John Samuel Schlesinger

South African businessman

John Samuel Schlesinger

Born| 29 March 1923
Nationality| South African
Education| Michaelhouse, Harvard University
Occupation| Businessman
Known for| Expansion and modernization of the Schlesinger Organization
Notable work| Large-scale real estate developments in South Africa
Spouse| Rita Rose Schlesinger (divorced)
Parent(s)| I.W. Schlesinger and Mable May

John Samuel Schlesinger (born 29 March 1923)[1] was a South African businessman known for transforming and expanding the Schlesinger Organization, a major real estate and cinema-chain empire originally built by his father, Isidore W. Schlesinger.

## Early life and education

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John Schlesinger was born into a prominent South African-American business family. He was schooled at Michaelhouse (many years later donating the Schlesinger Theatre)[2] and then attended Harvard University, where he gained a reputation as a playboy known for his enthusiasm for speedboat racing and beauty pageants. During World War II he served as a U.S. Air Force bombardier, but renounced his U.S. citizenship in 1947.[3]

## Career

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### The Schlesinger Organization

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In 1949, following the death of his father in South Africa, Schlesinger assumed leadership of the Schlesinger Organization. Initially perceived as an unlikely successor, he soon proved skeptics wrong. Over his first 14 years at the helm, he not only preserved the empire but also expanded and modernized it.[4]

Recognizing the need for focus, Schlesinger began by consolidating the organization's holdings. He sold the family's chain of bioscopes to 20th Century-Fox (now 20th Century Studios) for $28 million and divested the hotels, including the iconic original Carlton Hotel in Johannesburg, which he demolished in 1963 to make way for a new office building.[5]

### Land development

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Schlesinger ventured into large-scale land development, committing $20 million to six high-rise projects across Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth, with additional funding earmarked for future development.[3][6]

### Disinvestment from South Africa

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Schlesinger was ahead of his time as a prominent businessman publicly criticizing the South African Government's policy of apartheid in the 1960s, advocating for a future multiracial South Africa.[3] However, in 1974 he severed his connection with South Africa by selling his interest in the Schlesinger Organization and moving to Switzerland.[7]

## Personal life

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Schlesinger was a major collector and supporter of the arts and artists. When Vladimir Tretchikoff immigrated to South Africa in 1946, he was employed within the Schlesinger Organisation until he became a well-known and popular full-time artist.[8] Schlesinger bought Tretchikoff's famous painting, Lost Orchid, from him in 1949 as a gift for his wife, but agreed to sell it back to him a few years later for on-sale to an American actor.[9] Another South African artist that he supported early in his career was Italian-born sculptor, Edoardo Villa.[10] In 1979 he donated a collection of well over 100 African art works to the Wits Art Museum.[11]

## See also

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* I.W. Schlesinger
* Economy of South Africa
* Real estate development
* Apartheid

## References

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1. ^ "New York, United States records". National Personnel Records Center. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
2. ^ Bristow, David. "Headmasters of Michaelhouse". SouthAfrica.co.za. South Africa Online. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
3. ^ a b c "South Africa: His Father's Son". Time Magazine. 2 Aug 1963. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
4. ^ Botha, Ted (2025). Hollywood on the Veld: When movie mayhem gripped the City of Gold. South Africa: Jonathan Ball. ISBN 9781776194681.
5. ^ Rosenthal, Eric (1972). Meet me at the Carlton: the story of Johannesburg's old Carlton Hotel. Cape Town: H.B. Timmins.
6. ^ "Killarney Hills". The Heritage Portal. Johannesburg Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
7. ^ "Witwatersrand Court: Schlesinger v Schlesinger 1979 (4) SA 342 (W)" (PDF). Juta & Co. 19 Dec 1978.
8. ^ O'Toole, Sean (14 March 2024). "Tretchi, the original meme artist, enjoys lift off at auction". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
9. ^ "Tretchikoff's Missing "lost Orchid" Re-emerges at Bonhams African Art Sale in London". ArtTimes.co.za. Art Times. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
10. ^ O'Toole, Sean. "Edoardo Villa". EdoardoVilla.co.za. The Claire and Edoardo Villa Will Trust. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
11. ^ "Wits Art Museum: About Us". www.wits.ac.za. University of the Witwatersrand. Retrieved 21 April 2025.