Editing Elstree Studios (section)

==History and facilities==

{{Location map+|United Kingdom Elstree and Borehamwood
 |caption=[[File:Red pog.svg|8px]] Studio<br />[[File:Yellow pog.svg|8px]] Site of former studio<br />Shown within Elstree and Borehamwood parish
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  {{Location map~|United Kingdom Elstree and Borehamwood|lat=51.6597|long=-0.2747|label={{nowrap|[[BBC Elstree Centre]]}}|label_size=85|position=left}}
  {{Location map~|United Kingdom Elstree and Borehamwood|lat=51.6581|long=-0.2691|label={{lower|0.4em|[[Elstree Studios (Shenley Road)|{{nowrap|Elstree Film Studios}}]]}}|label_size=85|position=left}}
  {{Location map~|United Kingdom Elstree and Borehamwood|lat=51.6537|long=-0.2791|label=[[Gate Studios]]|label_size=85|position=left|mark=Yellow pog.svg}}
  {{Location map~|United Kingdom Elstree and Borehamwood|lat=51.6583|long=-0.2677|label={{lower|[[British and Dominions Imperial Studios|Imperial Studios]]}}|label_size=85|position=right|mark=Yellow pog.svg}}
  {{Location map~|United Kingdom Elstree and Borehamwood|lat=51.6608|long=-0.2592|label=[[MGM-British Studios]]|label_size=85|position=top|mark=Yellow pog.svg}}
  {{Location map~|United Kingdom Elstree and Borehamwood|lat=51.6427|long=-0.3146|label=[[New Elstree Studios]]|label_size=85|position=right|mark=Yellow pog.svg}}
  {{Location map~|United Kingdom Elstree and Borehamwood|lat=51.6593|long=-0.2586|label={{lower|Studio<br />{{space|1|em}}2000}}|label_size=85|position=right}}
  {{Location map~|United Kingdom Elstree and Borehamwood|lat=51.6604|long=-0.2520|label={{raise|2.4em|[[Sky Studios Elstree|Sky<br />Studios<br />Elstree]]}}|label_size=85|position=right}}
}}
Despite being called "Elstree Studios", only one studio has ever been located in Elstree itself, the remainder residing in the adjacent town of Borehamwood. When the studios were being established, Elstree was significantly larger than Borehamwood. Nowadays, Borehamwood is larger, but the old names have remained in use.

The [[civil parish]] that contains the town was called "[[Elstree (parish)|Elstree]]". The local railway station was originally known as "Elstree"<ref>{{Butt-Stations|page=91}}</ref> (nowadays, it is called "{{stnlnk|Elstree & Borehamwood}}"). The local [[telephone exchange]] was also called "Elstree".

===Eldon Avenue Studios, Borehamwood===
{{Main|BBC Elstree Centre}}
[[File:BBC Elstree Centre, Borehamwood (33045615514).jpg|thumb|Entrance to BBC Elstree Centre]]
The Neptune Film Company opened the first studios in Borehamwood in 1914. Production ceased during 1917, and the studio was sold to the [[Ideal Film Company]] who used the site up until 1924.

During 1928, the studio was sold to [[Ludwig Blattner]] who connected it to the electricity mains and introduced a German system of sound recording. The Blattner Studio was leased to [[Joe Rock]] Productions during 1934, which purchased the site two years later. Rock Productions built four new large stages. The site was again sold, and taken over by the [[British National Films Company]] between 1939 and 1948, although during this period a large portion of the studio was taken over by the [[British government]] for war work.

During 1953, the studios were bought by [[Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.]], mainly for television production and were later sold to Lew Grade's [[Associated Television]] (ATV). The Eldon Avenue centre became the main television production hub for ATV. The smaller Studios A and B were used for schools and sitcoms, while Studio C was a drama studio. Studio D, with permanent audience seating, was used for light entertainment programmes<ref>Barfe [https://books.google.com/books?id=XHbFLkrXezMC&pg=PT108 ''Turned Out Nice Again''], p.108</ref> such as the ATV [[Morecambe and Wise]] series ''[[Two of a Kind (British TV series)|Two of a Kind]]'' (1961–68) and ''[[The Muppet Show]]'' (1976–81).<ref>Brian Jay Jones [https://books.google.com/books?id=4eVrAAAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PT126 ''Jim Henson: The Biography'', London: Random House, 2013, p.126]</ref>

When ATV was restructured as [[Central Independent Television]] in 1982, one of the conditions of its licence renewal by the governing body of the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] network, the [[Independent Broadcasting Authority]], was that ATV should leave any London-centric facilities and become more focused on the [[English Midlands|Midlands]], the part of the United Kingdom to which it broadcast ITV programmes. They remained in operation by Central up until July 1983.

