Boxwish Blog

"Britain's Hollywood" celebrated with exhibition

Posted by Team Boxwish on 20 November 2008 at 12.10PM

It doesn’t have its name spelt out in 50-foot-high white letters, nor does it have a star-studded boulevard but Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire is for many Britain’s equivalent of Hollywood. Since the now long-gone British National Pictures set up camp in this quite corner of the Home Counties in the late 1920s, building two large sound stages south of Shenley Road in Borehamwood over 500 movies have been produced at Elstree Studios. And to celebrate its illustrious 80-year career Hertfordshire Archives is exhibiting rare memorabilia and photographs charting the glories of “Britain’s Hollywood”.

The display includes a wide variety of goodies from World War II classics such as The Dam Busters and Ice Cold in Alex, through to American mega-budget blockbusters Superman, the original Indiana Jones trilogy and Star Wars taking us modern day to British fare like The Other Boleyn Girl and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Those craving an even greater nostalgia kick will enjoy the exhibits from the Welwyn Film Studios which closed its doors back in 1950.

Local county councillor Keith Emsall is excited by this exhibition, enthusing: “Hertfordshire has been associated with film making since the very earliest days of the industry, and we’re particularly fortunate that the film studios continue to produce major films here in the county after 80 years. They represent a hugely important aspect of our local heritage so we are very grateful to Elstree Screen Heritage and Elstree Props for providing the images and memorabilia for the display – which I know will be a major draw for anybody interested in films and film making.”

The exhibition runs until the end of November at County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford and visitors will be presented with a free booklet and DVD titled Made in Elstree. For more information visit the Hertfordshire County Council website here.

[via Herts Direct]