Search Results for: Royal Television Society Gold Medal 1988.

… at school.Training: Regent Street Polytechnic (Drawing, modelling, sculpture); Royal College of Art (Etching and Engraving; Gold and Silver-Smithing); to Italy – (Drawing, Photography and Coloured Gl…

…drying departments. In 1959 went into the Eastmancolor section; when commercial television arrived, went as contact man for the lab. He then got a job with Rediffusion at Wembley.

… Film industry. In that year he became the President of BFTPA [British Film and Television Producers Association] and also its chief executive. He talks about his attempt to get and get some form of t…

…hool, then National service: aircraft intelligence. Bramley School of Art, then Royal College of Art fashion/design. Several jobs in general design and publicity: Technamation, Infotape, display etc.…

Went into Where the Rainbow Ends. Later into the Royal Air Force as a cadet, discharged because of bronchial trouble, then became a ‘star’ in Basil Dean’s Blue Lagoon. Worked with Jack Hulbert and Cic…

  SIDE ONEBorn 1927. Father journalist, grandfather editor of The Church Times. The Dark family owned what has become Lord’s cricket ground. Educated locally until mother decided to send him to Italia Conti School, but grandfather vetoed that. Tried to get a job at Ealing, where they offered him a job in the camera department, but grandfather vetoed that. Sent to Wellington School, but sent out of that. Thanks to Jack Whitehead got a job at Shepherd’s Bush in the Sound Department as loader in 1942, wages £2 a week. He then graduated into the Dubbing department, joined the ACT through Charlie Wheeler; called up into the King’s African Rifles and learned to speak Swahili. On demob came back, but no work so decided to return to Kenya where he worked for Allops Breweries 1953. With the “Mau Mau” troubles starting returned to the UK, and set up Press and General Research Agency in Fleet Street, overstretched himself and the company folded. Wrote to Charlie Wheeler asking about getting his “ticket” [his union card] back. Charlie suggested that as he wasn’t keen on the Sound Dept. why not the Production Department? He managed to get a job with Rank’s Screen Audiences (cinema commercials) and then he moved to Walton Studios as Second Assistant Director on Sailor of Fortune, a TV series. He then joined Vernon Sewell as First Assistant and tells some amusing stories about working with him. He then goes on to talk about Ferry to Hong Kong (Lewis Gilbert) and how they built their own studio out there which was designed by John Stoll; he goes on to tell some amusing incidents with Orson Welles on Ferry to Hong Kong, Casino Royale. He then became Associate Producer with Lewis Gilbert on Light up the Sky (Tommy Steele); He then talks about Jason and the Argonauts, Seventh Dawn (1963), with various other films and projects, moving on to Paramount.SIDE TWOContinues on about Paramount where he did a three-year stint working on Half a Sixpence (Tommy Steele), and about a musical version of Roman Holiday which was never made. His final film with Paramount was a half hour comedy, Bachelor of Arts. He then talks about The Land that Time Forgot, and then about the problems of independent producers. He rejoined Lewis Gilbert to make Shirley Valentine, and now they are completing Stepping Out, which stars Liza Minelli. He then goes on talking generally about his experiences over the years, and the people who have influenced his life, and about his feelings on ACTTFather of Daniel Dark behp0172-john-dark-summarySIDE ONEBorn 1927. Father journalist, grandfather editor of The Church Times. The Dark family owned what has become Lord’s cricket ground. Educated locally until mother decided to send him to Italia Conti School, but grandfather vetoed that. Tried to get a job at Ealing, where they offered him a job in the camera department, but grandfather vetoed that. Sent to Wellington School, but sent out of that. Thanks to Jack Whitehead got a job at Shepherd’s Bush in the Sound Department as loader in 1942, wages £2 a week. He then graduated into the Dubbing department, joined the ACT through Charlie Wheeler; called up into the King’s African Rifles and learned to speak Swahili. On demob came back, but no work so decided to return to Kenya where he worked for Allops Breweries 1953. With the “Mau Mau” troubles starting returned to the UK, and set up Press and General Research Agency in Fleet Street, overstretched himself and the company folded. Wrote to Charlie Wheeler asking about getting his “ticket” [his union card] back. Charlie suggested that as he wasn’t keen on the Sound Dept. why not the Production Department? He managed to get a job with Rank’s Screen Audiences (cinema commercials) and then he moved to Walton Studios as Second Assistant Director on Sailor of Fortune, a TV series. He then joined Vernon Sewell as First Assistant and tells some amusing stories about working with him. He then goes on to talk about Ferry to Hong Kong (Lewis Gilbert) and how they built their own studio out there which was designed by John Stoll; he goes on to tell some amusing incidents with Orson Welles on Ferry to Hong Kong, Casino Royale. He then became Associate Producer with Lewis Gilbert on Light up the Sky (Tommy Steele); He then talks about Jason and the Argonauts, Seventh Dawn (1963), with various other films and projects, moving on to Paramount.SIDE TWOContinues on about Paramount where he did a three-year stint working on Half a Sixpence (Tommy Steele), and about a musical version of Roman Holiday which was never made. His final film with Paramount was a half hour comedy, Bachelor of Arts. He then talks about The Land that Time Forgot, and then about the problems of independent producers. He rejoined Lewis Gilbert to make Shirley Valentine, and now they are completing Stepping Out, which stars Liza Minelli. He then goes on talking generally about his experiences over the years, and the people who have influenced his life, and about his feelings on ACTT.END

Liked the idea of wearing a smock. In 1941 joined the Royal Marines – the idea of a pith-helmet, red jacket, and blue trousers with a red stripe appealed to him. On demobilisation, returned to LINTAS …

…films in the sound department. Worked in the Baird Laboratories on experimental television. Merton Park sound department during later part of World War two. Pathé  News sound department…

…s followed by two b-feature crime films in 1957 and episodes of several popular television serials, including Ivanhoe (1958) and The Invisible Man (1958). He directed several film comedies during the …

… a recording of a talk Elvin gave in the early 1960s to ACTT members working in Television. It is duplicated from a 7-inch master, and fades in and out abruptly.