Biography of 'Templar Films '
Production company
Templar Film Studios was formed in 1949 by Robert Riddell-Black, David Low and Bill Russell, in a rented attic in Hope Street, Glasgow, moving to Clyde Street in 1951. The company was officially incorporated and registered as a business on the 4th March 1950, and by 1954 they had moved to larger premises in Lyndoch Street, Glasgow. The name was inspired by the medieval Knights Templar, who had at one time been so poor that two knights had to share one horse. Black and Low had one camera between them!
For the first six years Templar Films worked on a shoestring, shooting news for NBC in America, Gaumont-British News and the BBC Scotland’s Television Newsreel. They began to make religious and current affairs programmes such as Panorama for the BBC. In 1955 Low was shooting weekly football coverage and doing film-processing work for television. The company’s commitments to the BBC were growing and by 1960, it was given the production of a weekly programme called ‘Compass’.
Templar attracted many new entrants to the industry who as trainee cameramen and directors learnt their craft on production of documentaries for agencies such the Films of Scotland Committee and industrial sponsors. Templar Films along with Campbell Harper and Thames & Clyde became a mainstay of the Scottish film production industry in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Their best known title Seawards the Great Ships, took two years to make, and in 1961 won the first Hollywood Oscar in the short live action short category.
The company won over 30 international awards for its documentary and industrial films. While several directors and cameramen left, David Low became a director/cameraman and remained Riddell -Black’s right-hand man throughout most of the company’s life. Their partnership split in the mid 1970s when Black closed the Lynedoch St studio and moved to an industrial unit in Broadmeadows Industrial Estate, Dumbarton. The company finally ceased trading in 1980.
Researcher: Joan Allan
Films associated with 'COCOZZA, Enrico'
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MV "CRYSTAL CUBE" [2440]Add to my filmsMrs. I.D. Lyle launches the first bulk sugar carrier for Sugarline Ltd., MV "Crystal Cube" at the Scott-Lithgow shipyard. |
Onsite only |
1974 silent col |
NAMING HERON [8456]Add to my filmsNews footage of a ceremony to name a new De Havilland Heron aeroplane in the service of the Scottish Air Ambulance Service. |
1960 mute bw |
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NAVAL BLESSING CEREMONY [5222]Add to my filmsA ceremony for naval officers on a submarine takes place on shore. |
1961 mute bw |
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NEW B.E.A. FLIGHT ARRIVES AT MOSCOW AIRPORT [8480]Add to my filmsNews footage of a BEA De Havilland Comet aircraft arriving at Moscow Airport on the first flight of a new service between London and Moscow. |
1960 silent bw |
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NEW DAY [0307]Add to my filmsLife in Glenrothes New Town as seen through the eyes of a miner and his family. |
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1959 sound col |
NEW KILDRUM SCHOOL [5191]Add to my filmsShots of the new Kildrum school. |
1963 mute bw |
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NEW LANARK VILLAGE [5440]Add to my filmsGeneral views of New Lanark. |
1961 mute bw |
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NEW SCHOOL, PAISLEY [5211]Add to my filmsExterior shots of the new Paisley school, children play in the playground. |
1963 mute bw |
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NEWCASTLETON STATION [5513]Add to my filmsPassengers waiting on the platform at Newcastleton station; passengers board, and train departs - includes interior shots of ticket office. |
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1965 silent bw |
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NEWS WEATHER, THAW CONTINUES [5336]Add to my filmsFootage of telegraph line repair, road clearing and sheep rescue using helicopter in harsh snowy conditions. |
Onsite only |
1954 mute bw |
NORTH BRITISH LOCOMOTIVE WORKS [5138]Add to my filmsExterior views of the North British Locomotive works, showing buildings and tracks. |
1961 mute bw |
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NORTH BRITISH RUBBER CO., EDINBURGH [5088]Add to my filmsInterior shots of the North British Rubber Co, showing the people at work with machines on factory floor. |
Onsite only |
1975 mute bw |
