African Consolidated Films Ltd's 1956 sale of cinemas and film distribution to 20th Century Fox in Kenya

 Isadore William Schlesinger arrived in South Africa from America in 1894. Penniless at first, Schlesinger began working in the insurance industry and by 1904 he became a significant figure in the insurance world and eventually developed massive interests in land and real estate. (see 50yr anniversary letter below)

By 1913, through his company African Theatres Trust Ltd, he had acquired all distribution rights to films in Southern Africa.

Schlesinger continued to hold monopoly over local distribution in South Africa, Rhodesia and Kenya, through African Consolidated Films Ltd. American films were distributed through African Consolidated Films Ltd and into African Consolidated Theatres (Ltd).

In 1956, 20th Century Fox bought the Schlesinger monopoly. This included the 3 cinemas in Nairobi that operated since the 1930s, namely the Empire, the Capital and the Playhouse. See photos below. These were then closed and replaced with Kenya cinema and the 20th Century cinema.

The new film distribution organization was called Anglo American Film Distributors.

Cleopatra Cinema, Malindi

 

Cleopatra Theatre, Malindi

After its first fifty years, the legendary Cleopatra Theatre in Malindi, is to live up to its name that evokes a proud, never tamed and self-confident empress. It deserves not only a ‘touch-up’ but also a second life under the sign of art and culture.

The building, inaugurated in 1973 at the behest of a local couple, for years performed plays, children's shows and lectures, before the advent of cinema (especially Indian Bollywood) on the Kenyan coast. After being ravaged by vandals in 1988, it was passionately put back on its feet for the first time, and was given a second life by broadcasting football matches and matinees for schools. The five hundred seats, however, became progressively empty after the arrival of satellite TV and mobile phones that ate away at the spirit of sharing and community.

Now an art-focused collective workshop based in Malindi, Maabara Atelier, with a number of collaborators has decided to transform the historic Cleopatra Theatre back to its original purpose

excerpt from malindikenya 30-05-2024

The state of Indian films and cinemas in Kenya in 1942: Interesting article by a Film India reporter on a visit to Kenya

 excerpts:

'As for the Indian Film business, it has suffered so far due to the distribution of Indian films being in the hands of a syndicate which has been having its own way with the result that in 1942 people in East Africa are compelled to see 1930 productions like "Gaibi Gola and "Noor-E-Watan"

.....the syndicate controls the cinemas with the result that for the time being I am shut out....

...The Indian film therefore, has, in a place like Nairobi with a population of 20,000 Indians only 6 shows a week - 4 on Sundays and 1 on each Mondays and Wednesdays. In Mombasa with an Indian population of 14,000 they get only 4 shows a week, 3 on Sunday and 1 on Monday.

....The result is that there is so much rush at the cinema that respectable family people refrain from going to the pictures to avoid being crushed. Both Nairobi and Mombasa are capable of maintaining an all time Indian cinema...

...no junk should be sent to Africa. Africa needs only 50 pictures a year and surely India can send only 50 good pictures a year. Producers should realize that the Indian pictures are well patronized not only the Indians but also by the natives of Africa and even by several Europeans.'

The Film India reporter Mr Kanga was recognized in various places including Jinga...and the reporter indicated:

'I assure you every Indian without exception reads Film India in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika. It is one magazine that is awaited with anticipation and pleasure....

...one thing is certain and that is that the value of "Film India" as the medium of advertising Indian films in East Africa is tremendous ...

Comments: 

In 1942 there appears to be 2 cinemas in Mombasa, Regal which opened in 1931 and the Majestic which opened in 1933. They probably had contracts with 20th Century Fox etc. which prevented them from showing more Indian film shows!!

    

35mm containers used for shipping by cinemas in Kenya during the 1970s/1980s!!

The photo below shows a typical small 35mm container used for shipping trailers and the Kenya Newsreel by Kenya Film Corporation and Anglo American Film Distributors during the 1970s/1980s by Akamba Bus Services Ltd!!

These items were usually sent with the main feature in a larger container. However infrequently the small container was used to just send trailers and the Kenya Newsreel

The typical English film had 5 reels (5 x 20min). The typical Indian film had 8 reels (8 x 20min)!!

At the Regal, shipping and receiving was handled by the Advance Ticket Book Keeper Hassan who you may remember as the staff member who always wore a beret! He would bike to the Akamba Bus depot and back!!

At the time we never realized this but in hindsight I would have to say the movie distributors (AAFD & government owned KFC) and Akamba Bus, all Kenyan companies, were highly efficient and organized! We never had a case where the containers were lost, delayed or shipped to the wrong town or cinema!!

Lotus Cinema, Mombasa

Lotus Cinema operated from 1983 to around 2002 in Mombasa. It used to be called Naaz Cinema. The new owners changed the name from Naaz to Lotus Cinema. 

Queens Cinema, Mombasa

 

Kenya Cinema, Mombasa
a nice picture of Kenya Cinema has turned up!
before Uhuru, Kenya Cinema was known as Queens. See the name 'QUEENS' on the concrete column (centre left in the photo). The Union Jack flag means the photo was taken before Uhuru!!