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CATALOGUENO: 444, 445 / Doornfontein

HERITAGE RESOURCES SURVEYING FORM

The National Estate comprises all places and objects of cultural significance, otherwise known as heritage resources. In terms of section 2 of the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999, a place could be a site, area or region, an open space, including a public square, street or park, an individual building or other structure, or group of buildings or structures, made by people and which are fixed to land. The immediate surroundings of a place of cultural significance are equally pertinent to the protection and management of such a place.

GREATER ELLIS PARK DEVELOPMENTDATE RECORDED: 2005

Compiled and recorded by: William Martinson; Henry Paine; Johann Bruwer; Catharina Bruwer; Jonathan Manning.

NAME AND LOCATION:

Stand number/s / 444, 445
Township / Doornfontein
Street address / 40, 42 Height Street; corner 33, 35 Beit Street
GIS reference
Previous stand number/s
Name of place / APOLLO CINEMA
Previous/alternative name/s
ARCHITECT / DATE OF COMPLETION / ESTIMATED COST
Cinema: I Wayburne / 21 June 1939 / ₤11400
Beit Street Addition: I Wayburne / 22 June 1939 / ₤3600
BUILDER

henry paine

+

barry gould

Heritage Resources Management

BUILDING STYLE / BUILDING TYPE
Art Deco. / Originally designed as cinema.
TITLE DEED INFORMATION / Period
Original owner: Messrs Crystal Confectionary Limited.

NOTABLE SITEFEATURES:

Two old Oak trees on Height Street pavement.

ENVIRONMENT:

Technikon buildings to north and open space to the west. Building to the east also used by the Technikon. Located on busy arterial. Height Street closed as an entrance to the Technikon campus.

INSCRIPTION:

None.

CONDITION:

Good
OCCUPIED / VACANT

DESCRIPTION OF PLACE:

Double storey parapetted façade concealing low pitched sheet metal roof. Façades are articulated with plaster detailing, forming vertical elements with fenestration. Projecting cantilevered canopy. Prominent paired flag poles with plastered brackets. New over-scaled portal framed industrial shed set on top of existing building.

ALTERATIONS:

Planning of internal spaces altered to give access from the north. Doors and fenestration on Beit Street have been largely removed. Over-scaled shed added to roof.
Alterations plans available.

INTEGRITY:

Fair – could be easily brought back to original.

ZONING:

Current use/s / Educational. / Previous use/s / Cinema.

OCCUPANCY HISTORY:

Date / Owner/s / Address / Occupancy
1954 / 33 Beit / Apollo Cinema

SITE HISTORY:

GENERAL NOTES:

Note on plan: “This building will not be used as ‘Theatre’”. (1.)
An original building plan available.
“WAYBURNE, Israel (6 Mar 1905 Aug 1983) was born in Russia and arrived in South Africa in 1910 where he was educated. It is not certain where he received his training although he probably studied at the University of the Witwatersrand. He was a member of the Institute of South African Architects by 1927 and in 1931 joined the staff of African Consolidated Investment Co Ltd as architect to their construction department. How long he stayed in this post is uncertain. He collaborated with GRINKER & SKELLY on a block of flats in Killarney, Johannesburg in 1933 and from 1933 until 1936 several blocks of flats by him have been recorded in central Johannesburg. After 1944 he was in partnership with C Wayburne (d.1957), practising as Wayburne & Wayburne. TPIA 1927; ISAA 1927; MIA; MCQS. (SAAR Dec 1931:127; South African Jewish Year Book 1929:568990; ISAA mem list).” (2.)
The cinema is not listed on the above data base.

PROTECTION STATUS (under the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999):

Section 34(1) structure(*60 Year Rule*) / Provisional protection
Provincial heritage site / Protected area
National heritage site / Heritage area
Provincial heritage resources register, including places of local importance
Remarks:

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PLACE:

Assessment criteria as set out in Section 3(3) of the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 / Explanatory notes
Importance in the community, or pattern of SA history.
Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspect of SA’s natural or cultural heritage.
Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of SA’s natural or cultural heritage.
Importance in demonstrating the principle characteristics of a particular class of SA’snatural or cultural places. / This is the only extant cinema building in the area. The building forms an integral part of the historic development of buildings for entertainment outside the Johannesburg central city area. Its significance is in parts attributed to the fact that it was designed by the prominent architectI. Wayburne. The building is a physical reminder of the fact that Doornfontein once possessed of a vibrant night life with people frequenting cinemas and theatres, such as the Alhambra Theatre.
Importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics valued by the community or cultural group.
Importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period.
Strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.
Strong or special association with the life or work of a person, group or organisation of importance in the history of SA.
Site of significance relating to the history of slavery in SA.
Contextual significance (not part of Section 3(3) criteria of the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999). / Forms part of a valuable group of buildings in the area, including the StandardBankBuilding.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:

Designed by the prominent architect Israel Wayburne, and dating from 1939, this building stands as a physical reminder of a once vibrant night life in Doornfontein. The building forms an integral part of the historic development of prominent buildings in Beit Street. Its distinctive style and prominence on Beit Street make the building very significant. The fact that the Deco detailing is still largely intact adds to its value. The building contributes to the fine grain of Beit Street and must be considered an important heritage resource.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Urgent action
Protection status of place / Specific recommendations, if any, and remarks
Should the place be formally protected under the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999?
Presentation of place / Specific recommendations, if any, and remarks
Measures to be taken with regard to the erection of explanatory plaques etc., in order to suitably indicate the heritage value of the place.
Future management of place as a heritage resource / Specific recommendations, if any, and remarks
Measures to be taken in order to ensure the sustainable conservation of the place.

Below: Photograph of original building plan.

Below: photograph of original building plan.

Below: photograph of original building plan.

Below: photograph of original building plan.

Below: photograph of original building plan.

Below: photograph of original building plan.

Below: photograph of letter on building plan file.

SOURCES:

Preliminary heritage survey of Greater Ellis Park Development area (unpublished report), HJC Paine et al, December 2003.

The Rand-Pretoria Directory 1954 (Comprising Complete Alphabetical And Trades Directories of Johannesburg, Pretoria And ReefTowns), Cape Times Limited, Cape Town, 1954.

1.Plans record: 444, 445 Doornfontein (Archives, Building Control, Development Management, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality).

2.Architects In South Africa 1780 – 1940; Draft manuscript, J Walker & G M van der Waal, 1992, HSRC, Pretoria.