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)
Thursday, May 29, 2025
African Consolidated Films Ltd's 1956 sale of cinemas and film distribution to 20th Century Fox in Kenya
Cleopatra Cinema, Malindi
Cleopatra Theatre, Malindi
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.
The state of Indian films and cinemas in Kenya in 1942: Interesting article by a Film India reporter on a visit to Kenya
excerpts:
Monday, May 5, 2025
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!!
Sunday, May 4, 2025
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!!
20th Century Cinema, Nairobi (in the 1960's)
Nairobi, 1960s The photo was taken from the just constructed Ambassadeur Hotel in Nairobi Can you see the cinema?? see photo on the far le...
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Most will remember the heydays of the wonderful 20th Century Cinema from the late 1950s to the mid 1980s. Here is how it looked in those day...
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Photo: Odeon Cinema Latema Road 1956. Did you ever hear ODEON is the acronym for " O scar D eutch E ntertains O ur N ation". Wik...