Empire Theatres Company - Revision history

Darryl: /* Empire Theatres Company (1894-?) */

2026-06-30T12:40:51Z

Empire Theatres Company (1894-?)

Darryl: /* Empire Theatres Company (1894-?) */

2026-06-30T12:25:21Z

Empire Theatres Company (1894-?)

Darryl: /* Empire Theatres Company (1894-?) */

2026-06-30T12:25:05Z

Empire Theatres Company (1894-?)

Darryl: /* Empire Theatres Company (1894-?) */

2026-06-30T12:24:41Z

Empire Theatres Company (1894-?)

Darryl at 12:24, 30 June 2026

2026-06-30T12:24:10Z

Darryl: /* Empire Theatres Company (known as Empire Theatres S. A. Limited) (1894-?) */

2026-06-30T12:20:26Z

Empire Theatres Company (known as Empire Theatres S. A. Limited) (1894-?)

Darryl: /* Empire Theatres Company (known as Empire Theatres S. A. Limited) (1894-?) */

2026-06-30T11:56:03Z

Empire Theatres Company (known as Empire Theatres S. A. Limited) (1894-?)

Darryl: /* Empire Theatres Company (1912-1913) */

2026-06-30T11:11:55Z

Empire Theatres Company (1912-1913)

Darryl: /* Empire Theatres Company (1912-1913) */

2026-06-30T11:11:23Z

Empire Theatres Company (1912-1913)

Darryl: /* Sources */

2026-06-30T11:08:42Z

Sources

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 ==[[Empire Theatres Company]]  (1894-?)==
-In July 1894, the [[Edgar Hyman]] and [[George Alexander]] founded the [[Empire Theatres Company]] and 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. In the same year, the company also took over the lease for the [[Gaiety Theatre]] in Johannesburg.
+In July 1894, the [[Edgar Hyman]] and [[George Alexander]] founded the [[Empire Theatres Company]] and 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. In the same year, the company also took over the lease for the [[Gaiety Theatre]] in Johannesburg. In 1895, they acquired [[Searelle's Theatre Royal]], renaming it [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]].
 Edgar's brother, [[Sydney Hyman]], acted as the company's London manager, booking acts in England to perform in South Africa. By August 1896, a variety company was being recruitment in England every four weeks and sent to South Africa for an eight weeks' season. Hyman also travelled to America to seek out artists there.

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 In July 1894, the [[Edgar Hyman]] and [[George Alexander]] founded the [[Empire Theatres Company]] and 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. In the same year, the company also took over the lease for the [[Gaiety Theatre]] in Johannesburg.
-Edgar's brother, [[Sydney Hyman]], acted as the company's London manager, booking acts in London to perform in South Africa. By August 1896, a variety company was being recruitment in England every four weeks and sent to South Africa for an eight weeks' season. Hyman also travelled to America to seek out artists there.
+Edgar's brother, [[Sydney Hyman]], acted as the company's London manager, booking acts in England to perform in South Africa. By August 1896, a variety company was being recruitment in England every four weeks and sent to South Africa for an eight weeks' season. Hyman also travelled to America to seek out artists there.
 By 1904, the company was also presenting artists at the [[Tivoli Theatre]] in Cape Town.

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 ==[[Empire Theatres Company]]  (1894-?)==
-In July 1894, the [[Edgar Hyman]] and [[George Alexander]] founded the [[Empire Theatres Company]] and 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. In 1894, the company also took over the lease for the [[Gaiety Theatre]] in Johannesburg.
+In July 1894, the [[Edgar Hyman]] and [[George Alexander]] founded the [[Empire Theatres Company]] and 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. In the same year, the company also took over the lease for the [[Gaiety Theatre]] in Johannesburg.
 Edgar's brother, [[Sydney Hyman]], acted as the company's London manager, booking acts in London to perform in South Africa. By August 1896, a variety company was being recruitment in England every four weeks and sent to South Africa for an eight weeks' season. Hyman also travelled to America to seek out artists there.

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 ==[[Empire Theatres Company]]  (1894-?)==
-In July 1894, the [[Edgar Hyman]] and [[George Alexander]] founded the Empire Theatres Company and 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. In 1894, the company also took over the lease for the [[Gaiety Theatre]] in Johannesburg.
+In July 1894, the [[Edgar Hyman]] and [[George Alexander]] founded the [[Empire Theatres Company]] and 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. In 1894, the company also took over the lease for the [[Gaiety Theatre]] in Johannesburg.
 Edgar's brother, [[Sydney Hyman]], acted as the company's London manager, booking acts in London to perform in South Africa. By August 1896, a variety company was being recruitment in England every four weeks and sent to South Africa for an eight weeks' season. Hyman also travelled to America to seek out artists there.

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-The are two companies known by this name.
+[[Empire Theatres Company]] (also referred to as [[Empire Theatres S. A. Limited]] in some sources) refers to one or two companies run by [[Edgar Hyman]].
-==[[Empire Theatres Company]] (known as [[Empire Theatres S. A. Limited]]) (1894-?)==
+Hyman was running the company from 1894. However, some sources state he had started a new company (with the same name) in 1912, suggesting that at some time before 1912 the original company ceased its operations.
 In July 1894, the [[Edgar Hyman]] and [[George Alexander]] founded the Empire Theatres Company and 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. In 1894, the company also took over the lease for the [[Gaiety Theatre]] in Johannesburg.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 ==[[Empire Theatres Company]] (known as [[Empire Theatres S. A. Limited]]) (1894-?)==
-In July 1894, the [[Empire Theatres S. A. Limited]] (managed by [[Edgar Hyman]]) 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 July 1894, the [[Edgar Hyman]] and [[George Alexander]] founded the Empire Theatres Company and 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. In 1894, the company also took over the lease for the [[Gaiety Theatre]] in Johannesburg.
-In 1894, the company also took over the lease for the [[Gaiety Theatre]] (3/5 Kort Street between Market & Commissioner Streets, Johannesburg).
+Edgar's brother, [[Sydney Hyman]], acted as the company's London manager, booking acts in London to perform in South Africa. By August 1896, a variety company was being recruitment in England every four weeks and sent to South Africa for an eight weeks' season. Hyman also travelled to America to seek out artists there.
 ==[[Empire Theatres Company]] (1912-1913)==

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 ==[[Empire Theatres Company]] (1912-1913)==
-In July 1912, The [[Grand Theatre]] in Market Street was bought out by Hyman's newly formed [[Empire Theatres Company]] in a mutual deal consolidating all their theatres. The [[Empire Palace of Varieties]] in Kruis Street (among others) was struggling to keep up with ‘bioscopes’ hence the consolidation. The company also contracted with The [[Bijou]], but this did not last.
+In July 1912, the [[Grand Theatre]] in Market Street was bought out by Hyman's newly formed [[Empire Theatres Company]] in a mutual deal consolidating all their theatres. The [[Empire Palace of Varieties]] in Kruis Street (among others) was struggling to keep up with ‘bioscopes’ hence the consolidation. The company also contracted with The [[Bijou]], but this did not last.
 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.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:08, 30 June 2026
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	==Sources==		==Sources==
		+	https://www.victorian-cinema.net/hyman.php

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