Local History

Singin' in the Rain trailer: Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds and Kelly (1952) (Inset: Paul Welsh)

The day I asked Singin in the Rain's Gene Kelly for a dance
Over several decades I got to meet many Hollywood stars in their latter years and it was always a great joy to me. I wish I could have met Fred Astaire but I did get to 'dance' with Gene Kelly.

Paul Welsh looks back on Royal film premieres in Leicester Square. Photos: PIxabay/Newsquest

Showbiz Nostalgia The truth about royal film premieres in Leicester Square

Paul Welsh discusses Hitchcock's horror classic Psycho

Showbiz Nostalgia The horror film secret that Alfred Hitchcock understood

Paul Welsh looks back on the turbulent life and career of Errol Flynn. Photos: National Library of Australia, Newsquest

Showbiz Nostalgia The Hollywood star who lived fast but didn't die young

Liberace sued the Daily Mirror for libel in 1959 for a review insinuating that he was gay. Photo: Pixabay

Showbusiness Nostalgia When Liberace sued over being 'outed' as gay

Paul Welsh looks back at the seedy world of the casting couch in the 'golden age' of Hollywood. Photo: Pixabay

Showbiz Nostalgia Tales from the casting couch in Hollywood's golden age

Paul Welsh recalls his meetings with Peter Cushing. Images: Hammer, Lucasfilm

Showbiz Nostalgia From Hammer to Star Wars - memories of Peter Cushing

Paul Welsh looks back on parties and drinking in the bar at Elstree Studios

Showbiz Nostalgia The last great party held at Elstree Studios

Paul Welsh looks back in his first and most recent visits to the EastEnders set. Pjhotos: PA/Newsquest

Showbiz Nostalgia Visiting the new EastEnders set - and looking back 37 years to the first

Paul Welsh considers Hollywood stars whose youth has been preserved by wigs or plastic surgeons. Photos: Pixabay/Newsquest

Showbiz Nostalgia The stars who defied the years with hairpieces and the surgeon's knife

Paul Welsh looks back on Miss Marple productions and when unions held sway at Elstree Studios

Showbiz Nostalgia When unions almost brought Elstree to its knees

Hollywood stars' foot and handprints outside the Chinese Theatre. Photo: Pixabay

Showbiz Nostalgia Borehamwood should twin with Hollywood - and my dream of a Tinseltown museum

James Cagney could have played Don Corleone in The Godfather but did not want to come out of retirement

Showbiz Nostalgia What if classic films like The Godfather had starred other actors?

Paul Welsh says the Oscars ceremony is ripe for review. Photos: Newsquest/Pixabay

Showbiz Nostalgia The Oscars has haemorrhaged viewers - and I am one of them

Paul Welsh (inset) looks back on (left) Sidney Poitier and (right) Nicholas Donnelly, who has died aged 83, with the the cast of the BBC series

Showbiz Nostalgia Remembering 'true gent' Sidney Poitier and Dixon of Dock Green and Colditz stars

The Peace Memorial Hospital soon after it was built. Pictures: Watford Museum

When an appeal was launched to build a new hospital in Watford

Undated handout photo issued by Findmypast of instructions on how to complete the 1921 Census among the pages of one of the 30,000 volumes of the 1921 Census at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) near Southampton.

How do I view the 1921 census? Is it free? Your questions answered

Paul Welsh hopes the construction of new studios in Borehamwood is not a bubble that will burst

Showbiz Nostalgia Elstree Studios have never stopped changing in 46 years

Paul Welsh will be sorry to see Holby City end

Showbiz Nostalgia I saw one of the final Holby City scenes being shot (and almost ruined it)

Photo: darrenquigley32/Pixabay

Showbiz Nostalgia Don't mention the war! Introducing the Dambusters march to a German crowd

Leonard Rossiter and Joan Collins' Cinzano ad. Photo: YouTube

Showbiz Nostalgia Product placement is now allowed on TV - but does it work?

A CGI of Sky Studios Elstree

Showbiz Nostalgia I will fight to save studio at BBC Elstree Centre

Paul Welsh hopes George Lucas will donate towards an Elstree film heritage centre in Borehamwood. Photos: PIxabay/Newsquest

Showbiz Nostalgia Let's build Lucasland in Borehamwood to celebrate Elstree film heritage

The weekly claps for the NHS and essential workers created a real sense of solidarity.