NORTH BRITISH RUBBER COMPANY, CRAIGTON [5141]Add to my filmsInterior shots of the North British Rubber Company factory, Craigton. General footage of manufacturing processes, including the rolling of rubber sheeting. |
1965 mute bw |
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NORTH BRITISH RUBBER COMPANY, DUMFRIES [5142]Add to my filmsGeneral views (interior and exterior) of the North British Rubber Company factory. |
1965 mute bw |
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NORTHERN STAR [5238]Add to my filmsGeneral views the 'Northern Star', external views of the ship. A small ceremony, people in the dining area, the decks, control room, an officer using morse code. |
1969 mute bw |
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OBAN HARBOUR AND LIGHTHOUSE [5217]Add to my filmsOban harbour and lighthouse. Delivery of a man by boat and supplies to the lighthouse are recorded. |
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1965 mute bw |
OPENING OF GLIDING SCHOOL [8446]Add to my filmsNews footage of a publicity event to publicise the opening of a gliding school, including shots of gliders taking off, landing and in flight. |
1960 mute bw |
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OPENING OF GLIDING SCHOOL 1/2 [8447]Add to my filmsNews footage of a visit by senior RAF and Royal Navy officers to the Air Training Corps gliding school at Abbotsinch. |
1960 mute bw |
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OTTERBANK [5237]Add to my filmsFilm recording a visit of the bank boat, "Otterbank" to another boat at sea. This boat supplied an inter-island banking service around Orkney from the National Commercial Bank (later amalgamated with the Royal Bank of Scotland) between 1962 and 1970. |
1970 mute bw |
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PADDLE STEAMER 'KING GEORGE V' [5224]Add to my filmsThe paddle steamer 'King George V' begins a cruise with people aboard. |
1965 mute bw |
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PADDLE STEAMER TRIP ON LOCH LOMOND [8830]Add to my filmsShots of a summer's day paddle steamer trip around Loch Lomond, showing the piers at Tarbet and Rowardennan. |
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1948 silent col |
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PANDA CROSSINGS [5136]Add to my filmsPolicemen and Lord Provost Jean Roberts attend the first operation of a new panda crossing, Glasgow city centre. |
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1961 mute bw |
PARA RESCUERS [8445]Add to my filmsNews footage of a US Air Force para-rescuers unit training exercise. |
1962 mute bw |
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PARKING METERS, EDINBURGH [5398]Add to my filmsThe first operation of new parking meters on the streets of Edinburgh. [See also ref. 5397] |
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1965 mute bw |
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PERTHSHIRE [5493]Add to my filmsBrief shots following a general election campaign in Perth & East Perthshire in 1959, showing the Conservative candidate Ian MacArthur. |
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1959 mute bw |
PETERHEAD [5491]Add to my filmsPeterhead harbour, shots of fishermen mending their nets on pier, fishing boats coming and going. |
1965 mute bw |
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POLISH FISHING BASE AT LERWICK [5301]Add to my filmsGeneral views of the Polish Fishing Base at Lerwick, and brief shot of fishermen taking a break. |
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1969 mute bw |
PORTPATRICK [5170]Add to my filmsGeneral views around Portpatrick, including the harbour, rocky shoreline and radio station. |
1965 mute bw |
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PREPARATION OF CORPORAL MISSILE FOR LAUNCH [8470]Add to my filmsNews footage of Royal Artillery personnel preparing an MGM-5 Corporal missile for launch. |
1959 mute bw |
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PREPARATION OF TRAINS FOR USE [5403]Add to my filmsSteam trains are prepared for use. Film of the Mid-Day Scot receiving supplies, workers cleaning the exterior and preparing the restaurant car and sleeping carriages before departure. |
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1965 mute bw |
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PRESTWICK AIRPORT I [8462]Add to my filmsNews aerial footage of the site of Prestwick Airport and surrounding countryside at the start of the expansion of the airport in the late 1950s - includes footage of the Prestwick to Monkton road crossing the runway. |
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1959 mute bw |
