[Nursey Chickweed]]'', all by by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company.
+: ''[[A Quiet Family]]'', ''[[East Lynne]]'', ''[[Pygmalion and Galatea]]'', ''[[Brown and the Brahmins, or Captain Pop and The Princess Pretty-eyes!]]'', ''[[Leah, or The Jewish Maiden]]'', ''[[Lady Audley's Secret]]''.''[[The Pilgrim of Love]]'', ''[[A Happy Pair]]'', ''[[The Palace of Truth]]'', ''[[The Steeple Chase]]'', ''[[Caste]]'', ''[[Henry Dunbar, or A Daughter's Trial]]'', ''[[Hercules, King of Clubs]]'', ''[[The School for Scandal]]'',  ''[[Nobody's Child]]'' and ''[[Nursey Chickweed]]'', all by by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company.
 '''For more information, see [[Oddfellows Hall]].'''

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 Productions performed there include:
-: ''[[A Quiet Family]]'', ''[[East Lynne]]'', ''[[Pygmalion and Galatea]]'', ''[[Brown and the Brahmins, or Captain Pop and The Princess Pretty-eyes!]]'', ''[[Leah, or The Jewish Maiden]]'', ''[[Lady Audley's Secret]]''.''[[The Pilgrim of Love]]'', ''[[A Happy Pair]]'', ''[[The Palace of Truth]]'', ''[[The Steeple Chase]]'', ''[[Caste]]'' and ''[[Nursey Chickweed]]'', all by by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company.
+: ''[[A Quiet Family]]'', ''[[East Lynne]]'', ''[[Pygmalion and Galatea]]'', ''[[Brown and the Brahmins, or Captain Pop and The Princess Pretty-eyes!]]'', ''[[Leah, or The Jewish Maiden]]'', ''[[Lady Audley's Secret]]''.''[[The Pilgrim of Love]]'', ''[[A Happy Pair]]'', ''[[The Palace of Truth]]'', ''[[The Steeple Chase]]'', ''[[Caste]]'', ''[[Henry Dunbar, or A Daughter's Trial]]'' and ''[[Nursey Chickweed]]'', all by by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company.
 '''For more information, see [[Oddfellows Hall]].'''

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 Productions performed there include:
-: ''[[A Quiet Family]]'', ''[[East Lynne]]'', ''[[Pygmalion and Galatea]]'', ''[[Brown and the Brahmins, or Captain Pop and The Princess Pretty-eyes!]]'', ''[[Leah, or The Jewish Maiden]]'', ''[[Lady Audley's Secret]]''.''[[The Pilgrim of Love]]'', ''[[A Happy Pair]]'', ''[[The Palace of Truth]]'' and ''[[Nursey Chickweed]]'', all by by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company.
+: ''[[A Quiet Family]]'', ''[[East Lynne]]'', ''[[Pygmalion and Galatea]]'', ''[[Brown and the Brahmins, or Captain Pop and The Princess Pretty-eyes!]]'', ''[[Leah, or The Jewish Maiden]]'', ''[[Lady Audley's Secret]]''.''[[The Pilgrim of Love]]'', ''[[A Happy Pair]]'', ''[[The Palace of Truth]]'', ''[[The Steeple Chase]]'', ''[[Caste]]'' and ''[[Nursey Chickweed]]'', all by by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company.
 '''For more information, see [[Oddfellows Hall]].'''

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:29, 30 January 2026
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	1875: ''[[A Quiet Family]]'', ''[[East Lynne]]'', ''[[Pygmalion and Galatea]]'', ''[[Brown and the Brahmins, or Captain Pop and The Princess Pretty-eyes!]]'', ''[[Leah, or The Jewish Maiden]]'', ''[[Lady Audley's Secret]]''.''[[The Pilgrim of Love]]'', ''[[A Happy Pair]]'', ''[[The Palace of Truth]]'' and ''[[Nursey Chickweed]]'', all by by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company.		1875: ''[[A Quiet Family]]'', ''[[East Lynne]]'', ''[[Pygmalion and Galatea]]'', ''[[Brown and the Brahmins, or Captain Pop and The Princess Pretty-eyes!]]'', ''[[Leah, or The Jewish Maiden]]'', ''[[Lady Audley's Secret]]''.''[[The Pilgrim of Love]]'', ''[[A Happy Pair]]'', ''[[The Palace of Truth]]'' and ''[[Nursey Chickweed]]'', all by by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company.
		+
		+	'''For more information, see [[Oddfellows Hall]].'''

	== [[The Bijou Theatre]] in Observatory==		== [[The Bijou Theatre]] in Observatory==

