Difference between revisions of "African Theatres Trust"

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The [[African Theatres Trust]] was a theatrical importing and distributing agency and management company founded by [[I.W. Schlesinger]]  and [[A.H. Stodel]] ([[Harry Stodel]]).
  
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Known colloquially as the [[ATT]] or [[The Trust]].
  
In 1911 [[Africa's Amalgamated Theatres]] was established and in 1912 [[Edgar Hyman]] established the [[Empire Theatres Company]] ([[Empire Theatres Company (South Africa) Ltd]].
 
  
In 1913 [[Isidore W. Schlesinger]] bought both [[Empire Theatres]] and [[Africa's Amalgamated Theatres]] and several other companies and thereby formed the [[African Theatres Trust Ltd]] on 10 April 1913.
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== History ==
  
He also formed [[African Films Trust]], a film importing and distributing agency.
 
  
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[[Africa's Amalgamated Theatres]] had been established in 1911 and the [[Empire Theatres Company]] ([[Empire Theatres Company (South Africa) Ltd]]) by [[Edgar Hyman]] in 1912.
  
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In 1913 [[Isidore W. Schlesinger]] bought both these companies, 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. The aim was to set up a theatre circuit in South Africa and then import international shows to tour the country.
  
 
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Schlesinger also formed a film importing and distributing agency called [[African Films Trust]] and [[African Film Productions Ltd]] (1915), with a studio in Killarney, Johannesburg, thus creating a huge and influential empire that would dominate professional theatre and film in the country for many years under the combined name of [[African Consolidated Theatres]] ([[ACT]]).  
Founded as '''African Theatres Trust''' in 1913 by [[I.W. Schlesinger]] and A.H. Stodel ([[Harry Stodel]]), with the intention of saving the ailing theatre industry by organizing it nationwide. By pooling their resources they gained control of theatres and cinema halls across the country, and set about bringing out dramatic, musical and pantomime companies to tour their circuit.
 
 
 
Eventually this empire grew to encompass the mighty cinema industry as well and was renamed [[African Consolidated Theatres]].  
 
 
 
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
  
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[[D.C. Boonzaier]], 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage",  in ''SA Review'', 9 March and 24 August 1923. (Reprinted in [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]] 1980: pp. 374-439.): p. 435.
  
== For more information ==
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"A History of the South African Film Industry timeline" 1895-2003, ''South African History Online'' [http://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/history-south-african-film-industry-timeline-1895-2003]
  
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"Chapter 4 - Another Victory for Trade Unionism: The 1918 Cape Town Musicians’ Strike", ''South African History Online''[http://www.sahistory.org.za/archive/chapter-4-another-victory-trade-unionism-1918-cape-town-musicians-strike]
  
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[[Percy Tucker]]. 1997. ''Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business''. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==

Latest revision as of 05:57, 23 August 2017

The African Theatres Trust was a theatrical importing and distributing agency and management company founded by I.W. Schlesinger and A.H. Stodel (Harry Stodel).

Known colloquially as the ATT or The Trust.


History

Africa's Amalgamated Theatres had been established in 1911 and the Empire Theatres Company (Empire Theatres Company (South Africa) Ltd) by Edgar Hyman in 1912.

In 1913 Isidore W. Schlesinger bought both these companies, 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. The aim was to set up a theatre circuit in South Africa and then import international shows to tour the country.

Schlesinger also formed a film importing and distributing agency called African Films Trust and African Film Productions Ltd (1915), with a studio in Killarney, Johannesburg, thus creating a huge and influential empire that would dominate professional theatre and film in the country for many years under the combined name of African Consolidated Theatres (ACT).

Sources

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1923. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.): p. 435.

"A History of the South African Film Industry timeline" 1895-2003, South African History Online [1]

"Chapter 4 - Another Victory for Trade Unionism: The 1918 Cape Town Musicians’ Strike", South African History Online[2]

Percy Tucker. 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.

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