On this day…

January

2 January

• 1968 Where Eagles Dare — Principal photography begins. Sets at MGM include the famous cable car sequence. MGM British Studios

3 January

• 1935 Leslie Fuller takes over Blattner — Leslie Fuller Productions takes over Blattner Studios, and begins a relationship with Joe Rock. Leslie Fuller Studios

6 January

• 2025 Masters of the Universe — Principal photography begins. Castle Greyskull is created on the backlot. Sky Studios Elstree

7 January

• 1933 Statement on Colour Films — “There is practically no colour in use in America now. Colour has virtually collapsed and there is no hope of its becoming a commercial proposition again.” Arthur Dent, Managing Director of BIP stated in “Today's Cinema”. Elstree Studios

9 January

• 1928 Blattner Takes over Ideal — Ludwig Blattner takes over the Ideal Film Company studio. Ideal Film Studios

12 January

• 1966 2001: A Space Odyssey — Filming of the Moonbus scene takes place on Stage 5. MGM British Studios

16 January

• 2024 AXA buys BBC Elstree — The BBC sell the studio to AXA, who appoint Oxygen Studios to manage it. BBC Elstree Centre

19 January

• 1976 The Muppet Show — Taping begins on the first episode, with guest star Connie Stevens. ATV Elstree Studios

22 January

• 1999 Prince Charles Opens New Stages — The George Lucas Stages are officially opened by Prince Charles. Elstree Studios

23 January

• 1928 Elstree Studios expands — The British International Pictures shareholders approve to enlarge Elstree Studios with four more stages and set up foreign distribution. Elstree Studios

24 January

• 1979 The Shining — A fire burns down Stage 3 during the filming at EMI. Elstree Studios

27 January

• 1926 John Maxwell joins British National — John Maxwell, Chairman of Wardour Films (a leading British distribution company), joined the Board and effectively took control of British National Pictures, along with its principal asset, the recently opened Elstree Studios

28 January

• 2025 Wuthering Heights — Emerald Fennel’s interpretation of the classic novel begins filming. Sky Studios Elstree

29 January

• 1988 The Falcon's Malteser — The Falcon’s Malteser call sheet no. 40 scheduled Arty London Cinema, Casablanca Club and Selfridges corridor scenes in Preview One and on Stage 8. Elstree Studios

30 January

• 1986 Duet for One — Duet for One scheduled a stills session and auditions for musical doubles and little girls in room D5 of the Maxwell Building. Elstree Studios

February

5 February

• 1989 The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover — Shooting schedule 5.1 was dated on this day, planning 40 shooting days at Elstree from 12 February to 7 April 1989. It organised restaurant, kitchen and other sets by colour-coded story sections. Elstree Studios

6 February

• 1930 Elstree Calling — The first British musical film, co-directed by Alfred Hitchcock, is released in London. Elstree Studios

9 February

• 1936 Fire Destroys Imperial Studios — A fire destroys Imperial Studios and three Associated British stages at Elstree. Studio manager Joe Grossman later recalled six stages lost—three Associated British and three occupied by British and Dominion—with fourteen fire brigades fighting for more than eight hours and losses estimated at £500,000. Imperial Studios

12 February

• 1989 The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover — Schedule 5.1 planned its first shooting day at Elstree: scene 3, the first meal, on the red restaurant set, with ten women, thirty men and four waiters as supporting artistes. This is the scheduled start in this version of the production plan. Elstree Studios

13 February

• 1985 Young Sherlock Holmes — Young Sherlock Holmes call sheet no. 20 scheduled graveyard scenes on Stage 2 under Barry Levinson, while second-unit call sheet no. 7 scheduled Bobster’s House on Stage 8 under Andrew Grieve, with Patrick Newell and animatronic and fireball effects. Elstree Studios

14 February

• 2000 Elstree Studios is Renamed — In recognition of the importance of television business, the studio is renamed Elstree Film and Television Studios. Elstree Studios

17 February

• 1961 The Long and The Short and The Tall — The war film starring Richard Todd and Richard Harris is released. Elstree Studios