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:28, 30 January 2026
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	Name given to the [[Oddfellows Hall]] by [[Disney Roebuck]] when he revamped it in 1875, adding a backdrop by illustrating "Discovery of the SA Goldfields", painted by Thomas Baines. He appointed [[Sutton Vane]] as stage manager, and performed 140 plays there in the first 7 month season. In 1876, on his return from a tour of Natal, Roebuck moved to the newly completed [[Theatre Royal]] in Burg Street, and apparently the Bijou ceased to exist (in name – the Oddfellows Hall was again used after that*?).		Name given to the [[Oddfellows Hall]] by [[Disney Roebuck]] when he revamped it in 1875, adding a backdrop by illustrating "Discovery of the SA Goldfields", painted by Thomas Baines. He appointed [[Sutton Vane]] as stage manager, and performed 140 plays there in the first 7 month season. In 1876, on his return from a tour of Natal, Roebuck moved to the newly completed [[Theatre Royal]] in Burg Street, and apparently the Bijou ceased to exist (in name – the Oddfellows Hall was again used after that*?).
		+
		+	Productions performed there include:
		+
		+	1875: ''[[A Quiet Family]]'', ''[[East Lynne]]'', ''[[Pygmalion and Galatea]]'', ''[[Brown and the Brahmins, or Captain Pop and The Princess Pretty-eyes!]]'', ''[[Leah, or The Jewish Maiden]]'', ''[[Lady Audley's Secret]]''.''[[The Pilgrim of Love]]'', ''[[A Happy Pair]]'', ''[[The Palace of Truth]]'' and ''[[Nursey Chickweed]]'', all by by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company.

	== [[The Bijou Theatre]] in Observatory==		== [[The Bijou Theatre]] in Observatory==

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 On 11 August 1877 the [[Bijou Theatre]] re-opened as the '''[[New Bijou]]''' and was later renamed the [[Theatre Royal]].
-= [[The Bijou Theatre]], Johannebsurg =
+= The Bijous, Johannebsurg =
 ==The Bijou Cinema, Small and President Streets (1909)==

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-There were several theatre venues in South Africa named The Bijou - located in Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg.
+French for “jewel”, it is a generic name for theatres across the world. A popular name for theatre buildings in South Africa as well especially in the 19th century, later also used for bioscopes.  There were several theatre venues in South Africa named The Bijou - located in Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg.
 = Bijou Theatres in  Cape Town=
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 The second-ever permanent cinema in South Africa was the Bijou which opened on 2nd September 1909 in a converted building that belonged to Union Market on the corner of Small and President Streets. It was promoted by two Canadians, [[W. Bogue]] and [[G. K. Shepard]] who were later joined by [[H. V. Barnes]] who showed ‘Bioscopes’ at the Wanderers Hall.
 ==The second Bijou, Fordsburg Market Square (1909)==
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 The promotors opened the 2nd Bijou (or Bijou No.2 as it was known) in the Assembly Hall at Fordsburg market square on 16th December 1909. Barnes became the manager of this, Johannesburg’s second cinema.
-==The Bijou Theatre, Jeppe Street (1910)==
+==The Bijou Theatre, Jeppe Street (1910-1958)==
-This was designed by Kallenbach & Kennedy in Jeppe Street (165-7) in 1910. It was refurbished in 1919 and again in 1930 when it was updated to the ‘talkies’ era. It still retained its orchestra pit – a relic from the days of silent films when it was demolished in 1958.
+It was refurbished in 1919 and again in 1930 when it was updated to the ‘talkies’ era. In 1936 its capacity was listed as 1549. It still retained its orchestra pit – a relic from the days of silent films when it was demolished in 1958.
 The Bijou is credited with showing the first sound musical under the [[African Theatres]] (Schlesinger) banner: ''The Singing Fool'' with Al Jolson on 30th November 1929. The Bijou was also Johannesburg’s ‘super cinema’ before the Metro and Colosseum appeared in the 1930s. Another first for the Bijou was that it was the first to show ''Silly Symphonies'' and other Walt Disney sound cartoons that supported ''The Singing Fool''.

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 = [[The Bijou Theatre]], Johannebsurg =
-The Bijou was designed by Kallenbach & Kennedy in Jeppe Street (165-7) in 1910. It was refurbished in 1919 and again in 1930 when it was updated to the ‘talkies’ era. It still retained its orchestra pit – a relic from the days of silent films when it was demolished in 1958.
+==The Bijou Cinema, Small and President Streets (1909)==
 The Bijou is credited with showing the first sound musical under the [[African Theatres]] (Schlesinger) banner: ''The Singing Fool'' with Al Jolson on 30th November 1929. The Bijou was also Johannesburg’s ‘super cinema’ before the Metro and Colosseum appeared in the 1930s. Another first for the Bijou was that it was the first to show ''Silly Symphonies'' and other Walt Disney sound cartoons that supported ''The Singing Fool''.
 An 18-storey building called Rand Central took its place.
 = Sources =

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 == The Bijou Theatre ==
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 = Bijou Theatres in  Cape Town=
 == [[Bijou Theatre]], Plein Street ==
 Name given to the [[Oddfellows Hall]]  by [[Disney Roebuck]] when he revamped it in 1875, adding a backdrop by illustrating "Discovery of the SA Goldfields", painted by Thomas Baines. He appointed [[Sutton Vane]] as stage manager, and performed 140 plays there in the first 7 month season. In 1876, on his return from a tour of Natal, Roebuck moved to the newly completed [[Theatre Royal]] in Burg Street, and apparently the Bijou ceased to exist (in name – the Oddfellows Hall was again used after that*?).
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 = [[The Bijou Theatre]]s, Pietermaritzburg =
 == [[The Bijou Theatre]] ==
 A theatre of note in Pietermaritzburg in the late nineteenth century (16 October  1867 – 6 December 1876)
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 On 11 August 1877 the [[Bijou Theatre]] re-opened as the '''[[New Bijou]]''' and was later renamed the [[Theatre Royal]].
 = Sources =
@@ Line 37: / Line 43: @@
 [[Dennis Schauffer]], 197*
 == For more information ==