I.W. Schlesinger

(1871-1949) An American-born industrialist and entrepreneur, who emigrated to Johannesburg, South Africa in 1894. After the Boer War he built up African Realty Trust (an insurance company) and developed wide-ranging business interests in insurance, farming and newspapers South Africa. In 1913 he linked up with showman Harry Stodel to establish the African Theatres Trust (later [African Consolidated Theatres]]) to save the struggling theatre industry. He bought private theatres in order to build new ones, and sold shares to the public, establishing a co-operative of theatre owners. He sponsored local plays and touring overseas groups. Later he moved into cinema, building “bioscopes” throughout South Africa (or converting theatres for this purpose), supporting production and controlling distribution. Also founded African Film Productions to produce the world's first weekly newsreels, the well known African Mirror. Also started commercial radio broadcasting in South Africa in 1927 with the African Broadcasting Company (ABC), bequeathing an efficient concern to the newly founded SABC in 1936.

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