Radio Olympia 1956

“Who Done It”

Mike Jordan

1 watched “Who Done It”, an Ealing film, and I was amazed to see a whole segment filmed at Radio Olympia from Earls Court Exhibition Centre in 1956.

It was brilliant as it featured the current cameras in use then and various studio bits and pieces. Even a (fake?) shot of the old direct corridor from the station under Warwick Road to the site.

There was even a segment in the pool under the floor (often flooded for “The Boat Show”), filled with earth, of a radio controlled tank that looked as if it was being operated by Arthur Lowe.

My worst memory of Earls Court was going down there to set up the video circuit for a LIVE Tx to LG on the old LOCO cable. Unfortunately the cable was dodgy but GPO claimed they had mended it just in time, so we didn’t put in a Radio Link – but they hadn’t mended it, so, live on air, as big vehicles went up the road, the video broke up! A very nasty day!

Robin Sutherland

London Live have been churning out a selection of Ealing Films, I caught a bit of "Who Done It" one rainy afternoon and agree it’s worth watching for the TV content alone. I thought I caught a glimpse of Laurie Duley on a camera in it. Must watch it again….

I find them fascinating and full of 1950s period items, from the cars and buildings to the same actors who turn up in nearly every film. “Train Of Events” starring Jack Warner is a must watch for steam railway enthusiasts.

Bernie Newnham

The whole film is here – http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxzsxz_who-done-it_shortfilms . Laurie Duley is at 1.01.20, but if you watch from 00.58.00 you can see Alan Stratford Johns being a uniformed constable.

(Click on each of the pictures below to see a larger version:
use your Browser’s BACK button to return to this page)