18 February

• 1985 Grange Hill — The first episode of Grange Hill taped at Elstree airs on BBC One. The show would be made here from 1985-2002. BBC Elstree Centre

19 February

• 1985 EastEnders — The first episode is broadcast on BBC One. BBC Elstree Centre

20 February

• 2025 EastEnders — A live episode, for the 40th anniversary, saw viewers able to determine part of the story through online voting. BBC Elstree Centre

22 February

• 1988 The Storyteller — An internal telephone list for Jim Henson’s The Storyteller was issued, recording the production team, studio offices, workshops, rehearsal room and facilities on Stages 2, 7, 8 and 9. Elstree Studios

28 February

• 2022 EastEnders — The first episode taped on the rebuilt Albert Square lot is broadcast. BBC Elstree Centre

March

1 March

• 1937 New stages are completed — The two new stages, and music rehearsal stage, at Joe Rock Studios are completed. Joe Rock Studios

5 March

• 1999 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? — Taping for the highly successful game show relocates to Stage 9. Elstree Studios

9 March

• 2023 Duke of Edinburgh Opens Studios — Sky Studios Elstree is officially opened by the Duke of Edinburgh. Sky Studios Elstree

17 March

• 1950 Queen visits Elstree Studios — Queen Elisabeth and Princess Margaret visit the set of The Magic Box on Stage 2. Elstree Studios

19 March

• 1936 Fireproof Paint Demonstrated — A month after the B&D fire, a new fireproof paint “Porcilla” is demonstrated Elstree Studios

21 March

• 1928 Moulin Rouge — UK premiere. The film is a “sound drama film” with synchronised music and sound effects, but no dialogue. Elstree Studios

23 March

• 1988 Piece of Cake — Piece of Cake Cockpit Unit call sheet no. 3 scheduled Spitfire cockpit scenes on Stage 5. Elstree Studios

24 March

• 1960 School for Scoundrels — This classic comedy has its UK premiere. Elstree Studios

26 March

• 1988 The Lair of the White Worm — The Lair of the White Worm call sheet no. 28 scheduled Shrine scenes on Stage 1, with principal cast, stunt doubles, wire work and worm effects. Elstree Studios

28 March

• 1973 The Little Prince — The Little Prince call sheet no. 45 scheduled Plane and Desert scenes on Stage 2. Elstree Studios

29 March

• 2022 Holby City Ends — The last ever episode of Holby City, taped mostly in Neptune House since 1999, airs on BBC One. BBC Elstree Centre

April

2 April

• 1976 Star Wars — First day of shooting begins at EMI. Elstree Studios

3 April

• 1967 East End Market at ATV — Market in Honey Lane, an East End of London-based soap (sound familiar?) is first broadcast. ATV Elstree Studios

6 April

• 1926 Borehamwood’s First Cinema — “Studio Kinema” is opened, the first cinema in Borehamwood, by Leslie Fuller. Borehamwood

7 April

• 1989 The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover — Schedule 5.1 planned shooting day 40, its final listed day, for book-depository scenes 57 and 59: Georgina discovering Michael’s corpse and her soliloquy. This is a planned end date, not confirmation of the actual production wrap. Elstree Studios

9 April

• 1969 Bryan Forbes is appointed — Bryan Forbes becomes Managing Director for almost two years. Elstree Studios

13 April

• 1973 The Little Prince — The Little Prince call sheet no. 57 scheduled Plane and Desert scenes on Stage 2. Elstree Studios

15 April

• 1985 Labyrinth Begins Filming — Principal photography begins at the studios. The Goblin City set was built on Stage 6. Elstree Studios

24 April

• 1970 MGM Closes — MGM closes their studio, and briefly merges with EMI for a year. MGM British Studios

25 April

• 1986 Alan Bond buys Elstree Studios — Australian Alan Bond buys Elstree Studios from Thorn-EMI for £125m. Elstree Studios

28 April

• 1969 UFO lands! — UFO begins filming its first episode. It also uses the nearby ATV as a location. MGM British Studios

