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W. E. Berry Ltd (1888 - 2004)

 Organisation

Dates

  • Existence: 1888 - 2004

Biography

The W.E. Berry Ltd printing company was founded by William Edward Berry in the early 1900s after taking over his father’s printing company and splitting with his business partner. The original company had been founded by William Berry in 1888 at 13 Currer Street in Bradford to print advertising posters. Business soon started to specialise in the railway and entertainment sector, specially the circus industry and over time became one of the most significant printers of entertainment posters in the UK.

In the 1920s the company started to print posters for the film industry after W.E. Berry met Fred Martin at Paramount Pictures. This developed into a lucrative partnership with Berry becoming one of only three companies in Britain to specialise in printing large format posters. Successive contracts with Disney and Columbia arrived, turning Berry into one of the leading producers and distributors of film posters in the UK. Some of the most famous posters include Star Wars (1977) and Flash Gordon (1980).

The mid of the twentieth century saw the production of Berry’s most beautiful and sought posters in the entertainment sector and the company continued experiencing success until the end of the late 1990s when it employed around 140 people, including Chief Illustrator Leon Crossley and a team of freelance commercial artists. However, by the early twentieth century Berry’s fortunes started to turn and after heavy financial losses the company went into administration in 2004, ceasing business on the 4th day of February that year.

Found in 147 Collections and/or Records:

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 25 October - 11 November 1961

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.122
Scope and Contents Wood Lane, Scrub Recreation Ground. The New Western Show, The Medifreds juggling act, Alma Piaia, 15 elephants, Billy Smart Junior Dutch horses, The Brooke Bond chimpanzees, 14 polar bears, The Five Flying Leotaris, Digger Pugh Girls, The riding machine, The Seven Herrviks, Gloria Smart with horses and ponies, The Munoz Luftmann clowns, The Katyanas trapeze act, The Sloan Family, Karen and Ria aerial act, 1001 Arabian Nights Scene. Multicolour type on multicolour background on right hand...
Dates: 25 October - 11 November 1961

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 24 - 29 June 1963

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.123
Scope and Contents Hayes, Park Road Green. The Five Monus Luftmann clowns, Monik Maccio trapeze act, The riding machine, Brooke Bond's chimpanzees, 20 elephants, Aerial aeroplane sensations, Gloria Smart with her horses and ponies, U.S. Seventh Cavalry, Fairyland Story, The Flying Bendichos, The Atlas Sahara Troupe, High stilt walkers, 14 polar bears, The Roeber Sisters, The Six Cycling Kludsky, The Aerial Antinous. Multicolour type on multicolour baloons on right hand side, colour illustration of chimpanzee...
Dates: 24 - 29 June 1963

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 18 March - 3 April 1964

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.124
Scope and Contents Birmingham, Hay Mills Recreation Ground. Les Arata on the silver wire, 16 aerial trapeze artistes, The riding machine, Brooke Bond's chimpanzees, 20 elephants, The Two Rapolli juggling act, The Six Skating Willers, U.S. Seventh Cavalry, Fairyland Story, The Flying Ibarras, The Atlas Sahara Troupe, High stilt walkers, 14 polar bears, The Roever Sisters, The Six Cycling Kludsky, The Aerial Antinous. Multicolour type on multicolour background baloons on right hand side, colour illustration of...
Dates: 18 March - 3 April 1964

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.139
Scope and Contents

Britain's largest circus. Produced by master showmen. The complete show is coming. White, yellow and red type on dark blue and white background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 27 July - 8 August 1964

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.55
Scope and Contents

Porstmouth, Southsea Common. Yellow type on blue background and blue type on white background with half of a clown face on the right hand side and a pink speech bubble on bottom section. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd. Bradford.

Dates: 27 July - 8 August 1964

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 18 March - 3 April 1965

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.56
Scope and Contents

Birmingham, Hay Mills. Yellow type on blue background and blue type on white background with half of a clown face on the right hand side and a pink speech bubble on bottom section. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd. Bradford.

Dates: 18 March - 3 April 1965

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 17 March - 2 April 1966

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.57
Scope and Contents

Birmingham, Hay Mills. Yellow type on blue background and blue type on white background with half of a clown face on the right hand side and a pink speech bubble on bottom section. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd. Bradford.

