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Still On the Buses

On the busts: plenty more room up top arf, arf

1:40pm Friday 5th September 2008

On The Buses was a highly-successful ITV sitcom made by London Weekend Television between 1969 and 1973. PAUL BURTON climbs aboard the smutty Routemaster once more.

Painting it bright for Mick, Keith and Robbie

5:24pm Thursday 29th May 2008

Creating props and backdrops for film, TV and rock ’n’ roll legends the Rolling Stones are all in a days work at an independent production company.

'The studios were like a sleeping beast'

Stage school: Neville Reid helped the studios expand in the years after they were bought from a developer and oversaw the opening of the George Lucas Stages

5:36pm Tuesday 20th May 2008

Neville Reid talks to Paul Burton about his early days at Elstree Studios and remembers his first visit to the site after Hertsmere Borough Council had bought the facilities from Brent Walker.

A tour of turbulent times

Times gone by: John Shepherd looks back at the events during his time working at the studios

9:44am Tuesday 13th May 2008

John Shepherd started working at Elstree Studios when it was called ABPC, in 1959.

Crusaders campaign saves studios

All smiles: Paul Welsh, who championed the cause of the studios, enjoys an event with Simon Cowell

8:55am Thursday 8th May 2008

For eight years film historian and Borehamwood and Elstree Times' columnist Paul Welsh was the driving force behind the successful SOS campaign to save Elstree Studios.

All work and no play on set

Shining star: Jack Nicholson in the Stanley Kubrick classic

10:54am Thursday 1st May 2008

Adam Unger first worked at Elstree Studios in 1978 as an assistant editor on the Stanley Kubrick film The Shining. PAUL BURTON talks to him about his memories and experiences.

Turning to the Darth side

Heads you win: Star Wars legend Dave Prowse shows off his "Daft Ada" mask in 2006

3:46pm Monday 7th April 2008

Nobody could have predicted how successful the Star Wars films would be. This week, Darth Vader actor Dave Prowse MBE and former supporting artist, Harry Fielder, share their experiences of working on George Lucas' film series with PAUL BURTON.

Life, laughter and love at home away from home

Ready for action: producer Greg Smith, actor Robin Askwith and writer Christopher Wood on set at Elstree Film Studios

9:06am Friday 4th April 2008

In the Seventies, actor Robin Askwith appeared in films such as Carry on Girls and Bless this House At the end of 2007, he told Paul Burton how much affection he still has for the studios.

Confessions of a film producer

On set: Greg Smith and actor Trevor Howard on location for Shillingbury Blowers

11:00am Wednesday 26th March 2008

Fresh from his success producing the spin-off film version of Dad's Army at Shepperton Studios at the start of the Seventies, film producer Greg Smith moved to Elstree Studios.

A change of scene

Up and down: the studios endured a Jekyll and Hyde existence in the Seventies (Ralph Bates in Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde)

5:34pm Monday 17th March 2008

As cinema-going habits altered in the Seventies, the studios came under threat. PAUL BURTON reveals how it survived.

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