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Joe Grossman : Studio Manager and More from 1927 to 1949

Joe Grossman : Studio Manager and More from 1927 to 1949

100 Years of Elstree Studios - Part Three

In Part One I mentioned the Studio Manager in the early days of Elstree Studios, Joe Grossman. His story is a fascinating one. Born in 1888, he was on stage at the age of 4 with his twin brother as magicians and illusionists, and after the First World War began as a studio manager for the Stoll Studios in Surbiton and Cricklewood. In 1927 he was poached by John Maxwell to run Elstree Studios just after it opened, and he remained until his death in 1949.

In that time his charisma and energy created one of the most conducive atmospheres for collaborative film making, and he became a well-loved figure in the area. One of the first problems he encountered was discussed in our blog last week by Alfred Hitchcock - here is Joe's take on the problem:

"Gradually the sun began to shine for British films, and things seemed to be going well, when we all received one of the biggest shocks that the film industry had yet experienced.  It was the arrival in this country of the first and one of the most famous talkies, The Singing Fool, with Al Jolson. 

"Everyone knows how London stormed the Regal Cinema, Marble Arch, to see the picture, and many will remember the derision thrown upon the arrival of sound by many people who prophesised it was only a nine days' wonder and that it would never oust the silent film.

"John Maxwell was of a different opinion. He immediately issued an instruction to convert our studios for sound.  He sent John Thorpe post-haste to America with orders to come back with sound equipment, sound cameras and sound experts, and in the closing months of 1928 he gave the American sound invasion its answer by the production at Elstree of the first British talkie, Blackmail, followed by Atlantic.

"He had won through from silent to sound films, risking his personal fortune in the process, but emerging with flying colours and a reputation that built up the then frail edifice of Associated British Picture productions into one of the most substantial and firmly established production, renting and exhibiting corporations that Great Britain has, or ever will see."

More from Joe next week, including that disastrous fire in 1936.

Alfred Hitchcock, Blackmail and Murder

100 Years of Elstree Studios - Part Two

This week's exploration of 100 Years of Elstree Studios features Alfred Hitchcock's thoughts about his time at the studios in the late 1920s and 30s before moving to Hollywood at the end of the decade. Writing in the late 40s :

"Elstree was a vital factor in all that pioneering. I recall it vividly because I came associated with the studio at its organisation in 1927. My first picture there was the first British International Picture film publicly shown.  It was The Ring, a boxing story.  It marked the first screen appearance of its star Carl Brisson **... 

"I have fond recollections of Blackmail.  That was the first all-talking picture made at the studio.  It began as a silent picture, but I had made preparations so that dialogue could be added.  The completed product proved a great surprise to the late John Maxwell, who was then the head of the company. He had expected the dialogue to be confined to the last reel, as a "special added attraction". We used only incidental sound and music in the first reel , so that audiencies would have that much more of a pleasant surprise when the characters on the screen began talking as the plot unfolded.

"In directing Blackmail, I ran into one of the particular problems which were to beset us during all the early days of the 'talkies' - that of voices.  The heroine of Blackmail was a German-Czech actress named Anny Ondra, and her accent made the use of her voice impossible. We had no process for dubbing then, but we were quick to improvise.  We had an English actress at the edge of the set with an extra microphone. She read the lines as Anny mouthed them before the camera. The young lady who loaned Anny Ondra her first screen voice was Joan Barry.

"Murder, with Herbert Marshall, was another pleasant recollection from those early days."

Sounds like the plot of a certain 1952 musical starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds!

** Carl Brisson lived in 'Ten Trees' in Theobald Street in the 1930s and could be found in The Crown after hours entertaining regulars!

Susie Merrill : A Way Through The Woods

This book has been on our shelves for a few weeks, and we've just received a video from Susie herself. Have a look and see what you think. Her book is a look at her time growing up in Boreham Wood and her later life as a policewoman in London. As the blurb says : "An inspiring and candid biography that charts the extraordinary life of a young woman growing up in a post-war Boreham Wood. Susie's journey is filled with unexpected twists, from surviving domestic abuse as a farmer's wife and young mother to reinventing herself as a police officer in London."

Available in the Museum or online in our shop.

100 Years of Elstree - Part One

With the 100th anniversary of Elstree Studios approaching towards the end of the year, there are plenty of local events to celebrate. And we will be adding photos and other items from our archives and from Paul Welsh's collection to get the party started!

We start with two important visitors to the Studios - one royal and the other literary. The first is George VI and Queen Elizabeth when they were the Duke and Duchess of York visiting in 1929 when the first British talkie Blackmail was being filmed by Alfred Hitchcock.  That's Joe Grossman on the left - the Studio Manager at the time. More about him later. Interestingly, in 2010 Elstree Studios was the home of the production of The King's Speech about George VI's speech problems.