29 April

• 1986 The Fourth Protocol — The Fourth Protocol call sheet no. 19 scheduled Berenson’s flat and adjoining corridor interiors on Stage 3. Elstree Studios

May

1 May

• 1987 Superman IV — Superman IV looping and crowd/ambience memoranda were dated on this day, arranging sessions in the Elstree post-sync theatre for 5 May. Elstree Studios

2 May

• 1986 Cannon buys Elstree Studios — Cannon Films buys Elstree Studios for £175m. The studios are no longer British owned. Elstree Studios

3 May

• 1978 Hanover Street — Hanover Street call sheet no. 53 scheduled aircraft cockpit and gun-position scenes on Stage 2. Elstree Studios

4 May

• 1978 Hanover Street — Hanover Street call sheet no. 54 scheduled further aircraft cockpit and gun-position scenes on Stage 2. Elstree Studios

5 May

• 1987 Superman IV — Superman IV memoranda scheduled individual looping for Don Fellows and Diana Hunter, followed by two crowd/ambience sessions in the Elstree post-sync theatre. Elstree Studios

10 May

• 2024 Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy — Principal photography begins. Bridget’s home is built as a set inside the studios. Sky Studios Elstree

13 May

• 1929 Royal Visit to the Studios — The Duke and Duchess of York visit British International Pictures. Elstree Studios

16 May

• 1955 The Dam Busters — The classic WW2 film is released in the UK. The theme music by Eric Coates was featured in the London 2012 Olympic opening. Elstree Studios

18 May

• 1928 The Ludwig Blattner Picture Corporation is founded. — The Ludwig Blattner Picture Corporation was registered with a capital of £250,000; this was soon followed by a £190,000 share issue to fund the building of new studios at the former Neptune Studios site. Ideal Film Studios

24 May

• 2002 Big Brother is Watching! — Big Brother moves to Elstree for its third series, with the house built in the former Moby Dick water tank. Elstree Studios

29 May

• 1930 B&D takes ownership of its stages — Herbert Wilcox’s British and Dominions purchased the freehold of its Imperial Studios which it had been leasing from John Maxwell at British International Pictures’ Elstree Studios since late 1929. Imperial Studios

30 May

• 1990 A Duel of Love — Call sheet 14 scheduled corridor, inn and bedroom interiors on Stage 8 under John Hough. Six pigeons, flambeaux and practical fire were required; a separate rehearsal for three clown acts was planned at Pineapple Dance Centre. Elstree Studios

31 May

• 1990 A Duel of Love — The advance schedule on call sheet 14 planned Lady Brecon’s Bedroom scenes 106, 107, 121, 122 and 123 at Althorp. This is evidence of intended location work, rather than confirmation that filming occurred. Elstree Studios

June

1 June

• 1986 The Fourth Protocol — Shooting schedule no. 8 for The Fourth Protocol was dated on this day. The surviving five-page partial schedule covers planned work from 1 to 23 June 1986. Elstree Studios

2 June

• 1976 Will Shakespeare — A press release about the Globe Theatre built for Will Shakespeare was dated on this day. ATV Elstree Studios

4 June

• 2025 Royal Visit for the Centenary — Prince Edward kicks off the centenary celebrations with a visit to the studio. Elstree Studios

6 June

• 1985 Labyrinth — Labyrinth call sheet no. 37 scheduled work on the Ricketty Ladder set on Stage 3 and the Hedge Maze set on Stage 8. Elstree Studios

12 June

• 1995 Brent Walker sells to Hertsmere — One week before a High Court hearing, Brent Walker sells to Hertsmere Borough Council for £1.9m.