The [[BBC]] bought the Elstree site in 1984 to produce its new soap opera ''[[EastEnders]]'' (first aired on 19 February 1985). In addition to ''EastEnders'', many other programmes have been made there including ''[[Top of the Pops]]'', ''[['Allo 'Allo!]]'', ''[[You Rang, M'Lord?]]'', ''[[Grange Hill]]'', ''[[Hangar 17]]'' and ''[[Holby City]]''. Most of the site is now devoted to ''EastEnders'' production, but Studio D is available for hire via [[BBC Studioworks]].

{{anchor|EMI and others}}

===Elstree Studios, Shenley Rd, Borehamwood===
{{Main|Elstree Studios (Shenley Road)}}
[[File:Elstree Studios - Entrance Area.jpg|thumb|right|The Main Gate entrance at Shenley Road (late 1990s)]]
British National Pictures Ltd. purchased {{convert|40|acre}} of land on the south side of Shenley Road and began construction of two large film stages in 1925. The first film produced there was ''[[Madame Pompadour (1927 film)|Madame Pompadour]]'' (1927). The company was renamed British International Pictures (BIP) and a second stage was ready for production in 1928.

[[Alfred Hitchcock]] made ''[[Blackmail (1929 film)|Blackmail]]'' (1929), the first British [[talkie]] at the studios in 1929. At the end of the [[silent film|silent-film]] era, six new sound stages were built; three of these were sold to the [[British & Dominions Film Corporation]]. BIP became [[Associated British Picture Corporation]] (ABPC) in 1933.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Burton|first1=Alan|last2=Chibnall|first2=Steve|title=Historical Dictionary of British Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q8SRjwJqwukC&pg=PA43|publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]]|location=Lanham, MD and Plymouth, England|year=2013|page=43|isbn=9780810880269}}</ref> During [[World War II]], the studios were used by the [[War Office]] for storage.<ref>Warren, p. 71</ref>

In 1946, [[Warner Brothers]] acquired a substantial interest in ABPC, appointed a new board and decided to rebuild the stages. In 1969, [[EMI]] gained control of ABPC and the studios were renamed EMI-Elstree Studios.<ref name="Warren">Warren, p.76</ref> In 1969, [[Bryan Forbes]] was appointed head of production of the film studio (see [[EMI Films]]). His tenure was short-lived and marked by financial problems, brought about by deliberately withheld funding and failed projects. Forbes resigned in 1971.<ref name=guardian_batty>Batty D. [https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/may/08/bryan-forbes-dies Bryan Forbes, acclaimed film director, dies aged 86]. ''The Guardian''. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013</ref><ref name=bbc>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22459886 |title=Stepford Wives film director Bryan Forbes dies aged 86 |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=7 September 2013|work=BBC News |date=2013-05-09 }}</ref> During the period 1970–73, when EMI had a short-lived production and distribution deal with the American [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] film studio, the facilities were known as the EMI-MGM Elstree Studios.<ref name="Warren"/>

In 1974, Andrew Mitchell took over from Ian Scott as managing director of the studios but was almost immediately told to close the facility and lay off all the staff. This was halted, but only with significant job cuts and closure of some facilities. The studio's immediate survival was secured through the facilities being used for ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977). This led to subsequent Lucas productions such as the [[Star Wars|''Star Wars'' sequels]] and ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' franchise being made at Elstree and also brought in director [[Steven Spielberg]]. In 1979, [[Thorn Electrical Industries]] merged with EMI after EMI's debacle with its invention of the [[CT scan]]ner, and the studios were renamed Thorn-EMI Elstree Studios.<ref name="Warren"/>

[[File:ElstreeStudiosLot.jpg|alt=Sound stages at Elstree Studios.|thumb|Stages at Elstree Studios]]
The studios were put up for sale in 1985. Acquired by the entertainment and property company [[Brent Walker]] part of the largely derelict [[backlot]] and their facilities were demolished and 19 acres were sold to [[Tesco|Tesco plc]] to build their [[superstore]].

A "Save Our Studios" campaign mainly led by local writer and historian Paul Welsh [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]], saw the remaining site purchased by [[Hertsmere Borough Council]] (for whom Welsh then worked) in February 1996 for two million pounds and they invested ten million pounds for renovations and the construction of two brand new stages, Welsh estimates Hertsmere ratepayers receive a 15% annual return on their original investment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Richard |date=2018-09-12 |title=PRODUCTION DIARY #5: Paul Welsh MBE & the Campaign He Led to Save Elstree Studios in Late 90s |url=https://rabbitandsnail.com/2018/09/12/production-diary-5-paul-welsh-the-campaign-to-save-elstree-studios/ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=RABBIT & SNAIL |language=en-GB}}</ref> Management company, Elstree Film & Television Studios Ltd were appointed to run the studios in 2000.

