Difference between revisions of "President Theatre"
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== The President Theatre, Pretoria == | == The President Theatre, Pretoria == | ||
Situated on the western side of Church Square, next to the Nederlandsche Bank. | Situated on the western side of Church Square, next to the Nederlandsche Bank. | ||
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| + | (1889?-1903) In the late 1880s (?) the tavern of (Friederick?) Reck’s South African Hotel and Tavern on the western side of Church Square was converted to a theatre with room for an audience of 350 and “well adapted for dramatic entertainment, concerts and balls”. (The tavern had been the place where the original [[Geselliger Verein von Deutschen in Pretoria]] was founded. This later became the [[Deutscher Verein]].) Binge (1969) claims it was initially called the [[Alhambra Hall]], but at some stage Reck then called it the '''President Theatre''' and for a while it was the only theatre in the city, and operas and operettas were produced there by the Verdi Opera Company, which ran for packed seasons of six months. The Dutch amateur group [[Oefening Baart Kunst]] also used it between 1891-1899. In 1903 part of the hotel made way for the Nederlandsche Bank while Reck added a skating rink to his entertainment complex and renamed the theatre the Empress Theatre.** On Friederick Reck’s death his son, the Marcus Karl Reck took over the management of the hotel and theatre complex. In 1901, on the death of Queen Victoria, the theatre was again renamed, now becoming His Majesty’s and in 1918, on the death of Karl Reck, became the property of African Consolidated Theatres, who converted it into the Capitol Theatre. **** ??? (Based in part on reminiscencs of Mrs Iris Reck, daughter-in-law of Karl Reck – 15/4/2001.) | ||
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| + | [[Oefening Baart Kunst]] ("Practice produces Art") used the theatre for their productions. | ||
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Revision as of 06:41, 17 November 2010
Contents
The President Theatre, Pretoria
Situated on the western side of Church Square, next to the Nederlandsche Bank.
(1889?-1903) In the late 1880s (?) the tavern of (Friederick?) Reck’s South African Hotel and Tavern on the western side of Church Square was converted to a theatre with room for an audience of 350 and “well adapted for dramatic entertainment, concerts and balls”. (The tavern had been the place where the original Geselliger Verein von Deutschen in Pretoria was founded. This later became the Deutscher Verein.) Binge (1969) claims it was initially called the Alhambra Hall, but at some stage Reck then called it the President Theatre and for a while it was the only theatre in the city, and operas and operettas were produced there by the Verdi Opera Company, which ran for packed seasons of six months. The Dutch amateur group Oefening Baart Kunst also used it between 1891-1899. In 1903 part of the hotel made way for the Nederlandsche Bank while Reck added a skating rink to his entertainment complex and renamed the theatre the Empress Theatre.** On Friederick Reck’s death his son, the Marcus Karl Reck took over the management of the hotel and theatre complex. In 1901, on the death of Queen Victoria, the theatre was again renamed, now becoming His Majesty’s and in 1918, on the death of Karl Reck, became the property of African Consolidated Theatres, who converted it into the Capitol Theatre. **** ??? (Based in part on reminiscencs of Mrs Iris Reck, daughter-in-law of Karl Reck – 15/4/2001.)
Oefening Baart Kunst ("Practice produces Art") used the theatre for their productions.
The Empress Theatre, Pretoria
The President Theatre was renamed the Empress Theatre by owner Karl Reck in 1903. **
Sources
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