Empire Theatre - Revision history

Darryl: /* The Empire Theatre 1935-1971 */

2026-06-30T10:46:44Z

The Empire Theatre 1935-1971

Darryl: /* "Second Empire Theatre", 1906- 1936 */

2026-06-30T10:46:36Z

"Second Empire Theatre", 1906- 1936

Darryl: /* Productions there */

2026-01-29T16:55:10Z

Productions there

Darryl: /* Productions there */

2026-01-29T16:48:14Z

Productions there

Darryl: /* Productions there */

2026-01-29T16:27:38Z

Productions there

Darryl: /* Productions there */

2026-01-29T16:25:09Z

Productions there

Darryl: /* Productions there */

2026-01-29T16:16:58Z

Productions there

Darryl: /* History */

2026-01-29T16:10:47Z

History

Satj: /* Productions there */

2015-05-24T03:19:14Z

Productions there

Satj: /* Productions there */

2015-05-23T15:57:20Z

Productions there

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 '''See [[Empire Palace of Varieties]], Johannesburg'''
-== The Empire Theatre 1935-1971 ==
+== The Empire Theatre 1936-1971 ==
 This is the only formal Johannesburg theatre to actually carry the name [[Empire Theatre]].

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 '''See [[Empire Palace of Varieties]], Johannesburg'''
-== "Second Empire Theatre", 1906- 1936 ==
+== "Second Empire Theatre", 1906-1935 ==
 This usually refers to the second, far more famous,  [[Empire Palace of Varieties]], built in 1906 at  135/7 Commissioner Street (corner of Kruis Street) to replace the one which had apparently burnt down in 1903.

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 : ''[[Tosca]]'' (directed by [[John Connell]]) ; ''[[Swing 1941]]'' (a musical presentation by [[Bertha Egnos]]); ''[[Springbok Follies]]''.
 : ''[[No, No, Nanette]]''
 : ''[[Aladdin]]'' (with [[Ivy Tresmand]]).
 : ''[[The Pied Piper of Hamelin]]'' (Produced by [[Anna Romain Hoffman]]).

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:48, 29 January 2026
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	1945: ''[[Aladdin]]'' (with [[Ivy Tresmand]]).		1945: ''[[Aladdin]]'' (with [[Ivy Tresmand]]).

		+	1954: ''[[The Pied Piper of Hamelin]]'' (Produced by [[Anna Romain Hoffman]]).
		+
	1959: ''[[Bo Jungle]]'' by [[Bertha Egnos]] in association with [[African Theatres]]		1959: ''[[Bo Jungle]]'' by [[Bertha Egnos]] in association with [[African Theatres]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:27, 29 January 2026
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	The theatre was at the heart of the entertainment business in Johannesburg, and saw hundreds of productions come and go over the almost 35 years of its active existence, a large number of them initiated or sponsored by [[African Consolidated Theatres]], the owners of the venue. Some highlights among the many productions done there over the years, include:		The theatre was at the heart of the entertainment business in Johannesburg, and saw hundreds of productions come and go over the almost 35 years of its active existence, a large number of them initiated or sponsored by [[African Consolidated Theatres]], the owners of the venue. Some highlights among the many productions done there over the years, include:
		+
		+	1937: The [[Carl Rosa Opera Company]] presented a season of 18 different operas.

	1939: ''[[Die Kwaksalwer]]'' (Molière), with [[André Huguenet]] and [[Berdine Grunewald]]; ''[[Going Greek]]''.		1939: ''[[Die Kwaksalwer]]'' (Molière), with [[André Huguenet]] and [[Berdine Grunewald]]; ''[[Going Greek]]''.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:25, 29 January 2026
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	1941: ''[[Tosca]]'' (directed by [[John Connell]]) ; ''[[Swing 1941]]'' (a musical presentation by [[Bertha Egnos]]); ''[[Springbok Follies]]''.		1941: ''[[Tosca]]'' (directed by [[John Connell]]) ; ''[[Swing 1941]]'' (a musical presentation by [[Bertha Egnos]]); ''[[Springbok Follies]]''.
		+
		+	1943: ''[[No, No, Nanette]]''

	1945: ''[[Aladdin]]'' (with [[Ivy Tresmand]]).		1945: ''[[Aladdin]]'' (with [[Ivy Tresmand]]).

