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Woman In A Dressing Gown

100 Years of Elstree Studios - Part Thirteen

Ribbon of Dreams

This week we dip into the mid-1950s and a film that caught my eye while watching an excellent history of Elstree made by David Puttman. Once again Elstree was in the vanguard of film history. Woman In A Dressing Gown was one of the first of the 'socially realistic dramas' that were to dominate British films for the rest of the decade and into the sixties. Filmed in 1956 and released in 1957, it was written by Ted Willis of Dixon Of Dock Green fame, and directed by the experienced J Lee Thompson, the film explored a tragic relationship. This was the first time a lower-middle or working class family had been the subject of such a film, and the producer Frank Godwin called it 'the first kitchen sink movie'.

Anthony Quayle and Yvonne Mitchell play the husband and wife. She is very disorganised and always in her dressing gown, while he is having an affair with a much younger work colleague played by the luminous Sylvia Syms. Things go from bad to worse, but you'll have to see the film to find out how it all turns out - one reviewer thought the ending 'rings entirely false'. No doubt it will be shown on TPTV if it hasn't already. The film earned some awards at the Berlin Film Festival and a nomination for a BAFTA for Sylvia Syms.  Once again Elstree was in the forefront.

100 Years of Promo

100 Years of Elstree Studios - Part Twelve

Ribbon of Dreams

Elstree Studios has always promoted itself in any way possible. After all it needs the business to keep on coming through the stages, and to keep its name in the forefront for any aspiring producers and directors.  Here are a couple of examples of adverts and flyers - one from 1932 and one from the last few years. Pretty easy to tell the recent flyer.

That Other Fire

100 Years of Elstree Studios - Part Eleven

Ribbon of Dreams

In Part Four of this series we showed the results of the devastating fire of 1936 which changed the direction of the film industry in Borehamwood.  But did you know there was another serious studio fire not that long ago?  Thanks to the Paul Welsh Archive we find out that on the evening of Wednesday 24th January 1979 a fire in Studio 3 broke out, and all the studio buildings were evacuated. Being filmed at the time were Star Wars - The Empire Fights Back, and The Shining.  15 fire appliances and 100 firemen were called for from Hertfordshire and London, including an 85 ft. hydraulic platform from St Albans.  The fire got into the roof of Studio 3 which was gutted, but the rest of the studios were saved. 

Although there were no major actors at the studios - filming having finished for the day - director Stanley Kubrick watched as some of the sets for The Shining were destroyed, including the Overlook Hotel entrance and staircase.  He was working next door in Studio 4 at the time.   Overall the damage was estimated at £1∙5 million (nearly £10 million today). No-one was sure what caused the fire.

EastEnders Expands

We've just added some special photographs in the Cafe at 96 Shenley Road.  They show Behind The Scenes photos of action on our favourite show, from Dot doing her makeup to Kat getting some hairspray. Make sure you check them out when you visit EastEnders At 40, our current Exhibition.

We've had visitors from all over the UK and further afield. In just a few weeks we've welcomed fans from Aberdeen, Peterborough, West Sussex, Somerset, Sheffield, Coalville, and, indeed, Colleville-sur-Mer in Northern France, New York, and further afield.  Looking forward to seeing you.

For more info and insights watch our YouTube video with Dave Armitage here.

EastEnders At 40 - Remembering Our Opening Night

If you had been following us on this blog with our regular updates, you'll know how much we managed to accomplish in the two weeks we were closed.

We built a replica of the Queen Vic bar, complete with the bust of the Queen herself, and original working hand pumps - no beer included.

We re-created Martin Fowler’s fruit and veg stall in the middle of the Museum, complete with realistic props, and some real fruit and veg.

And we produced nine wall panels telling the story and background to the last 40 years of the programme, while filling our display cases with props loaned from the BBC.  These include Dot Cotton's outfit and Sharon's wedding dress, not to mention some nasty looking murder weapons.

Thank you to actor Adam Woodyatt, (Ian Beale, of course), who we invited to open the Exhibition by cutting the ‘Do Not Cross’ police tape with the one and only pair of Museum scissors. Hertsmere’s Mayor, Cllr Alpha Collins and Elstree and Borehamwood’s Town Mayor, Cllr Dan Ozarow were also present, as were members of the BBC who had assisted and supported us.

Not forgetting those who created the Exhibition - Ruth the inspirer, Dave the problem solver, Tony the master builder, and Simon the odd-job person.

Come and visit us - you will be amazed at what we've achieved in 50 square feet (again!)

EastEnders At 40 : Open Now

Our new Exhibition is now open and fans of the soap are dropping by to see our creation of the Queen Vic bar and taking selfies with the beer pumps and the Queen's head.

Don't forget Ian's Market Stall - are the fruit and veg real?  And Sharon's wedding dress and Dot's dress and coat.

There's a free EastEnders At 40 beer mat for everyone who visits.  Don't delay, come in today!

EastEnders At 40 - W. I. P : Stage Three - The Final Push

We're nearly there at last - just a few days and a final push and our new Exhibition will be open on Thursday. Here's a few teasing photos for you of the panels, display cases, and Vic in the library waiting her place on the bar.  Wonder who the costume fits?

EastEnders At 40 - W. I. P. : Stage Two

Some items for the Exhibition have arrived from the BBC including a rather large 'zero' and a 'four'. What could they be for?  And Tony is getting on with his bar and beer pumps. Cheers!, everyone.

EastEnders At 40 - W. I. P. : Stage One

We've started the process of preparing for the next Exhibition - everything is stripped out. Our little Nipper plane is in two pieces and has gone off to the De Havilland Museum, while all the other items from the Elstree Aerodrome story have flown back from whence they came.

Now we begin the new build - some items have arrived from the BBC.  More details to follow soon...

Our New Exhibition : EastEnders At 40

The Museum is now closed for a couple of weeks. Thanks to everyone who came to visit our Elstree Aerodrome story and to fly the plane around the aerodrome.

We are now preparing our next exciting Exhibition : EastEnders At 40. The BBC are giving us lots of iconic props, lots of photos of the dramatic stories, and even some plastic fruit and veg! Why?  You'll have to come and find out.

We will have a full-size model of the Queen Vic bar, complete with the bust of Vic herself, and there will be many opportunites for selfies behind the bar.

Opening on Thursday 4th September, we will be updating you on what's happened in Albert Square in the ten years since our last EastEnders At 30 Exhibition. 

And updating you here on the Blog as the Exhibition comes together, so please check in as the opening gets closer!