Today in history: Thelma Gutsche dies from emphysema
She also wrote a series of articles on the South African film industry for the Cape Times between 1937 and 1950.
Thelma Gutsche was a South African scholar, historian and film critic who died in the Cape on this day in 1984.
Thelma was born to Dr and Mrs J Gutsche in Somerset West in the Cape Province in 1915.
She did not attend formal school but was privately tutored at home and matriculated at the age of 14.
Two years after her matriculation, she enrolled at the University of Cape Town to study for a BA in Ethics, Logic, Philosophy and Psychology.
After completing her studies, she relocated to Johannesburg where she took up employment with the The Forum (a weekly newspaper) writing film reviews from 1938 to 1939.
She also wrote a series of articles on the South African film industry for the Cape Times between 1937 and 1950.
During the Second World War, Thelma worked as a film advisor to the South African government, writing scripts for documentaries and directing films.
After the war, she continued to work in the film industry and produced a number of educational films.
She left the Transvaal (as it was then) and returned to the Cape village of Montagu, where she spent her last years.
Thelma died of emphysema on 5 November 1984 at the age of 69.
Information sourced from: South African History Online.