@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 The theatre was at the heart of the entertainment business in Johannesburg, and saw hundreds of productions come and go over the almost 35 years of its active existence, a large number of them initiated or sponsored by [[African Consolidated Theatres]], the owners of the venue. Some highlights among the many productions done there over the years, include:
-: ''[[Die Kwaksalwer]]'' (Molière), with [[André Huguenet]] and  [[Berdine Grunewald]]
+: ''[[Die Kwaksalwer]]'' (Molière), with [[André Huguenet]] and  [[Berdine Grunewald]]; ''[[Going Greek]]''.
-s: ''[[The Desert Song]]'' (Romberg, Hammerstein, Harbach and Mandel)
+s: ''[[The Desert Song]]'' (Romberg, Hammerstein, Harbach and Mandel).
-: ''[[Tosca]]'' (directed by [[John Connell]])
+: ''[[Tosca]]'' (directed by [[John Connell]]) ; ''[[Swing 1941]]'' (a musical presentation by [[Bertha Egnos]]); ''[[Springbok Follies]]''.
 : ''[[Aladdin]]'' (with [[Ivy Tresmand]]).

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 ===History ===
-A theatre and picture palace in Commissioner Street, Johannesburg, built by [[African Consolidated Theatres]] in 1936, on the site of the demolished [[Empire Palace of Varieties]] at  135/7 Commissioner Street (corner of Kruis Street). It became one of the most active theatres in the city for many years.
+A theatre and picture palace (cinema) in Commissioner Street, Johannesburg, built by [[African Consolidated Theatres]] in 1936, on the site of the demolished [[Empire Palace of Varieties]] at  135/7 Commissioner Street (corner of Kruis Street). It became one of the most active theatres in the city for many years.
 The site on which the theatre stood gradually became immensely valuable and eventually was pulled down in April 1971. This occurred in a period of much public protest from the artistic community, the press and the general population about the disappearing theatres, most notably the old [[Standard Theatre]].

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 The theatre was at the heart of the entertainment business in Johannesburg, and saw hundreds of productions come and go over the almost 35 years of its active existence, a large number of them initiated or sponsored by [[African Consolidated Theatres]], the owners of the venue. Some highlights among the many productions done there over the years, include:
-: ''[[Die Kwaksalwer]]'', with [[André Huguenet]] and  [[Berdine Grunewald]]
+: ''[[Die Kwaksalwer]]'' (Molière), with [[André Huguenet]] and  [[Berdine Grunewald]]
-s: ''[[The Desert Song]]''
+s: ''[[The Desert Song]]'' (Romberg, Hammerstein, Harbach and Mandel)
 : ''[[Tosca]]'' (directed by [[John Connell]])
 : ''[[Aladdin]]'' (with [[Ivy Tresmand]]).
 : ''[[Bo Jungle]]'' by [[Bertha Egnos]] in association with [[African Theatres]]
@@ Line 57: / Line 55: @@
 ; ''[[My Fair Lady]]'' (with [[Diane Todd]] and [[David Oxley]]).
-: ''[[The King and I]]'' , directed by [[Des Morley]];
+: ''[[The King and I]]'' (Rogers and Hammerstein), directed by [[Des Morley]]
-: ''[[The Moulin Rouge Show]]'' from Paris, directed and designed by [[Anthony Farmer]] for [[ACT]].
+: The ''Moulin Rouge Show''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moulin_Rouge] from Paris, presented on a special stage set designed by [[Anthony Farmer]] for [[ACT]].
-:  [[Zizi Jeanmaire]] live (a large-scale revue).
+:  Ballet dancer Zizi Jeanmaire[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zizi_Jeanmaire] live (in a large-scale revue).
 : ''[[The Minstrel Scandals]]'' by [[Joan Brickhill]] and [[Louis Burke]]

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 : ''[[The Minstrel Scandals]]'' by [[Joan Brickhill]] and [[Louis Burke]]
-: ''[[Fiddler on the Roof]]'' , directed by [[Taubie Kushlick]] for ACT at the Empire in 1969. It starred [[Simon Israeli]] and [[Lya Dulizkaya]] with dances staged by [[Kip Andrews]].
+: ''[[Fiddler on the Roof]]'' , directed by [[Taubie Kushlick]]
 : The first stage production of ''[[West Side Story]]'' in South Africa, directed by [[Kip Andrews]] for the [[Academy Theatre]].