Kew Bridge Studios

Last updated

The Kew Bridge Studios were a British film studio located in Kew Bridge, Brentford, west London which operated from 1919 to 1924. The site had originally been a theatre, but due to the rapid expansion of the British film industry after the First World War it switched to filmmaking as the existing studios were overspilling. The studios hosted a number of independent film-makers during the silent era, including Walter West and Guy Newall. [1]

The studios were hit by the rapid fall in the number of films being released due to the Slump of 1924 and by competition from better-equipped studios. After the studios closed down they were converted into the celebrated Q Theatre which occupied the site until the 1950s. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twickenham Studios</span> British film studio

Twickenham Studios is a film studio in St Margarets, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, that is used by various motion picture and television companies. It was established in 1913 by Ralph Jupp on the site of a former ice rink. At the time of its original construction, it was the largest film studio in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kew Bridge</span> Bridge in Kew

Kew Bridge is a wide-span bridge over the Tideway linking the London Boroughs of Richmond upon Thames and Hounslow. The present bridge, which was opened in 1903 as King Edward VII Bridge by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, was designed by John Wolfe-Barry and Cuthbert A Brereton. Historic England listed it at Grade II in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westminster Bridge</span> Bridge over the River Thames in London

Westminster Bridge is a road-and-foot-traffic bridge over the River Thames in London, linking Westminster on the west side and Lambeth on the east side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gainsborough Pictures</span> Former British film studio

Gainsborough Pictures was a British film studio based on the south bank of the Regent's Canal, in Poole Street, Hoxton in the former Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch, north London. Gainsborough Studios was active between 1924 and 1951. The company was initially based at Islington Studios, which were built as a power station for the Great Northern & City Railway and later converted to studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denham Film Studios</span> British film studio

Denham Film Studios was a British film production studio operating from 1936 to 1952, founded by Alexander Korda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watermans Arts Centre</span>

Watermans Art Centre is a combined arts centre. It is located in Brentford, England alongside the banks of the River Thames overlooking Kew Gardens in West London, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Acre</span> London street

Long Acre is a street in the City of Westminster in central London. It runs from St Martin's Lane, at its western end, to Drury Lane in the east. The street was completed in the early 17th century and was once known for its coach-makers, and later for its car dealers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strand-on-the-Green</span> Riverside area in West London, England

Strand-on-the-Green is one of Chiswick's four medieval villages, and a "particularly picturesque" riverside area in West London. It is a conservation area, with many "imposing" listed buildings beside the River Thames; a local landmark, the Kew Railway Bridge that crosses the River Thames and the Strand, is itself Grade II listed. Oliver's Island is just offshore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London United Tramways</span> Tram and trolleybuse operator in western and southern London

London United Tramways Company Limited was an operator of trams and trolleybuses in the western and southern suburbs of London, UK, from 1894 to 1933, when it passed to the London Passenger Transport Board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A3036 road</span> Road in southwest London

The A3036 is an A road in London, England, running from Waterloo to Wandsworth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floral Street</span>

Floral Street is a narrow street in the Covent Garden area of London, England. It runs east from Garrick Street to Bow Street and contains a number of fashion stores, including Paul Smith. The Upper School of the Royal Ballet School is located at 46 Floral Street, across the street from the back of the Royal Opera House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Q Theatre</span> Former theatre and cinema in Chiswick, Hounslow, London, England

The Q Theatre was a British theatre located near Kew Bridge in Brentford, west London, which operated between 1924 and 1958. It was built on the site of the former Kew Bridge Studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Capitol Theatre, Horsham</span>

The Capitol Theatre is a multi-purpose arts venue in Horsham, West Sussex, England.

Kew railway station was opened by the North and South Western Junction Railway in 1853 in Brentford in west London on the western curve of the Kew triangle. It closed in 1862 after the railway had in 1862 opened its Kew Bridge platforms on the eastern curve and which were connected to the LSWR Kew Bridge station, itself on the southern chord.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BBC Elstree Centre</span> TV studios in Hertfordshire, England

The BBC Elstree Centre, sometimes referred to as the BBC Elstree Studios, is a television production facility, currently owned by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The complex is located between Eldon Avenue and Clarendon Road in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BFI Southbank</span> Cinema in the UK

BFI Southbank is the leading repertory cinema in the UK, specialising in seasons of classic, independent and non-English language films. It is operated by the British Film Institute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islington Studios</span> Film studios located in London

Islington Studios, often known as Gainsborough Studios, were a British film studio located on the south bank of the Regent's Canal, in Poole Street, Hoxton in the former Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch, London between 1919 and 1949. The studios are closely associated with Gainsborough Pictures which was based there for most of the studio's history. During its existence Islington worked closely with its sister Lime Grove Studios in Shepherd's Bush and many films were made partly at one studio and partly at the other. Amongst the films made at the studios were Alfred Hitchcock thrillers, Will Hay comedies and Gainsborough Melodramas.

Bushey Studios was a British film studio located in Melbourne Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire which operated between 1913 and 1985. The studios were built by the film enthusiast Hubert von Herkomer in the grounds of his country house, Lululaund. They gradually took on a more professional air and in 1915 they were acquired by the British Actors Film Company for use as their principal production base. After the company ran into problems, the studio was closed during much of the 1920s. During the 1930s film boom, it was re-opened and used to produce a number of quota quickies.

Cricklewood Studios, also known as the Stoll Film Studios, were British film studios located in Cricklewood, London which operated from 1920 to 1938. Run by Sir Oswald Stoll as the principal base for his newly formed Stoll Pictures, which also operated Surbiton Studios, the studio was the largest in the British Isles at that time. It was later used for the production of "quota quickies". In 1938, the studios were sold off for non-film use.

Catford Studios was a British film studio located in Catford in Southeast London which operated from 1914 to 1921. It was also known as the Windsor Studios.

References

  1. Warren pp. 113–114
  2. Low p. 152

Bibliography

Coordinates: 51°29′20″N0°17′13″W / 51.489°N 0.287°W / 51.489; -0.287