PRESTWICK PIONEER [8474]Add to my filmsNews footage of a Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer in the livery of Italian airline Elipadana taxiing on the tarmac. |
1960 mute bw |
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PRINCE'S PIER, GREENOCK [5285]Add to my filmsGeneral views of Prince's pier, which once formed part of the Caledonian and the Glasgow & South-Western railway networks. Includes shots of pier and esplanade. |
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1963 mute bw |
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PRINGLE KNITWEAR FACTORY [5117]Add to my filmsGeneral views of the Pringle Knitwear factory at work. Features footage of the exterior of the building, people at work inside and the arrival of new knitting machinery. |
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1964 mute bw |
QE2 IN SCOTT LITHGOW DOCK, GREENOCK [5448]Add to my filmsVarious shots QE2 in dry dock at Scott Lithgow yard, Greenock, including l/s looking across street onto ship. |
1968 mute bw |
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QUEEN IN SCOTLAND, the [2221]Add to my filmsThe royal visits and official ceremonies during the Queen's tour of Scotland. |
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1960 sound col |
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RAF DE HAVILLAND CHIPMUNKS DISPLAY [8461]Add to my filmsNews footage of RAF De Havilland Chipmunk training aircraft in flight. |
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1960 mute bw |
RANGERS SUPPORTERS [5174]Add to my filmsSwarms of Rangers fans at Renfrew Airport milling about on the tarmac. |
1963 mute bw |
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REDFORD BARRACKS [8466]Add to my filmsNews footage of the cavalry and infantry barrack blocks at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh. |
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1960 mute bw |
REMOVAL OF DR. DAVID LIVINGSTONE STATUE, GEORGE SQUARE [5195]Add to my filmsRemoval of the Dr. David Livingstone statue from George Square, as people look on. |
1961 mute bw |
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RENFREW AIRPORT [8476]Add to my filmsNews footage of Renfrew Airport, including aircraft landing and on the tarmac, shots of the terminal buildings and the control tower, and flight and ground crew at work. |
1960 mute bw |
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RESCUE HELICOPTER [8479]Add to my filmsBrief news footage of a helicopter coming in to land. |
1960 mute bw |
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REST AND BE THANKFUL HILL CLIMB [8598]Add to my filmsShots of various cars crossing the finishing line on the Rest and Be Thankful hill climb. |
Onsite only |
1960 silent bw |
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RIVER FORTH [1350]Add to my filmsThe geography and industries of the river Forth from source to sea. |
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1956 silent bw |
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ROAD CONSTRUCTION AROUND PRESTWICK AIRPORT [8595]Add to my filmsNews footage of the construction of the A77 by-pass around Prestwick and extension of the runway at Prestwick Airport. |
Onsite only |
1963 silent bw |
ROBERT BURNS MUSEUM [5220]Add to my filmsArtefacts and displays inside the Burns Museum in Ayrshire, starts with a brief shot of the exterior of his cottage and the museum. |
1961 mute bw |
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ROBERT GORDON NAVAL SCHOOL - TRIMS [5214]Add to my filmsStudents entering the Robert Gordon Naval school, drawing at desks, putting uniforms on. |
1963 mute bw |
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ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW [5295]Add to my filmsThe Queen and Prince Philip at the Royal Highland Show, the Queen and Prince Philip looking at prize cattle, the Queen presenting a plaque for the prize. |
1965 mute col |
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ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT 'John and Frances Macfarlane' [5227]Add to my filmsThe Royal National Lifeboat 'John and Frances Macfarlane' of Aith, Shetland. Includes interior shots of the cabin and men dressed in oilskins. |
1965 mute bw |
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ROYAL NAVY AIRCRAFT AT HMS SANDERLING [8473]Add to my filmsNews footage of Royal Navy Air Station HMS Sanderling at Abbotsinch airfield, a flypast by Royal Navy aircraft and aerial shots from the cockpit of a jet fighter in flight. |
1960 mute bw |
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