The studios at Shenley Road are used for both film and television production and are the permanent home of [[BBC Studioworks]] during the redevelopment of [[BBC Television Centre|Television Centre]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Jake Bickerton |url=http://www.televisual.com/news-detail/BBC-Studios-and-Post-Production-to-relocate-to-Elstree-Studios_nid-1892.html |title=News & Comments |publisher=Televisual |date=7 August 2012 |access-date=21 April 2013 |archive-date=21 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021015254/http://www.televisual.com/news-detail/BBC-Studios-and-Post-Production-to-relocate-to-Elstree-Studios_nid-1892.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Shows such as ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'' and ''[[Pointless (game show)|Pointless]]'' are recorded there.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28341537 |title=Television Centre return delayed by two years |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=17 July 2014 |access-date=17 July 2014 }}</ref>

===Station Road Studios, Borehamwood===
{{Main|Gate Studios}}
[[File:Borehamwood, Gate Studios from Station Road - geograph.org.uk - 746323.jpg|thumb|The former Gate Studios in 2004, before demolition in 2006]]
A single large stage was built in Station Road in 1928 by Whitehall Films Ltd, but the company was wound up in 1930. In 1935, [[Julius Hagen]], the owner of [[Twickenham Studios]], bought the site and formed a new company, JH Studios.

In 1937, financial difficulties forced Hagen to sell the studios to MP Productions owned by producer J Banberger.

During World War II, the studio was used by the government for storage.

In 1950, the site was bought by [[J. Arthur Rank, Baron Rank|J. Arthur Rank]], who renamed it [[Gate Studios]] and made religious films.

Production ceased in 1957, and the site was sold to Andrew Harkness, a manufacturer of cinema screens. Harkness Screens moved out of the site in 2004 having established a global manufacturing base in France and the US and relocated its UK operation to a new production facility in Stevenage. The building in Borehamwood was demolished in 2006 to make way for apartments new properties, the development being named Gate Studios in homage to the former site.

===Imperial Studios, Borehamwood===
[[File:1936-elstree-film-studio-fire.jpg|thumb|Fire destroys three stages of British and Dominions Studios. ''[[The Illustrated London News]]'' 15 February 1936]]
{{Main|British and Dominions Imperial Studios}}
In 1930, the British and Dominions Film Corporation bought three new sound stages from British International Pictures Ltd on the adjoining site before their construction was completed, which they named "Imperial Studios". [[Alexander Korda]] made one of his greatest successes at the studio,  ''[[The Private Life of Henry VIII]]'' (1933), which starred [[Charles Laughton]] as the King. The film's success in the United States and elsewhere persuaded [[United Artists]] and [[Prudential plc|The Prudential]] to invest in Korda's proposed [[Denham Film Studios]].<ref>Patricia Warren ''British Film Studios: An Illustrated History'', London: B. T. Batsford, 2001, pp. 26, 28</ref>

Film production continued until 1936 when fire destroyed the three stages.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DB1kAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MHsNAAAAIBAJ&dq=elstree&pg=3532%2C4449867 "British Film Studios at Elstree Destroyed in $2,250,000 Blaze"].  ''[[Calgary Herald|Calgary Daily Herald]]''. 10 February 1936. p. 9.</ref> British and Dominions made a substantial investment in [[Pinewood Studios]] at [[Iver Heath]], Buckinghamshire, and moved production there. The support buildings in Borehamwood that remained after the fire were sold off to various companies including Frank Landsdown Ltd, which opened a film vault service. The Rank Organisation bought the music stage for the production of documentary films. It later became the headquarters of the film and sound-effect libraries.

===MGM British, Borehamwood===
{{Main|MGM-British Studios}}
Amalgamated Studios Ltd constructed a large studio on the north side of Elstree Way between 1935 and 1937, but its plans collapsed and the facility was soon sold to Rank, who never used it for making films. After a brief period owned by [[Prudential plc|the Prudential]], the studios were purchased by the American film studio [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (MGM) in 1944<ref>{{cite news|title=MGM Buy Film Studios at Elstree|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=18 April 1944|page=5}}</ref> and was renamed [[MGM-British Studios]].<ref name="Warren"/> After improvements the studio contained seven stages totalling over {{convert|70000|sqft|m2|-3}} of floor space. MGM sometimes leased the studios to other film companies including the [[20th Century Fox]]-produced ''[[The Inn of the Sixth Happiness]]'' (1958), for which a large set of a Chinese town, complete with artificial lakes, covering some 500,000 square feet, was constructed.<ref>Warren, p.85</ref>

Several stages were taken up with the sets for ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' (1968) over its extended production schedule, and indeed [[Stanley Kubrick]]'s film is sometimes blamed for making the studios financially unviable. The facility continued to be used until 1970 when MGM closed the studios. The American company formed a short-lived deal with EMI, while the site of its former studios was redeveloped for industrial use and housing.

