Elstree Is Typical British Film Town

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 19, 12 November 1948, Page 3

Elstree Is Typical British Film Town

Typical of British film towns is Elstree, which 20 years ago was boosted as the centre of British film production. In fact no films have ever been made at Elstree (pop. 3,000), which is still just an oldworld village, the producing centre being at Boreham Wood, a good 10 minutes’ drive further on. The film workers come from London in the morning, work all day at the studio, and then return at night. Less than 100 of Boreham Wood’s 9000 inhabitants find employment in the studios. But Boreham Wood's businessmen still hope to make their town into

a Hollywood. Completion of the new underground railway extension will bring the village within 45 minutes .of London’s West End. Work is already in hand for the erection of 60,000 new houses that will boost the population to the quarter million mark.'

■ But despite these prospects Boreham Wood has little chance of developing along Hollywood lines. The bulk of the stars, small-time players, directors and producers prefer to live in London where their social interests lie. Because their work may also take them to Elstree, Denham or Twickenham, most actors and technicians prefer to live centrally and thus increase their chances of continuous employment.