Dates: 17 March - 2 April 1966

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.58
Scope and Contents

Scarborough, Burniston Road Barracks Sports Field, 5 August to 10 August. Colour illustration of baby elephant on brown background, wearing a tutu and a pointy hat with a bauble stood up on two legs with its head turned towards the viewer and holding a yellow sign under his right leg reading The World's Greatest Circus, Thrills, Spectacle, Beauty. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd. Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.59
Scope and Contents

Clapham Common, South Side, 28 October to 23 November. Colour illustration of baby elephant on brown background, wearing a tutu and a pointy hat with a bauble stood up on two legs with its head turned towards the viewer and holding a yellow sign under his right leg reading The World's Greatest Circus, Thrills, Spectacle, Beauty. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd. Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.60
Scope and Contents

Leicester, Emerald Street Site, 15 April to 27 April. Colour illustration of baby elephant on brown background, wearing a tutu and a pointy hat with a bauble stood up on two legs with its head turned towards the viewer and holding a yellow sign under his right leg reading The World's Greatest Circus, Thrills, Spectacle, Beauty. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd. Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.61
Scope and Contents

Clapham Common, South Side, open until 20 November. Colour illustration of baby elephant on blue background, wearing a pointy hat with a bauble and a green bowtie, seated on a circus platform in front of a small woman in circus band uniform wearing a tall red hat and black shorts, holding a poster with his trunk with the location and time of the circus, also yellow and white type. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Nesfield Printing Works Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.62
Scope and Contents

Birmigham, Hay Mills, 18 March to 3 April. Colour illustration of elephant on blue background, wearing a pointy hat with a bauble and a green bowtie, seated on a circus platform in front of a small woman in circus band uniform wearing a tall red hat and black shorts, holding a poster with his trunk with the location and time of the circus, also yellow and white type. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Nesfield Printing Works Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 28 October - 23 November 1968

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.63
Scope and Contents

Clapham Common, South Side. Colour illustration of elephant wearing a tutu and a pointy hat with a bauble stood on a circus platform and a mouse dressed as an elephant trainer holding a whip on blue background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 28 October - 23 November 1968

Billy Smart's Circus This is My Life Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.134
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of Billy Smart in cowboy hat holding a cigar on his right hand, wearing his signature white shirt and stripey brown waistcoat. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's New World Circus and Fun Fair Poster, 3 - 8 July 1950

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.80
Scope and Contents Salisbury, Cook's Field, Wilton Road. The Elleanos, high wire act, Jolly balancing act, Miss Olga trapeze act, The Grand Carousel, The Crazy Car, The Great Alexanders springboard act, 12 Royal Welsh Liberty ponies, Performing bears, Vinicky, English clowns, Highland Oxen trained by J. Vinicky, elephants, 8 Friesian black horses, Nicolai and his performing lions, Leona on the steel mast. Yellow, blue and black type on red, white and yellow stripe background with illustration of elephant and...
Dates: 3 - 8 July 1950

Billy Smart's New World Circus and Fun Fair Poster, 26 June - 1 July 1950

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.137
Scope and Contents Oxford, Botley Road. The Elleanos high wire act, Jolly balancing act, Miss Olga trapeze act, The Grand Carousel, The Crazy Car, The Great Alexanders springboard act, Billy Smart Junior presents 12 Royal Welsh Liberty ponies, Bears, Vinicky, English clowns, Highland oxen, Elephants, 8 Friesian black horses, Nicolai and his performing lions, Leona on the steel mast. Multicolour type on multicolour background and colour illustration of circus ring showing a white face clown's head in the...
Dates: 26 June - 1 July 1950

Billy Smart's new World Circus and Menagerie Poster, 24 - 29 May 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.81
Scope and Contents

Edinburgh, Murray Fields. Colour illustration of acts grouped around the poster with highland cattle, a white face clown's face and an elephant behind a wheel of death on the top section, horses, chimpanzees and cebras on the centre and lions, clown faces, polar bears and an elephant in a police hat riding a motorcycle on the bottom section. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 24 - 29 May 1954

Billy Smart's New World Circus and Menagerie Poster, 16 November - 5 December 1953

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.91
Scope and Contents

Birmigham, Greyhound Stadium car park. Colour illustration of chimpanzees sat around a table drinking tea and eating cake, wearing bibs with their names on. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 16 November - 5 December 1953

Billy Smart's New World Circus and Menagerie Poster, 24 - 29 May 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.105
Scope and Contents

Edinburgh, Murray Fields. Colour illustration of polar bears on steps above brown bears and animal trainer on the right hand side. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 24 - 29 May 1954

Billy Smart's New World Circus and Menagerie Poster, 30 March - 11 April 1951

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.112
Scope and Contents

Nottingham Goose Fair site. The Sensational Puhlmanns aeroplane aerialist, over 150 animals. Colour illustration of acrobatic aerial act showing a woman hanging by the feet and a man hunging by the mouth from an aeroplane. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 30 March - 11 April 1951

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 144
Collection 3
 
Subject
Acrobats 25
Aerialists 48
Animal trainers 14
Animals 110
Art 1