Harry Barnato
Harry Barnato was a music hall performer and mining magnate
See also Barney Barnato and Barnato Brothers
Contents
Biography
Born Henry Isaacs in London in 1849 to Isaac Isaacs, owner of a prosperous small general dealership, and the his wife, the former Leah Harris. Like his younger brother, Barnett (later known as Barney Barnato), Harry attended the Jews’ Free School, Spitalfields, headed by Moses Angel.
When he and his brother Barney Isaacs were teenagers, they began to perform turns in the various music halls in their vicinity. They were initially billed as "the Great Henry Isaacs and Barnett too", but at Barney's suggestion they later converted the phrase "Barnett too" to "Bar-na-to" and thenceforth adopted it as their surname, calling call themselves Harry Barnato and Barney Barnato or the "Barnato Brothers" when appearing on stage as well as registering a mining company.
In 1871 Harry left England for the Kimberley diamond fields in South Africa. At first, not being immediately successful, he resorted to his former stage career, performing as a conjurer and entertainer using the professional name of “H. I. Barnato”. A little later he became a diamond-dealer and wrote home advising his brother to join him.
Harry died in London on 30 November 1908.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
On 29 October 1872, Harry Barnato staged his first show on the Diamond Fields.
Sources
https://www.kimberley.org.za/today-kimberleys-history-29-october/
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.)
F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [1]: pp.
F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.
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