VOETLIGTE IN JOHANNESBURG—TEATERBOU TYDENS DIE STAD SE EERSTE HALFEEU / FOOTLIGHTS IN JOHANNESBURG—THEATRE BUILDING DURING THE CITY'S FIRST HALF CENTURY

Abstract

ABSTRACT From its mining camp days in the late 1880's Johannesburg has had a lively theatre life to compensate for the strenuous work on the mines. The first theatre buildings, like Theatre Royal, date from 1887 when pre-fabricated corrugated iron structures were erected. From the beginning theatre buildings converged in two areas, one to the north of Market Square, on the edge of the retail and residential district, in Jeppe Street, and the other to the south of the Square, in the financial centre, in Commissioner Street. This pattern existed till after World War II. During Johannesburg's first “boom” period (1888–1890) four theatre buildings shot up, indicating the optimistic atmosphere of the time. The most sensational structure was Fillis' Circus (1889), Jeppe Street, which consisted of a corrugated iron cone 15 metres high and accommodating not less than 2 000 people. Other buildings followed the traditional 19th century box-shape with classically decorated facades. Like their predecessors, theatre b...