13 June

• 1978 Will Shakespeare — A historic set with Globe Theatre is created from the former Claypole set, for this biographical drama starring Tim Curry. ATV Elstree Studios

17 June

• 2024 Jurassic World: Rebirth — The fourth Jurassic World film begins principal photography. A huge cliff wall is built on the backlot. Sky Studios Elstree

21 June

• 1929 Blackmail has its first screening — The first trade showing of the first British talkie, Blackmail, takes place. Elstree Studios

27 June

• 1949 Win a Visit to Elstree — Entries closed for The Elstree Story’s “Spot the Stars” competition. Readers identified actors and films from twelve photographs, competing for tours of the rebuilt studios and cash prizes of £25, £15 and £10. Elstree Studios

30 June

• 1988 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade — Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade scheduled tank interiors on Stage 7 and Zeppelin/bi-plane blue-screen work on Stage 4. Second-unit call sheet no. 38 also scheduled Castle Room 3 and Radio Room interiors on Stage 10. Elstree Studios

July

1 July

• 1987 Willow — Willow call sheet no. 50 scheduled Nockmaar Courtyard scenes on the backlot. Elstree Studios

2 July

• 1980 Raiders of the Lost Ark — Raiders of the Lost Ark call sheet no. 8 scheduled Peruvian Temple interiors on Stage 4. Elstree Studios

4 July

• 1988 Tranwood Earl buys Elstree Studios — Merchant bank Tranwood Earl leads a consortium to buy from Cannon for £32.5m. Elstree Studios

9 July

• 1988 SOS Campaign is Founded — The Save Our Studios campaign begins, to stop the studio closing down. Elstree Studios

10 July

• 1974 Julie on Sesame Street — This TV special, with a recreation of Sesame Street on Studio D of ATV, airs in the UK ATV Elstree Studios

12 July

• 1934 Elstree Studios founder dies — JD Williams dies at the age of 57. Elstree Studios

13 July

• 1988 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade — Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade call sheet no. 43 scheduled Temple interiors on Stage 6. Elstree Studios

16 July

• 1968 Goodbye, Mr. Chips — Principal photography begins. MGM British Studios

18 July

• 1980 Raiders of the Lost Ark — Raiders of the Lost Ark call sheet no. 20 scheduled Well of Souls interiors on Stage 3. Elstree Studios

20 July

• 1964 Operation Crossbow! — Principal photography begins. MGM British Studios

21 July

• 2015 The Crown begins taping — Epic historical drama The Crown begins taping. A replica of Downing Street and Buckingham Palace is built on the newly cleared backlot. Elstree Studios

22 July

• 2022 Platinum Stages Open — The two new Platinum Stages open, with Universal taking a lease for five years. Elstree Studios

25 July

• 1977 Return of the Saint — A shooting schedule for Return of the Saint: One Black September was dated on this day, planning principal work from 27 July to 10 August 1977 across studio sets and locations. Elstree Studios

28 July

• 1929 Blackmail is released — The first British “talkie”, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, is released. Elstree Studios

29 July

• 1983 Central shuts down ATV — Central Television ends 23 years of use of the studio by ATV and Central. ATV Elstree Studios

30 July

• 1981 Raiders is Released — Raiders of the Lost Ark is released, having been filmed on location and at Elstree Studios. Elstree Studios

August

4 August

• 1986 The Fourth Protocol — The Fourth Protocol post-production call sheet no. 2 scheduled pickups and inserts on Stage 8 and at St Clement Danes Church and the South African Embassy in London. Elstree Studios

7 August

• 2012 BBC leases Elstree stages — BBC Studios and Post Production takes a lease on Stages 8, 9 and GL2. Elstree Studios

14 August

• 1941 Warner Bros buys 25% stake — Catherine Maxwell sells half of her shares to Warner Bros for £900,000. Elstree Studios

17 August

• 1933 The Private Life of Henry VIII — Charles Laughton’s film is released in the UK. It would go on to win the first Academy Award for a Borehamwood studio. Imperial Studios

20 August

• 1928 Champagne — This Hitchcock silent comedy has its UK premiere screening, but receives poor reviews. Elstree Studios

22 August

• 1980 The Muppet Show Ends — The last day of taping, on Studio D, after five years. One notable sketch includes a short-sighted knife thrower called Signor Baffi. He was named after the restaurant in Borehamwood high street. ATV Elstree Studios

