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Gate Studios

{{short description|Part of Elstree Studios}}

{{Infobox building

| name = Gate Studios

| native_name =

| former_names = {{plainlist|

  • Whitehall Studios
  • Consolidated Studios
  • J.H. Studios
  • M.P. Studios

}}

| alternate_names = Station Road Studios

| image = Borehamwood, Gate Studios from Station Road - geograph.org.uk - 746323.jpg

| caption = The former Gate Studios in 2004, before demolition in 2006

| location_country = United Kingdom

| altitude =

| building_type = Film studios

| architectural_style =

| structural_system =

| cost =

| ren_cost =

| address = Station Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire

| client =

| owner = {{plainlist|

  • Whitehall Films Ltd (1928–1930)
  • Consolidated Films (1934–1935)
  • Julius Hagen (1935–1937)
  • M.P. Productions (1937)
  • J. Arthur Rank (1950-1957)
  • Harkness Screens (1957-2004)

}}

| current_tenants =

| landlord =

| coordinates = {{coord|51.6537|-0.2791|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}

| start_date =

| completion_date =

| inauguration_date = {{start date|1928}}

| renovation_date =

| demolition_date = {{end date|2006}}

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}}

Gate Studios was one of the many studios known collectively as Elstree Studios in the town of Borehamwood, England. Opened in 1928, the studios were in use until the early 1950s.Patricia Warren, Elstree, the British Hollywood, Publisher Elm Tree Books, 1983, {{ISBN|0-241-10955-8}}, {{ISBN|978-0-241-10955-7}}, 184 pages (page 18) The studios had previously been known as Whitehall Studios, Consolidated Studios, J.H. Studios and M.P. Studios."[https://web.archive.org/web/20090122062024/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/organisation/35959 Gate Studios]", BFI Film & TV Database website, retrieved 17 Dec 2011

History

A single large stage was built in Station Road, Borehamwood, in 1928 by Whitehall Films Ltd, but the company was dissolved in 1930, and its studio sold to Audible Filmcraft, who, in turn, crashed in August 1932. Consolidated Film Studios took over the lease in November 1933, then Independent Producers Studios acquired the studio in July 1935. In November 1935, Julius Hagen, the owner of Twickenham Studios, bought the site and formed a new company, J.H. Studios. Financial problems forced Hagen to sell the studios to M.P. Productions in 1937. The studios were acquired by the Anglo-American Film Corporation in September 1938. During World War II, the studio was used by the government for storage.

In 1950, the site was bought by J. Arthur Rank, who renamed it Gate Studios and made religious films. The last film produced was John Wesley in 1954, and the site was sold to Andrew Harkness, a manufacturer of cinema screens.Chris Dry, Film and television in education: the handbook of the British Universities Film & Video, Edition 2, Publisher Routledge, 1995, {{ISBN|1-85713-016-2}}, {{ISBN|978-1-85713-016-4}}, 341 pages ([https://books.google.com/books?id=5ErOOP2ocl0C&dq=%22Gate+Studios%22+screens+harkness&pg=PA275 page 275]) 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 133 new properties, the development being named Gate Studios in homage to the former site."[http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/watfordfc/stadiums/archive/2006/02/09/News+%28news%29/686746.Final_curtain_falls_at_the_historic_Gate_Studios/ Final curtain falls at the historic Gate Studios]", Watford Observer, 9 February 2006

Films shot at the studios

=Whitehall Studios=

The following films were shot at Whitehall Studios.{{cite book |last1=Wood |first1=Linda |title=British Films 1927 - 1939 |orig-date=1st pub. 1986 |date=2009|publisher=BFI Library Services |location=London |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-british-films-1927-1939.pdf |access-date=21 January 2022}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|

}}

=J.H. Studios=

The following films were shot at J.H. Studios.

{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|

}}

=M.P. Studios=

The following films were shot at M.P. Studios.

{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|

}}

=Gate Studios=

The following films were shot at Gate Studios.

{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|

  • Under the Frozen Falls {{resize|(Gaumont-British Instructional; 1948){{cite web |title=Under the Frozen Falls (1948) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b950f1cd9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620110044/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b950f1cd9 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 20, 2018 |website=BFI |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=22 January 2022}}}}
  • The Lost People {{resize|(Gainsborough Pictures; 1949){{cite web |title=The Lost People (1949) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b73bd10ae |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402091347/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b73bd10ae |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 2, 2018 |website=BFI |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=22 January 2022}}}}
  • Odette {{resize|(Wilcox-Neagle Productions; 1950){{cite web |title=Odette (1950) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b1d7eda |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818135752/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b1d7eda |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |website=BFI |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=22 January 2022}}}}
  • Once a Sinner {{resize|(John Argyle Productions; 1950)}}
  • Lilli Marlene {{resize|(William Gell Productions; 1950){{cite web |title=Lilli Marlene (1951) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6aee39f7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310004347/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6aee39f7/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 10, 2016 |website=BFI |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=22 January 2022}}}}
  • The Happy Family {{resize|(London Independent Producers; 1952){{cite web |title=The Happy Family (1952) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6abcec55 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904041351/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6abcec55 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2018 |website=BFI |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=22 January 2022}}}}
  • The Promise {{resize|(G.H.W. Productions; 1952)}}{{cite web |title=The Promise (1952) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b75ccf8d4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711120034/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b75ccf8d4 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 11, 2021 |website=BFI |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=22 January 2022}}
  • Women of Twilight {{resize|(Romulus Films; 1953){{cite web |title=Women of Twilight (1953) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6bb2b288 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621151915/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6bb2b288 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 21, 2017 |website=BFI |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=22 January 2022}}}}
  • Decameron Nights {{resize|(Amerit Film Corporation; 1953)}}
  • Street Corner {{resize|(London Independent Producers; 1953){{cite web |title=Street Corner (1953) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b6cf64c |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415115230/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b6cf64c |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |website=BFI |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=22 January 2022}}}}
  • Innocents in Paris {{resize|(Romulus Films; 1953){{cite web |title=Innocents in Paris (1953) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6ad1e52a |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308192509/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6ad1e52a |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 8, 2016 |website=BFI |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=22 January 2022}}}}
  • Harmony Lane {{resize|(Harry Reynolds Productions; 1954)}}
  • John Wesley {{resize|(G.H.W. Productions/Radio & Film Commission of the Methodist Church; 1954){{cite web |title=John Wesley (1953) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7320e370 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230055703/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7320e370 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 30, 2018 |website=BFI |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=22 January 2022}}}}

}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20120426055544/http://www.elstreescreenheritage.org/index_files/Page544.htm Elstree Screen Heritage], "Creating a record of The Gate Studios"
  • "[https://web.archive.org/web/20120426055724/http://www.elstreescreenheritage.org/index_files/Page1812.htm Remembering the Gate Studios]" DVD, at Elstree Screen Heritage
  • "[https://web.archive.org/web/20120426055642/http://elstree-museum.org.uk/Home/Content/Exhibits/Studios/GateStudios/tabid/67/Default.aspx The Gate Studios]" at the Elstree and Boreham Wood Museum website

{{Cinema of the United Kingdom}}

Category:British film studios

Category:Film production companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Borehamwood

Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Hertfordshire

Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2006

Category:History of Hertfordshire

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