The Old Grey Whistle Test, That's Life!, Juke Box Jury and Crackerjack were all made in front of large audiences in what the 大象传媒 called The 大象传媒 Television Theatre, which survives today as the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire.
Built in 1903 and designed by Frank Matcham, the 大象传媒 occupied the building for nearly 40 years from 1953 to 1991. It was near to its Lime Grove Studios and a short distance from the building site on Wood Lane that would one day become Television Centre.
Work was slow on Television Centre and the recently-closed Empire theatre offered producers a purpose-built theatre with existing seating, making it ideal for large studio-based music and variety shows. Initially, the venue was used as if it was an outside broadcast, with cameras feeding back to a scanner van.
As the site proved popular, the 大象传媒 refitted it with a larger stage and permanent television production galleries. The venue was a mecca for the stars of the 1960s, and the 大象传媒 featured Lulu, Shirley Bassey and Cilla Black in a variety of sparkling shows.
It was upgraded to colour from 1968-69 and throughout the 1970s and 1980s was the recording venue for some fondly-remembered shows such as The Generation Game and Terry Wogan's eponymous chat show Wogan. Terry Wogan presented the last show there in July 1991.
Further reading
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A history of the building by Andrew Martin from the 大象传媒 Genome project
Buildings
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Alexandra Palace
The birthplace of television -
Broadcasting House
The first purpose-built broadcast centre in the UK -
Broadcasting House, Belfast
大象传媒 Northern Ireland's headquarters since 1941 -
Broadcasting House, Bristol
Former home of the Natural History Unit -
Broadcasting House, Cardiff
The 大象传媒's first bespoke headquarters in Wales -
Bush House
Home of the World Service 1940-2012 -
Camden Palace Theatre
Light entertainment and music from North London -
Caversham Park
Listening to the world, 1943 to 2018 -
Ealing Studios
The 大象传媒 Television Film Studios -
Elstree Studios
Home of EastEnders -
Lime Grove
A temporary measure for 42 years -
Kingswood Warren
Former home of 大象传媒 Research & Development -
The Langham
Sustaining the 大象传媒 during World War 2 and after -
Maida Vale
The best acoustic in London -
35 Marylebone High Street
The first headquarters of the Radio Times and 大象传媒 Radio London. -
MediaCityUK
The 大象传媒's Northern base in Salford -
Pacific Quay
Headquarters of 大象传媒 Scotland -
Paris Studios
Former London cinema which hosted The Beatles and Dad's Army -
Pebble Mill
A hub for drama, entertainment and factual programmes in Birmingham between 1971 and 2004 -
Queen's House, WC2
Centre of English language learning -
Riverside Studios
A film studio regenerated into a TV studio used by the 大象传媒 from 1954 to 1975 -
Savoy Hill
The first home of the 大象传媒 -
Television Centre
The Television Factory -
Television Theatre
A mecca for the stars of the 1960s -
Wood Norton
The emergency broadcasting centre