FINE ARTS
Hillbrow
Hillbrow
CINEMA
SOUVENIRS
SOUVENIRS
In 1964 the Curzon Cinema in Kotze Street, Hillbrow, Johannesburg was closed. It was then
completely redesigned and refurbished as the Fine Arts - becoming Johannesburg's second
'roadshow' house. Equipped with 70mm projection and sound equipment, the cinema
opened in 1965 with 'The Sound Of Music'. This celebrated musical set an all-time South
African record at the Fine Arts with a staggering 69-week continuous run. This record still
exists today.
completely redesigned and refurbished as the Fine Arts - becoming Johannesburg's second
'roadshow' house. Equipped with 70mm projection and sound equipment, the cinema
opened in 1965 with 'The Sound Of Music'. This celebrated musical set an all-time South
African record at the Fine Arts with a staggering 69-week continuous run. This record still
exists today.
The Fine Arts was an intimate 'stadium'-type cinema with stalls and a raked circle section.
The seating capacity was 760. Luxuriously carpeted throughout the foyer and auditorium,
the decor featured variations on a theme of brown, yellow and gold. The proscenium arch
was fitted with a festoon curtain in topaz crusted velvet and the screen curtains were in a
pale lime green satin. Chandeliers lent a note of opulence to the foyer.
The seating capacity was 760. Luxuriously carpeted throughout the foyer and auditorium,
the decor featured variations on a theme of brown, yellow and gold. The proscenium arch
was fitted with a festoon curtain in topaz crusted velvet and the screen curtains were in a
pale lime green satin. Chandeliers lent a note of opulence to the foyer.
During the run of 'The Sound Of Music' , John Ferreira (standing between the Chief
Rabbi of Johannesburg and his wife in the picture above) was the manager of the Fine
Arts. The picture was taken during the premiere of the movie 'The Bible..In The
Beginning' which followed on 'The Sound Of Music'. At the time the projectionist at the
theatre was Michael Du Buisson and the chief cashier was Enid Douglas. A nursing
sister, Mrs.Veronica Wissekerk, became quite a celebrity when, on the first anniversary
of 'The Sound of Music', she had seen the film over 300 times at the Fine Arts. (See
telegram at bottom of page)
Rabbi of Johannesburg and his wife in the picture above) was the manager of the Fine
Arts. The picture was taken during the premiere of the movie 'The Bible..In The
Beginning' which followed on 'The Sound Of Music'. At the time the projectionist at the
theatre was Michael Du Buisson and the chief cashier was Enid Douglas. A nursing
sister, Mrs.Veronica Wissekerk, became quite a celebrity when, on the first anniversary
of 'The Sound of Music', she had seen the film over 300 times at the Fine Arts. (See
telegram at bottom of page)
Photographed in the foyer of the Fine Arts in 1967 (see below) was Marcia Finkelstein and two
friends who were promoting the film 'A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To The Forum',
which followed 'The Bible' at the Fine Arts. The cinema was eventually closed in the early
1980s by Ster-Kinekor to make way for a brand-new cinema complex known as the Kine
Hillbrow.
friends who were promoting the film 'A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To The Forum',
which followed 'The Bible' at the Fine Arts. The cinema was eventually closed in the early
1980s by Ster-Kinekor to make way for a brand-new cinema complex known as the Kine
Hillbrow.
Below is the telegram that was sent from Bill Laue ( General Manager of Fox
Theatres who sadly lost his life in the 'Rietbok' air disaster off the coast of
East London in 1966) to John Ferreira on the occasion of the first
anniversary of 'The Sound Of Music' at the Fine Arts on 14th June 1966.
Theatres who sadly lost his life in the 'Rietbok' air disaster off the coast of
East London in 1966) to John Ferreira on the occasion of the first
anniversary of 'The Sound Of Music' at the Fine Arts on 14th June 1966.