===Danziger Studios, Elstree===
{{main|New Elstree Studios}}
In 1956 the [[The Danzigers|Danziger brothers]] converted a wartime plane engine testing factory into a film studio they called "'''New Elstree'''",<ref name="Vahimagi">Tise Vahimagi [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/773807/index.html "Danzigers, The"], BFI screenonline</ref> which was located to the west of the [[Aldenham Reservoir]]. The {{convert|7.5|acre|adj=on}} site had six sound stages and employed 200. It was used mainly for [[second feature]]s and television series, but was closed by 1962 and sold in 1965.<ref name="Vahimagi"/> The site is now occupied by "The Waterfront" business park on the A411 Elstree Road.<ref>{{cite news |title=From B-movies into b-roads |url=https://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/1263805.from-b-movies-into-b-roads/ |access-date=15 January 2022 |work=Borehamwood and Elstree Times |publisher=Newsquest Media Group Ltd |date=15 March 2007}}</ref>

===Millennium Studios, Elstree Way, Borehamwood===
Established in 1993, the Millennium Studios on the south side of Elstree Way (opposite the site of the former MGM-British studios) offered television and film production space together with associated services. Productions shot there include the first series of CBBC's ''[[The Mysti Show]]'' in 2004 and one year of Channel 5's ''[[Trisha Goddard (TV series)|Trisha Goddard]]'' in 2005.<ref name="TV-Studio-Millennium">{{cite web |last1=Kempton |first1=Martin |title=Millennium Studios / Studio 2000 Borehamwood |url=https://www.tvstudiohistory.co.uk/londons-film-studios/millennium-studios-studio-2000-borehamwood/ |website=TV Studio History |access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref> Millennium Studios relocated to [[Thurleigh]] near [[Bedford]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://millenniumstudios.co.uk/about-us|title=Millennium Studios – The Story|access-date=15 January 2022|website=Millennium Studios}}</ref>

A single television studio, Studio 2000, remains on the Borehamwood site,<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to Studio 2000 |url=https://studio2k.co.uk/ |website=Studio 2000 |access-date=15 January 2022}}</ref> and has been used for the Channel 4 series ''[[Rude Tube]]''.<ref name="TV-Studio-Millennium"/>

===Sky Studios Elstree, Borehamwood===
{{main|Sky Studios#Sky Studios Elstree}}
In December 2019, media conglomerate [[Sky Group|Sky]] announced plans to develop a new studio facility at Rowley Lane.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sky to develop major new studio at Elstree|url=https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/Sky-to-develop-major-new-studio-at-Elstree|website=www.skygroup.sky|language=en-gb|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref> The new studios were expected to open in 2022,<ref name="elstreeBBC">{{cite web |title=Sky to build huge new Elstree film studio |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50641745 |website=BBC News |access-date=28 May 2020 |date=3 December 2019}}</ref> and to have 13 stages with the smallest being approximately {{cvt|1800|sqm}}.<ref name="elstreeGuard">{{cite web |last1=Sweney |first1=Mark |title=Sky to create 2,000 jobs with new Elstree TV and film studio |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/dec/03/sky-jobs-elstree-tv-film-studio |website=The Guardian |access-date=28 May 2020 |date=3 December 2019}}</ref> The site is also expected to house [[post-production]] facilities and an on-site screening cinema.<ref name="elstreePBC">{{cite web |last1=Hazlegreaves |first1=Steph |title=Sky reveals plans to develop 32-acre studio at Elstree |url=https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/planning-construction-news/sky-studio-at-elstree/68557/ |website=Planning, BIM & Construction Today |access-date=28 May 2020 |date=3 December 2019}}</ref> A further 10 stages could be added in a proposal ("Sky Studios Elstree North") to extend the site northward.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Louis |first1=Nathan |title=Sky Studios Elstree unveils expansion plans for Borehamwood site |url=https://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/20226246.sky-studios-elstree-unveils-expansion-plans-borehamwood-site/ |access-date=24 March 2023 |work=Borehamwood & Elstree Times |publisher=Newsquest Media Group |date=22 June 2022}}</ref>

There is also a proposal for a separate 21-stage Hertswood Studios immediately to the north of the proposed Sky Studios Elstree North site.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Alan |title=Plans for 'largest film studio in the UK' revealed for Hertfordshire |url=https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/22245923.plans-largest-film-studio-uk-revealed-hertfordshire/ |access-date=24 March 2023 |work=Welwyn Hatfield Times |publisher=Newsquest Media Group |date=5 April 2021}}</ref>