DB7

Can anyone clear up the connection between Kay Carlton's Hill Studios in St Johns Wood and the imdb listed Kay's Studio, Carlton Hill, Maida Vale. They produced some quote quickies in the early post-war years. I presume they're in the same? And does anybody know who 'Kay' is/was?

penfold

Listed at the Carlton Hill, Maida Vale address in the British Film Yearbook for 1947/8, not at all in the war years edition (which also lists those commandeered or idle for war reasons).
Kay may not be a name; could be an initial 'K' of someones surname, as in Spoor and Anderson, S 'n A, became Essanay; or it could just stand for Kinematograph, the word being still in common industry usage at the time..

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

DB7

Cheers Penfold, I'll upload a screengrab.

smudge

Probably just a geographic....

Carlton Hill runs from Maida Vale to Marlborough Hill (cutting across Abbey Rd) and is just behind Lords Cricket club. Hence it can choose either Maida Vale or St. John's Wood as it's address.

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

catflap

Don't know if this is any use....

Patricia Warren's "British Film Studios: An Illustrated History", lists the Westminister Studios as having the address of Carlton Hill. She states they were owned by Nettlefold films for the shooting of quota quickies. Mario Zampi's Anglofilm Ltd moved in during the early 50s and Cullimore-Arbeid Productions also shot their films there. After 1953 it was used only for TV work.

alan gowdy

I once did some work, briefly, at a studio in Carlton Hill. It was, as I recall, owned by a TV facilities company then and doing work such as commercials and music videos - can't remember the company name now, it was about fifteen years ago. I wonder if it's still active.

"Don't forget... one of petrol, two of meths"

smudge

It's not a big white building is it Alan, with a classical arch at the front ? I am just getting a vague memory of a telly building from a St. John's Wood walkabout years ago....

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

Stu

From Patricia Warren's British Film Studios Page 7, Forword by Sir Sidney Samuelson:–
"I remember the little studios with considerable affection, like Carlton Hill, Maida Vale, a Victorian villa with the ground floor converted to a sound stage. The fact that there was a pillar smack in the middle of the stage was accepted and thought of as a design challenge.

alan gowdy

Yes, that sounds like it, Smudge.

"Don't forget... one of petrol, two of meths"

smudge

Thanks Alan -

IIRC it pops up in an episode of THE PERSUADERS - the one where Danny Wilde gets kidnapped. I'll have to get me old telly guides out...

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

DB7

Never seen this studio on an end credit before but it's from The House in the Woods ('57)

theuofc

Win Well Productions (formed by Derek Winn and Bill Luckwell) also made the pilot episode for the tentative "The Locked Door" TV film series (1959) at St. John's Wood Studio. The pilot "The Case of the Devil Girl" would be the first of a series of 13 half hour films, based on the writings of Harry Price, to then be filmed at Walton Studios.

Ann Todd was linking narrator, and the film starred Dennis Price as Harry Price. Others in the cast included Ellen Pollock and Jean Dawnay.

It's possible this pilot also listed St. John's Wood Studio in the end credits. I realise it would be an end credit for a TV production, and not a film, but still interesting to note. Yet, unless someone remembers seeing the pilot on TV, it might be hard to confirm since that pilot is considered lost.

Best,

Barbara

Merton Park

That's the Building, with the tall columns. Was used for Adverts and pop videos now I believe as a TV Channel. Certain I have seen it before used for B Films and/or some old TV series.

theuofc

I think you're right. St. John's Wood Studios, 87 St. John's Wood Terrace, London, NW8 6PY, is listed as a "film, TV, video and broadcasting facility.

Barbara