September

1 September

• 1988 Brent Walker takes control — Brent Walker Group takes full control of Elstree Studios, including a £19m deal to sell half the site to Tesco. Elstree Studios

3 September

• 1939 War reaches Elstree — Studio manager Joe Grossman recalled warning sirens sounding over Elstree on the day Britain entered the Second World War. The studios subsequently came under military occupation, while laboratories, cutting rooms and some offices remained available to Associated British. Elstree Studios

5 September

• 1976 The Muppet Show Begins — The first episode of The Muppet Show is broadcast on UK television! BBC Elstree Centre

7 September

• 2013 Strictly Moves to Elstree — Strictly Come Dancing transfers to the George Lucas Stage for it’s eleventh series. Elstree Studios

10 September

• 2013 The Mound Clearance Begins — Work begins to clear the asbestos mound on the backlot of the studio. Elstree Studios

11 September

• 1977 Peace on Earth — David Bowie and Bing Crosby record their duet “Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy” for Crosby's television special Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas. ATV Elstree Studios

12 September

• 2013 Paddington arrives — Principal photography begins at the studios with sets including the Brown family home. Elstree Studios

14 September

• 1958 The Invisible Man — The first episode of this HG Wells adaptation is broadcast on ATV London. ATV Elstree Studios

15 September

• 1958 The Adventures of William Tell — The first UK broadcast of this adventure series takes place on ATV Midlands. ATV Elstree Studios

17 September

• 1929 B&D takes over two stages from BIP — Before their own studio opens next door (on three BIP stages) British and Dominion’s takes on a lease of two stages from British International Pictures. Imperial Studios

19 September

• 1987 Salome's First Night — Salome’s First Night call sheet no. 6 scheduled drawing-room, palace and terrace scenes on Stage 9. Elstree Studios

24 September

• 1980 The Great Muppet Caper — The Great Muppet Caper, then using the working title Muppet Movie II, scheduled village and pond scenes at Haddenham. Stage 9 at EMI-Elstree was listed for weather-cover work. Elstree Studios

26 September

• 2025 Stages 7, 8 and 9 Reopen — After two years of closure, the stages reopen with Rudolph Walker. Elstree Studios

30 September

• 1933 ABC and BIP Merge — Elstree Studios becomes ABPC through a merger with the ABC Cinema company. Elstree Studios

October

1 October

• 1973 Andrew Mitchell becomes MD — Andrew Mitchell, longest serving Managing Director, starts at Elstree. Elstree Studios

2 October

• 1940 John Maxwell Dies — Managing Director John Maxwell dies unexpectedly at age 63, passing his 50% shares to his wife Catherine. Elstree Studios

3 October

• 1991 Top of the Pops — The first episode from Borehamwood is broadcast. BBC Elstree Centre

5 October

• 1990 Shrinks — Call sheet 19 announced a stills session for six psychiatrists and Lexie after wrap at 18:30 on this Friday. The document records the planned session. Elstree Studios

12 October

• 1951 Ivanhoe — Filming on the Ivanhoe castle set is completed. The castle remained for many years. MGM British Studios

14 October

• 1966 Blowup — Filming on a replica of the Ricky-Tick club finishes after a few days, featuring The Yardbirds. Elstree Studios

16 October

• 1979 Thorn buys EMI — Thorn Electronics buys EMI for £160m. The new company is called Thorn-EMI. Elstree Studios

26 October

• 1966 The Dirty Dozen — Filming ends on this Robert Aldrich film. A huge chateau is built and blown up on the backlot. MGM British Studios

30 October

• 1928 Whitehall Studios Opens — Whitehall Studios, Borehamwood, were officially opened. Whitehall Studios

November

2 November

• 1973 Barbra Streisand and Other Musical Intsruments — The five time Emmy-award musical special premieres on US television; having been taped on Studio D at ATV. ATV Elstree Studios

