ARCHIVE
CINEMA
SOUVENIRS
SOUVENIRS
IN THE BEGINNING...
One of the very first cinemas
to operate in Cape Town was
Wolfram's Bioscope Theatre,
which opened in 1912 and
was situated in Adderley
Street . The admission price
was a mere six pence.
to operate in Cape Town was
Wolfram's Bioscope Theatre,
which opened in 1912 and
was situated in Adderley
Street . The admission price
was a mere six pence.
The historic Vaudette Theatre in Krugersdorp, on the West Rand (Transvaal Province),
was opened in 1910. Photo above was taken in 1946, some 36 years after the cinema
made its auspicious debut in one of the world's richest gold-mining communities. The
movie playing at the time was 'She Wouldn't Say Yes', starring Rosalind Russell.
was opened in 1910. Photo above was taken in 1946, some 36 years after the cinema
made its auspicious debut in one of the world's richest gold-mining communities. The
movie playing at the time was 'She Wouldn't Say Yes', starring Rosalind Russell.
Johannesburg's Orpheum Theatre was opened in 1911 and was situated at
the corner of Jeppe and Joubert Streets. The building was eventually
demolished to make way for the famous multi-storeyed Anstey's Building.
the corner of Jeppe and Joubert Streets. The building was eventually
demolished to make way for the famous multi-storeyed Anstey's Building.
The Carlton Theatre in Johannesburg opened its doors in 1912 and was
situated in Market Street. Photo above was taken twenty-one years later in
1933, shortly before the building was demolished. Note the 'To Let' sign
hanging just above the entrance doors.
situated in Market Street. Photo above was taken twenty-one years later in
1933, shortly before the building was demolished. Note the 'To Let' sign
hanging just above the entrance doors.
The oldest surviving theatre in South Africa (which has been declared a national
monument and, by law, cannot be demolished) is the Opera House in Port Elizabeth.
Above is an artist's impression of the lovely old Victorian theatre which was built in
1892 on the eastern corner of the Donkin Reserve. It was used during the 1950s and
60s as a cinema under the management of African Consolidated Theatres
monument and, by law, cannot be demolished) is the Opera House in Port Elizabeth.
Above is an artist's impression of the lovely old Victorian theatre which was built in
1892 on the eastern corner of the Donkin Reserve. It was used during the 1950s and
60s as a cinema under the management of African Consolidated Theatres
The Astoria Cinema was situated in Noord Street Johannesburg and opened in December 1927
A rare photo of the original Avalon Theatre in Fordsburg, Johannesburg
South Africa's film industry is one of the oldest in the world. As a matter of fact,
the world's first newsreel on 35mm film was produced in South Africa during
the Anglo-Boer War. It therefore stands to reason that its early cinemas were
also among the oldest in the world.
the world's first newsreel on 35mm film was produced in South Africa during
the Anglo-Boer War. It therefore stands to reason that its early cinemas were
also among the oldest in the world.