Edgar Hyman - Revision history

Darryl: /* Film-maker */

2026-06-30T13:21:52Z

Film-maker

Darryl: /* Impressario once again */

2026-06-30T12:44:12Z

Impressario once again

Darryl: /* Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance */

2026-06-30T12:43:18Z

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Darryl: /* Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance */

2026-06-30T12:43:03Z

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Darryl: /* Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance */

2026-06-30T12:42:36Z

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Darryl: /* Impressario */

2026-06-30T12:37:42Z

Impressario

Darryl: /* Film-maker */

2026-06-30T12:27:56Z

Film-maker

Darryl: /* Impressario once again */

2026-06-30T12:12:25Z

Impressario once again

Darryl: /* Impressario once again */

2026-06-30T12:01:47Z

Impressario once again

Darryl: /* Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance */

2026-06-30T12:01:00Z

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

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 Carl Hertz gave South Africa's first film shows in May 1896. Greatly impressed by this novelty, in 1897 Hyman acquired a camera from Charles Urban (through his brother Sydney, who acted as his British agent). Hyman was undoubtedly making films by the following year, among which were street scenes in Johannesburg. These included ''A Rickshaw Ride in Commissioner Street'' and ''The Cyanide Plant on the Crown Deep''. This would suggest Hyman was South Africa's first film-maker.
-In September 1898 he claimed to have filmed President Kruger leaving his house in Pretoria en route to the Raadzaal, though Joseph Rosenthal in an interview stated that this film was his own work. What is certain is that in January 1899 Hyman, together with the Empire's musical director, [[Dave Foote]], gave a show of this and other films to the President himself and his guests in the Residency, Pretoria, and Kruger was said to be most impressed, especially with the film of himself.
+In September 1898 he claimed to have filmed President Kruger leaving his house in Pretoria en route to the Raadzaal, though Joseph Rosenthal in an interview stated that this film was his own work. What is certain is that in January 1899 Hyman, together with the Empire's musical director, [[David Foote]], gave a show of this and other films to the President himself and his guests in the Residency, Pretoria, and Kruger was said to be most impressed, especially with the film of himself.
 ===The War===

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 After the war Hyman continued in the music hall business. In 1903, he opened the [[Tivoli Theatre of Varieties]] with [[Arthur de Jong]] and ? Logan, and in 1904 was making plans to open a new Empire venue in Durban.
-In 1912 formed a company ([[Empire Theatres Company]]) running a chain of theatres and distributing films in South Africa, but the following year this company went into liquidation. It was a sad reverse for the man who had helped bring the cinema to South Africa. The company was bought by [[I.W. Schlesinger]]  and [[A.H. Stodel]] ([[Harry Stodel]])  as part of their newly established [[African Theatres Trust]].
+In 1912 formed a new company ([[Empire Theatres Company]]) running a chain of theatres and distributing films in South Africa, but the following year this company went into liquidation. It was a sad reverse for the man who had helped bring the cinema to South Africa. The company was bought by [[I.W. Schlesinger]]  and [[A.H. Stodel]] ([[Harry Stodel]])  as part of their newly established [[African Theatres Trust]].
 ==Sources==

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 ===Impressario===
-From 1894, Hyman was the manager of the [[Empire Theatre of Varieties]], Johannesburg (formerly the [[Globe Theatre]]). He had leased the theatre with business partner [[George Alexander]]. They also leased the [[Gaiety Theatre]] in 1894 and acquired the [[Searelle's Theatre Royal]] in 1895, renaming it [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]].
+From 1894, Hyman was the manager of the [[Empire Theatre of Varieties]], Johannesburg (formerly the [[Globe Theatre]]). He had leased the theatre with business partner [[George Alexander]]. They also leased the [[Gaiety Theatre]] in 1894 and acquired [[Searelle's Theatre Royal]] in 1895, renaming it [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]].
 ===Film-maker===

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ===Impressario===
-From 1894, Hyman was the manager of the [[Empire Theatre of Varieties]], Johannesburg (formerly the [[Globe Theatre]]). He had leased the theatre with business partner [[George Alexander]]. They also leased the [[Gaiety Theatre]] in 1894 and acquired the [[Searelle's Royal Theatre]] in 1895, renaming it [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]].
+From 1894, Hyman was the manager of the [[Empire Theatre of Varieties]], Johannesburg (formerly the [[Globe Theatre]]). He had leased the theatre with business partner [[George Alexander]]. They also leased the [[Gaiety Theatre]] in 1894 and acquired the [[Searelle's Theatre Royal]] in 1895, renaming it [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]].
 ===Film-maker===

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ===Impressario===
-From 1894, Hyman was the manager of the [[Empire Theatre of Varieties]], Johannesburg (formerly the [[Globe Theatre]]). He had leased the theatre with business partner [[George Alexander]]. They also leased the [[Gaiety Theatre]] in 1894 and acquired the [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]] in 1895.
+From 1894, Hyman was the manager of the [[Empire Theatre of Varieties]], Johannesburg (formerly the [[Globe Theatre]]). He had leased the theatre with business partner [[George Alexander]]. They also leased the [[Gaiety Theatre]] in 1894 and acquired the [[Searelle's Royal Theatre]] in 1895, renaming it [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]].
 ===Film-maker===

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 ===Impressario once again===
-After the war Hyman continued in the music hall business. In 1903, he opened the [[Tivoli Theatre of Varieties]] with [[Arthur de Jong]] and ? Logan.
+After the war Hyman continued in the music hall business. In 1903, he opened the [[Tivoli Theatre of Varieties]] with [[Arthur de Jong]] and ? Logan, and in 1904 was making plans to open a new Empire venue in Durban.
 In 1912 formed a company ([[Empire Theatres Company]]) running a chain of theatres and distributing films in South Africa, but the following year this company went into liquidation. It was a sad reverse for the man who had helped bring the cinema to South Africa. The company was bought by [[I.W. Schlesinger]]  and [[A.H. Stodel]] ([[Harry Stodel]])  as part of their newly established [[African Theatres Trust]].