British National Studios
Encyclopedia
The former British National Studio is located on Clarendon Road, Borehamwood
, Hertfordshire
, England. It is currently used by the BBC
and has been in continuous use since its opening in 1927.
John Maxwell founded British International Pictures and based his operation at the studio from 1927 to 1933. At that time, he changed the company name to "Associated British Picture Corporation
". ABPC used the studio for many years, principally as a production centre for its television arm, Associated British Corporation
. The studio was sold to Lew Grade
's company Associated Television
in 1961.
Until 1983, the studio remained in continuous use as the London base for Grade's TV interests. As part of the UK independent TV restructuring of 1981, ATV was forced to dispose of this asset and sold it to the BBC.
Borehamwood
-Film industry:Since the 1920s, the town has been home to several film studios and many shots of its streets are included in final cuts of 20th century British films. This earned it the nickname of the "British Hollywood"...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England. It is currently used by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and has been in continuous use since its opening in 1927.
John Maxwell founded British International Pictures and based his operation at the studio from 1927 to 1933. At that time, he changed the company name to "Associated British Picture Corporation
Associated British Picture Corporation
Associated British Picture Corporation , originally British International Pictures , was a British film production, distribution and exhibition company active from 1927 until 1970...
". ABPC used the studio for many years, principally as a production centre for its television arm, Associated British Corporation
Associated British Corporation
Associated British Corporation was one of a number of commercial television companies established in the United Kingdom during the 1950s by cinema chain companies in an attempt to safeguard their business by becoming involved with television which was taking away their cinema audiences.In this...
. The studio was sold to Lew Grade
Lew Grade
Lew Grade, Baron Grade , born Lev Winogradsky, was an influential Russian-born English impresario and media mogul.-Early years:...
's company Associated Television
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
in 1961.
Until 1983, the studio remained in continuous use as the London base for Grade's TV interests. As part of the UK independent TV restructuring of 1981, ATV was forced to dispose of this asset and sold it to the BBC.