Difference between revisions of "Bijou Theatre"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| + | There were several theatre venues in South Africa named The Bijou - located in Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg. | ||
| + | |||
== The Bijou Theatre == | == The Bijou Theatre == | ||
| Line 6: | Line 8: | ||
= Bijou Theatres in Cape Town= | = Bijou Theatres in Cape Town= | ||
| − | |||
== [[Bijou Theatre]], Plein Street == | == [[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*?). | 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]]s, Pietermaritzburg = | ||
| − | |||
== [[The Bijou Theatre]] == | == [[The Bijou Theatre]] == | ||
| − | |||
A theatre of note in Pietermaritzburg in the late nineteenth century (16 October 1867 – 6 December 1876) | A theatre of note in Pietermaritzburg in the late nineteenth century (16 October 1867 – 6 December 1876) | ||
| Line 31: | Line 29: | ||
On 11 August 1877 the [[Bijou Theatre]] re-opened as the '''[[New Bijou]]''' and was later renamed the [[Theatre Royal]]. | 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 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 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 = | = Sources = | ||
| Line 37: | Line 43: | ||
[[Dennis Schauffer]], 197* | [[Dennis Schauffer]], 197* | ||
| + | |||
| + | https://johannesburg1912.com/2013/07/29/theatres-in-early-johannesburg/ | ||
== For more information == | == For more information == | ||
Revision as of 15:05, 30 January 2026
There were several theatre venues in South Africa named The Bijou - located in Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg.
Contents
The Bijou Theatre
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.
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*?).
The Bijou Theatre in Observatory
The Bijou Theatre was opened in 1941 and designed by architect William Hood Grant. It was situated at 178 Lower Main Road, Observatory. It was closed as a cinema circa 2002 and since then has been used as an art gallery and a venue for special events.
The Bijou Theatre in Salt River
An art-deco cinema building built in 19**...
The Bijou Theatres, Pietermaritzburg
The Bijou Theatre
A theatre of note in Pietermaritzburg in the late nineteenth century (16 October 1867 – 6 December 1876)
The New Bijou Theatre
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 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 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
Jill Fletcher, 1994;
Dennis Schauffer, 197*
https://johannesburg1912.com/2013/07/29/theatres-in-early-johannesburg/
For more information
Return to
Return to South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
