Hertswood Studios- News of yet another film studio complex proposal to be built next to Sky TV's new studios currently under construction at Borehamwood. If it goes ahead this would truly put the area at the forefront of the UK's TV & film industry.. if it wasnt already what with Elstree studios and BBC Elstree. Coupled with Warner Bros. Studios at Leavesden this puts Watford at the epicenter of British Hollywood. The history of the film industry goes back a long way in South West Herts and it's always intrigued me how many productions have been made over the years within a small radius of Vicarage Road. Anyway here's a couple of links.. https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co...ws/borehamwood-vast-plans-uks-largest-5254038 https://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/19052056.bam-appointed-build-sky-studios-elstree/
It really grates us that they're always called that as the studios have always been in the 'Wood. We have a big hill (Woodcock Hill) that overlooks the town. Someone came up with the idea to celebrate a centenary(?) of film making in B'wood to erect a temporary BOREHAMWOOD sign like that one in the US. It was still in the planning stage when a team of 30+ hot-shot Hollywood lawyers turned up at a parish council meeting threatening to sue the ass off everyone for copyright infringement amongst many things. Turns out the bloke who owned it (& it should be HOLLYWOODLAND - the final 4 letters collapsed during an earthquake) is the gravelly voiced actor who used to do the voice-overs for all the film trailers "Coming this year...." Be interesting to see where this goes as I think "The Sign Guy" is dead.
Central, the ITV franchise (before that ATV) had the other major studios in the 'Wood (now BBC Elstree). ISTR that one of the results of the Thatcher led 'reforms' of TV production was that the ITV franchises actually had to be in the area they broadcast to. So 1000's of highly paid & skilled TV workers moved from the 'Wood to Nottingham/Brum 'overnight'.
I was thinking more of Watford being the central point between Borehamwood and Leavesden. OK not where the studios are but then i believe the studios in LA arent technical in Hollywood... not anymore anyway. PS This from Wiki concerning why they use the Elstree name.. "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". The local railway station was originally known as "Elstree" (nowadays, it is called "Elstree & Borehamwood") The local telephone exchange was also called "Elstree" So there is some historical reasons why it's that way but agree that Borehamwood should get some recognition. Forget Hertswood for the latest development and call it Borehamwood Studios.
One of the 'Wood's ex-mayors (Jim Kentish?) was very keen on raising the town's profile and dropping the prominence of "Tidulfres treow" (renaming various scout, guide, ATC and ACF groups as well as the station and studios). He told a story that when they were looking at a motto for the place, the front runner was "Love it or leave it" for a very long time.
FWIW his 'writings' in the local rag are very Partridgesque but Paul Welsh played a very important role in saving, what became a major money spinner for Hertsmere BC, the last remaining film studios in the 'Wood. https://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/19287243.25th-anniversary-saving-elstree-studios/
Now to show my true geek side! Only i'd always wondered what was left of the filming location for Stanley Kubrick's The Shining at Elstree Studios. Recently i found this aerial shot of the different locations and managed to (almost) line it up with a modern day aerial pic from Google. The site of the Overlook Hotel exterior is now where the newest George Lucas stage and it's car park stand. Next to it is the 'wet stage' where the bloody elevator scene was filmed. Somewhat amusingly this was the exact location of the former Big Brother House. A lot of other iconic scenes were filmed where a neighboring Tesco's now stands.. the maze scenes being filmed in what is now the car park. I now plan on visiting the site and reenacting the maze scene by not being able to find my car in Tesco's car park.
EMI was the 'small' studios - the big one was MGM: It 'went' (a mixture of financial mismanagement and the big US anti-trust case which meant the studios were broken up and could no longer own production facilities, distribution and cinemas - very apt seeing the big media moves today) shortly after I was born in 1969 but at one stage the 'Wood had its own 'castle' (not a set but a 'stone' built permanent structure):
