Highlands House history

Early Beginnings: Entertainments

In February 1926, for the first time, a picnic was organised. Several proud owners – Gus Woolf, John Brown, Harry Stodel and Maruce Eilberg lent their motor cars for the occasion. In 1926, the Home acquired a piano from funds collected by Mrs Rosen and the matron, Mrs S Franks, to enable concerts and entertainments to be held there. On several occasions, entertainment was provided by the Jewish Girl Guide, the Cape Jewish Guild, and Mrs Hamburg. Courtesy of Harry Stodel and African Theatre Trust, the old people were often invited to performances, not only at the bioscope but also at the Opera House. Thanks to Mrs F Stoller, an outing to Muizenberg was arranged for the residents.

In 1937-1939, Mr and Mrs Phillips invited the residents to tea at the Balmoral Hotel, Muizenberg. African Theatres frequently invited them to a cinema performance at one of their theatres.

Acknowledgement
We profoundly thank Veronica Penkin Belling, who meticulously compiled most of our historical archives into a Centennial Volume published in 2016, ISBN 0780620718110. Her work is a testament to the importance of preserving our past and the invaluable insights it provides into the Jewish history of the Western Cape.