Youth

Theobald Street c1955
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I was born in Cardinal Avenue before my village changed completely, I went to the nursery which was 2 big buildings opposite Cardinal Avenue in a piece of scrub land, behind that was the park and library and behind that was the Rock film studio which now presents 'East Enders'. There were 2 other film studios, one was the MGM where 'Cleopatra' (with Liz Taylor & Burton) was made plus many other good films of the day, it stood where the cold storage is now in the Elstree Way, the other one was where Tesco's is, it was first called the ABPC (Associated British Picture Corporation), this was where the legendery 'Moby Dick' with Gregory Peck as lead star and later the 'Saint' series for T.V.with Roger Moore was made, again many great pictures were made there. The picture house, known by us as 'the flicks', showed an A film and a B film Monday to Wednesday then 2 others Thursday to Saturday and a different one on Sunday, it also showed the Pathe News. Our youth club was held in the old library in the park and often we had a skiffle group playing there, the lead singer was called Nick Harrison and we thought it was brilliant, even so it closed at 10 o'clock and we had to go straight home. Sometimes there would be a band playing in the old church hall which is still standing ( ast old memory of my village) Johnnie Kid and the Pirates played there. The hall was used once for dance rehearsals when the film 'Summer Holiday' was made. I wonder if anyone out there has any old photos of these places or any of Molly's Cafe which was the meeting place for the teenagers where they could have a coffee and play the juke box, I would love to see them if you have.