The second is George Bernard Shaw on the set of Arms and the Man in 1932. Of course he lived up the road at Shaw's Corner in Ayot St Lawrence, so it wasn't that far for him to come in to the studios. With him are leading actors Barry Jones and Anne Grey on the left and the director and writer Cecil Lewis on the right. Barry Jones said that GBS was happy for the play to be filmed exactly as written, with one small tweak.

Two New Occasional Papers

We have just published two new Occasional Papers in our range of local history research projects. These Papers illuminate topics of our history that are worthy of further explanation and study. Both are by Anthony Frewin and reveal aspects of our area that you may never have considered.

Occasional Paper No. 5 is The Earliest Roads of Elstree. This explores the roads we drive on every day in Elstree and Borehamwood, explores their origins and naming, and shows how they have influenced our landscape.

Occasional Paper No. 6 is An Enquiry Into The Tower By Scratch Woods. Follow Anthony's efforts to track down this mystery tower deep in the woods after he read a small mention of it on Facebook. Now demolished and nearly forgotten, he tracked down its location and purpose.

On sale in the Museum for a mere £2 with colour covers, they are also available from our website shop for £3.59, postage included.

Well worth your attention!

Christmas Cards

"IT'S CHRISTMAS" in the immortal words of Noddy Holder, so make sure you grab some local Christmas Cards to send to your loved ones who have left the Village for pastures new. Plenty of different designs from Borehamwood to Elstree and all points in between. Only £1 each and available in the Museum now.  Remember that snow?!

   

EastEnders Expands

We've just added some special photographs in the Cafe at 96 Shenley Road.  They show Behind The Scenes photos of action on our favourite show, from Dot doing her makeup to Kat getting some hairspray. Make sure you check them out when you visit EastEnders At 40, our current Exhibition.

 

We've had visitors from all over the UK and further afield. In just a few weeks we've welcomed fans from Aberdeen, Peterborough, West Sussex, Somerset, Sheffield, Coalville, and, indeed, Colleville-sur-Mer in Northern France, New York, and further afield.  Looking forward to seeing you.

For more info and insights watch our YouTube video with Dave Armitage here.

  

Friends Explore Schopwick House

Our most recent Friends event took place at 96 Shenley Road on Tuesday when Ann Shuker gave a talk on the origins and history of her house, Schopwick Place. From its earliest incarnation upto the present day Ann explored its various stages of development. She featured the many people who had lived there over the centuries from the first house which was demolished and replaced by the present building.

Perhaps the most famous residents were the Everett family. Sir Percy was one of the founders of the Scout movement and Baden-Powell was a frequent visitor. Percy's daughter, Winn, was a well-known Elstree GP and considered a pioneer in medecine. The book about her life is on sale in the Museum.

Ann then explained the work that was carried out on the house after they bought it in 1999 and how it took 5 years to bring it up to date and modernised. She brought in a collection of items that had been found in the house and gardens including the complete clay pipe bowl discovered in the cavity walls.

Thanks to Ann for a facinating look into an important local landmark.

EastEnders At 40 - Remembering Our Opening Night

If you had been following us on this blog with our regular updates, you'll know how much we managed to accomplish in the two weeks we were closed.

We built a replica of the Queen Vic bar, complete with the bust of the Queen herself, and original working hand pumps - no beer included.

We re-created Martin Fowler’s fruit and veg stall in the middle of the Museum, complete with realistic props, and some real fruit and veg.

And we produced nine wall panels telling the story and background to the last 40 years of the programme, while filling our display cases with props loaned from the BBC.  These include Dot Cotton's outfit and Sharon's wedding dress, not to mention some nasty looking murder weapons.

Thank you to actor Adam Woodyatt, (Ian Beale, of course), who we invited to open the Exhibition by cutting the ‘Do Not Cross’ police tape with the one and only pair of Museum scissors. Hertsmere’s Mayor, Cllr Alpha Collins and Elstree and Borehamwood’s Town Mayor, Cllr Dan Ozarow were also present, as were members of the BBC who had assisted and supported us.

Not forgetting those who created the Exhibition - Ruth the inspirer, Dave the problem solver, Tony the master builder, and Simon the odd-job person.

Come and visit us - you will be amazed at what we've achieved in 50 square feet (again!)

  

The Friends Visit Bletchley Park

Here's a few photos taken by Derek Allen when the Friends visited Bletchley Park recently. An excellent day out all concurred with much to view and acres to walk around. It's no secret now that you should be a Friend to enjoy such benefits!