Young Reporter Missing Lockdown? You May Not Be Alone...

Paul Welsh looks back on some stars' dressing room demands. Photos: Pixabay/Newsquest

Showbiz Nostalgia Dressing room demands of the rich and famous

The Free School pictured in 2012. Picture: Dave Parker/Watford Museum

The pioneer who founded what became Watford Grammar Schools

A CGI birds-eye view of Sky Studios Elstree. Credit: Sky

Showbiz nostalgia My Strictly gripe and why Sky uses the Elstree name

Paul Welsh looks back on Hollywood stars who liked a drink. Photos: Pixabay/Newsquest

Showbiz Nostalgia Quatermass and the Pint: Hollywood stars who liked a drink

The Overlook hotel in The Shining - created on the backlot of Elstree Studios

Showbiz Nostalgia The places where the real movie magic happens

Strictly Come Dancing needs better-known celebrities to gain ratings, Paul Welsh says. Photos: PA, Newsquest

Showbiz Nostalgia Strictly needs less lacklustre celebrities

Mark Hamil, who played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, stayed to meet 300 children at a youth club in Borehamwood. IMages: Pixabay/Newsquest

Showbiz Nostalgia A long time ago at a youth club not far away, Mark Hamil stayed for hours to meet 300 children

Paul Welsh met members of East 17 and Take That, although he did not realise it at the time

Showbiz Nostalgia I met East 17 and Robbie Williams - but didn't realise it at the time

Showbiz Nostalgia The tragic fate of three forgotten stars

9/11: Watch the 2 minute video which shows why people will 'never forget' (Courtesy of NETFLIX)

9/11: The two minute video which shows why people will 'never forget'

US Secret Service release 'never-before-seen' photos from September 11 attacks. (PA)

US Secret Service release 'never-before-seen' photos from September 11 attacks

George Arliss is buried at All Saints Church in Harrow Weald. Photos: Google/Newsquest

Showbiz Nostalgia The north London churchyard where a Hollywood legend is buried

Paul Welsh remembers the times royals have been driven down Shenley Road to Elstree Studios. Photos: Google/Newsquest

Showbiz Nostalgia A road with royal connections

Paul Welsh thinks the BBC is a monolith that needs cutting back if it is to survive. Photo: Pixabay/Newsquest

Opinion Why the BBC needs a good prune - and television loves a villain

Many of the actors who appeared in Gone With The Wind made films at Elstree. Photo: Pixabay

The stars of Gone With The Wind who also made films at Elstree

EastEnders ratings are falling - Paul Welsh thinks Nostalgia shows are a cheap way to make popular television. Photo PA

EastEnders ratings are falling - but nostalgia never goes out of fashion

The actor Peter Lawford spoke to Marilyn Monroe on the night she died. Photos: Pixabay/Newsquest

Showbiz Nostalgia The actor who spoke to Marilyn Monroe on the night she died

Saving the Quadrophenia soundtrack, meeting Tom Jones and hearing Shirley Bassey rehearse are Elstree highlights for Paul Welsh

I spent my weekends saving cinema heritage from destruction (and what a soundtrack)

Paul Welsh says Borehamwood is once again becoming the Hollywood of England

New Sky studios should be named after Alfred Hitchcock and Steven Spielberg

Do you own any of these?

Your old Star Wars toys could be worth thousands now - and these are the 10 rarest

News Shopper is celebrating its 50th birthday

Birthday magazine on sale: Your chance to buy a piece of News Shopper history

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OLYMPICS: Inspiring stories will be Olympics' true legacy

Say cheese: moustaches were part of the uniform for Barnet police in 1910

And the beat goes on

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Golden age and beyond

Pool resources: an open-air swimming complex opened by Finchley Council in 1932 had a restaurant, picnic area, two pools and a diving board, making it a summer hotspot

It’s water under the bridge

The General Gordon bath was designed in 1897. Water was heated by gas burners underneath and towels were warmed by a device at the foot of the bath

Awash with technology

In memorium: large crowds attended the official opening of Barnet's war memorials. Chipping Barnet's, above, was unveiled by Sir Julian Byng on April 3, 1921

The stories of our fallen heroes

An illustration of Barnet Market by H Crane captures the hustle and bustle of the market

Supermarket forces

The school bug: germs abound in the classroom

School 'bad for your health'

Repeat after me: standard three in St John's School, Whetstone, circa 1914

Back to the old school