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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 75 Collections and/or Records:

Anglo-American Circus Poster, Friday 4 Saturday 5 May 1945

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.40
Scope and Contents Redditch, Beoley Road, Recreation Ground. Jumbo, The Alleys acrobatic act, Marthines troupe of performing dogs, The Albertas juggling act, Miss Rosey and her comedy horse, Mdlle. Rigley equestrian act, The Nondescripts, Black Eagle, Gerry Lee and Partner, Madam Mazelle om poblie wom womskie comedy act, Royal Cream ponies, Tiney and September, Prince Abdul, A host of clowns, Vokes strongman. Black type on yred, yellow and white background on the left hand side and colour illustration of...
Dates: Friday 4 Saturday 5 May 1945

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, 25 October - 11 November 1961

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.113
Scope and Contents

Wood Lane, Scrub Recreation Ground. Colour illustration of female aerial acrobatic act in red suit on centre right and clown's face on centre left with elephants, camels, lions and other circus acts underneath. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 25 October - 11 November 1961

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 28 March - 2 April 1960

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.118
Scope and Contents Doncaster, Glasgow Paddocks. The Wild West Show, The Arabian Nights Review, The Four Jungoves ladder balancing act, The Six Birds, Bartschelly plate spinning act, Arab horses and Shettland ponies, Alma Piaia aerial act, Billy Smart Junior presenting elephants, chimps presented by Heinz Borsch, Fle-Ming's sea lions, The Flying Lunasz trapeze act, The Three Peters aerial act, The Four Willers skating act, Highland cattle, The Andrasettis wire walking act, Sasha, Coco, Harty, Alby, Austin,...
Dates: 28 March - 2 April 1960

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 10 - 12 September 1962

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.120
Scope and Contents Worcester, The Pitchcroft. The Wild West Show, The Fairyland Fantasy, Six Erminios juggling act, Monik Maccio trapeze act, 15 elephants, Billy Smart Junior's Dutch horses, The Brooke Bond chimpanzees, 14 polar bears, The De Riaz aeroplane act, Peggi Cousans trapeze act, The riding machine, Gloria Smart with her horses and ponies, Atlas Sahara Troupe acrobatic act, The Paolos musical clowns, The Sloans on high stilts, Karen and Ria aerial act, The Antinousand The Hellyos. Multicolour type on...
Dates: 10 - 12 September 1962

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 24 October - 12 November 1960

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.121
Scope and Contents Clapham Common. The New Western Show, Rec, the tramp on the silver wire, The Austins clowns, The Medifreds juggling act, Billy Smart's Arabian horses, Alma Piaia, Billy Smart junior presenting baby elephants, Brooke Bond chimps presented by Heinz Borsch, Gloria Smart with her horses and ponies, The Katyanas trapeze act, The Flying Lunasz, The Two Dominici trapeze act, Digger Pugh Girls, Circus cavalcade, Frank, Harty, Alby and Len, Austin, Harry Ruster, Merry Herbert, Little David and Barrie...
Dates: 24 October - 12 November 1960

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, 5 - 10 August 1957

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.83
Scope and Contents

Inverness, Bught Park. The Flying Hungarian Lunasz. Colour illustration of trapeze act showing two men a woman in mid air and a clown on a blue background and a pink circus ring below. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 5 - 10 August 1957

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 25 March - 17 April 1971

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.85
Scope and Contents

Birmigham, Hay Mills. Colour illustration of three clowns, one of which is throwing a bucket of water to the viewer on a darnk blue background with yellow type above. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 25 March - 17 April 1971

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.88
Scope and Contents

Bridlington, Sewerby Heads site, 12-17 August. Colour illustration of smiley clown's face wearing a small checked top hat and the outline of a circus tent on the right in white with fireworks on the side on a blue background and yellow, white and red type. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

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 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 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

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.164
Scope and Contents

15 Devils of the Forest presented by Alfred Court big cat act, Emmy Truzzi equestrian act, Cairoli Trio clowns, Lou Lenny with her kicking mules, 7 Martinettes acrobats, Omega Trio, equilibrists, Doodles clown, Cavalini's canine comedians, 3 Van Normans, The Great Wallendas high wire. Main background is blue with white stars, main title in yellow, type in red and blue on a white background. Printed by W. E. Berry.

Dates: 1939

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1945

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.165
Scope and Contents

Chesnut Octette equestrian act, Elephant Revue by the Six Sisters Jumbo, Victor Julian with his dogs and monkeys, Lai Founs, Chinese wonders, The Rosinas, George and Jack Dormonde, Coco and Michael and Family, Fred Sylvester and his Nephews, Three Austins clowns, Swan and Leigh comedy gymnasts, Olsen and his seal, Prince Zahoor, 16 Annette's Circusettes. Main background is blue with white stars, type multicoloured on a white background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd.

Dates: 1945

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1958

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.167
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli with Paul clowns, Three Merkys comedy acrobatics, Rih-Aruso, Mills boxing chimpanzees presented by Willem Lenz, Knie's panthers, tigers, lions, polar and black bears and leopards presented by Eugen Weidmann, Knie's sea lions, 6 Flying De Pauls, 3 Antares, 3 Chiesas, Maurice and May, Alma Piaia, Ivan Bratuchin and his Cossack riders, Krone's Liberty horses presented by Jozsi Vinicky, Manja Vinicky and her high school acts, Little Jimmy. Colour illustrations of a clown, a...
Dates: 1958

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1959

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.168
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli with Paul clowns, Schickler Sisters, Josef Wiesner's 7 tigers presented by Helene Pimmer, Knie's log rolling elephants presented by Ruppert Bemmerl, 4 Palacios, Eldino and assistant, Trio Morlidor, Tibor Alexander's dogs, The Great Barton, The Great Pusztai Troupe, Carmel Gowan, The Two Angelos, 4 Dubowys, Knie's Tiger horses presented by Edith Schickler, Knie's 18 ponies presented by Ingrid Schickler, Hoppe's kicking mule. Colour illustrations of a clown, an elephant and a...
Dates: 1959

Filtered By

  • Subject: Clowning X

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 72
Collection 3
 
Subject
Acrobats 24
Aerialists 38
Animal trainers 12
Animals 63
Art 1