6 November

• 1933 Consolidated Film Studios takes over Whitehall — Consolidated Film Studios is registered by J .V. Bryson (former head of Paramount British) and Laurence Evans as a private company with a nominal capital of £55,000. This new company took over the lease to Whitehall Studios, next to Elstree station, which had belonged to the bankrupt Audible Filmcraft/Whitehall Films Whitehall Studios

8 November

• 1976 Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers — Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers call sheet no. 23 scheduled Village Street exteriors on the lot and Golden Grape interiors on Stage 6. Elstree Studios

10 November

• 1975 Bohemian Rhapsody — The iconic Queen music video is taped on Stage 5 at EMI which is leased at the time to Paul McCartney. Elstree Studios

12 November

• 1986 Superman IV — An internal directory for Superman IV was issued on this day, listing production offices, departments and working areas at Cannon Elstree Studios. Elstree Studios

18 November

• 1963 A Shot in the Dark — Principal photography begins on A Shot in the Dark. A large chateau and a nudist colony set are built for the production. MGM British Studios

20 November

• 2000 First Millionaire Winner! — Judith Keppel became the first million-pound winner of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Elstree Studios

23 November

• 1964 The Avengers moves to Elstree Studios — The first episode of series 4 of The Avengers, and the first to be filmed at Elstree Studios, begins filming on this day. It was partially filmed with Elizabeth Shepherd, before being remounted after Diana Rigg was cast in the role of Emma Peel. Elstree Studios

29 November

• 1960 The Man Condemned — The first production to be made on the freshly converted Studio D. Studio C would reopen the following January. ATV Elstree Studios

30 November

• 1976 Valentino — Valentino call sheet no. 86 scheduled Metro Preview Theatre interiors on Stage 2, with costume and wig fittings for funeral-parlour scenes. Elstree Studios

December

4 December

• 1985 Young Sherlock Holmes — Barry Levinson’s film was released on this date. A cobbled victorian street and an Egyptian pyramid were built by the production team. Elstree Studios

5 December

• 1958 The Inn of the Sixth Happiness — The film, which saw an entire Chinese village built on the studio backlot, has its UK release. MGM British Studios

9 December

• 2022 Wicked Begins — Filming begins on the two-part film Wicked Sky Studios Elstree

10 December

• 1935 Amalgamated Studios is announced — Amalgamated Studios Ltd announced a scheme for building a large new British studio at Elstree. Work, expected to cost over £500,000, had already started. It was hoped the studio would be operational by the following July. Accommodation would eventually include eight studios, two review and recording studios, sixteen editing rooms and administration offices. Amalgamated Studios

12 December

• 1983 Samson & Delilah — Call sheet 1 scheduled night inn interiors on Stage 9, with Lindsay Duncan, Bernard Hill and Sean Bean among the cast. Practical fire, a working ale tap and catering for 40 were required. Elstree Studios

13 December

• 1983 Samson & Delilah — The advance schedule printed on call sheet 1 planned inn scenes 18, 19, 20, 26 and 27 for this day. This records scheduled work rather than confirmation of filming. Elstree Studios

15 December

• 1925 Elstree Studios is announced — JD Williams and Herbert Wilcox announce their intention to build Elstree Studios Elstree Studios

17 December

• 1983 Samson & Delilah — Call sheet 6 scheduled night inn, kitchen and Maryann’s bedroom scenes on Stage 9, with a wind machine and sound playback required. Vicki Masson was called as Maryann and catering was arranged for 40 while the canteen was closed. Elstree Studios

25 December

• 1971 Christmas Singalong With… — Christmas Singalong With… was listed for transmission on this date. The archive holds a camera script, with Sacha Distel, Howard Keel, The Bachelors, Moira Anderson and Andee Silver named in the catalogue. ATV Elstree Studios

28 December

• 1926 Official opening — Elstree Studios opens as British National Pictures Elstree Studios

30 December

• 1986 Superman IV — The Flying Unit’s first provisional blue-screen shooting schedule for Superman IV was issued on this day. It planned effects and flying work from 12 to 30 January 1987, principally on Stage 6. Elstree Studios