Skip to main content

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 143 Collections and/or Records:

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

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.114
Scope and Contents

Edinburgh, Murray Fields. Colour illustration of chimpanzees in stripey clothes on bycicle and swinging bar on top section and elephant parade on bottom section on a green a yellow background. 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: 178R47.129
Scope and Contents

Birmingham, Greyhound Stadium, car park. Red and blue type on white background with red border. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd, Nesfield Printing Works, Bradford.

Dates: 16 November - 5 December 1953

Billy Smart's New World Circus and Zoo Poster, 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.65
Scope and Contents

Tagora the human volcano, over 200 animals. Colour illustration of bare chested man wearing a turbant, spitting fire on the bottom right and his face on centre left on a blue, red and orange background, also yellow and red and white, black and yellow type. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 1955

Billy Smart's New World Circus and Zoo Poster, 3 - 4 June 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.79
Scope and Contents

Cheltenham, Sandford Park. Colour illustration of wild animals running on grass including elephants, lions, bears, polar bears, camels, llamas and cebras in a circle on the centre of the poster. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 3 - 4 June 1955

Billy Smart's New World Circus and Zoo Poster, 20 December 1954 - 22 January 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.89
Scope and Contents

Birmingham, Bingley Hall. Colour illustration of wild animals running on grass including elephants, lions, bears, polar bears, camels, llamas and cebras in a circle on the centre of the poster. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 20 December 1954 - 22 January 1955

Billy Smart's New World Circus and Zoo Poster, 3 - 4 June 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.107
Scope and Contents

Cheltenham, Sandford Park. Colour illustration in a circle in the centre of the poster of dancing elephant wearing a pink tutu and woman also wearing a pink tutu in a circus ring. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 3 - 4 June 1955

Billy Smart's New World Circus and Zoo Poster, 3 - 8 September 1956

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.109
Scope and Contents

Preston, Queens Road site. Colour illustration of dancing elephant and woman both wearing a hula skirt and flower necklace, in a circus ring. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 3 - 8 September 1956

Billy Smart's New World Circus and Zoo Poster, 25 - 30 March 1957

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.110
Scope and Contents

Dewsbury, the Feast Ground. Tagora the human volcano. Colour illustration of bare chested man wearing a turbant and spiting fire and a large face of man wearing a turbant on top left, over a red and blue background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 25 - 30 March 1957

Billy Smart's New World Circus Poster, 7 - 26 November 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.106
Scope and Contents

Birmingham, Perry Bar stadium car park. Colour illustration of circus parade seen from behind heading towards a blue circus tent on a field. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 7 - 26 November 1955

Billy Smart's New World Circus Poster, 15 October - 3 November 1956

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.116
Scope and Contents

Manchester, Platt Fields. Eight Flying Croneras. Colour illustration of trapezee act showing eight artistes performing in mid-air ona blue and pink background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 15 October - 3 November 1956

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1964

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.145
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli and his Company clown, The Flying Marilees, Lilian Daniels and her polar bears, Konyot's chimpanzee rodeo, The Four Rodriguez, Circus Schumann's 12 Liberty horses presented by Billy Baker, Desmond and Marks, The Guttenbergs, Fuzzy-Ball Kaye and Tiny Tommy Gallaher, Kimi Yokoi, See-Hee Troupe, Bartschelly, Evelyn Hans and her poodles, Rudi Llata. Colour illustrations of clowns, a chimp dressed as a cowboy, a polar bear, the 4 Rodriguez, Kimi Yokoi and two poodles, main...
Dates: 1964

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1936

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.148
Scope and Contents

Jenny and Piccolo elephants and clowns, Los Aseveras equestrian act, Sensational Berosinis high wire, Khayyam Troupe springboard acrobats, Sandor Karoly 5 equestrian act, 4 Famous Phillips equilibrists, Doodles, Nico and Alex clowns, 3 van Normans, Ballet d'Cirque, The Edmondos horeback juggler, Christian's poodles, Paul Paetzold and Co cycling comedians. Colour illustrations of an elephant, a man and a woman on horseback and an arabian palace and lake. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd.

Dates: 1936

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, c1933 - 1990

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.149
Scope and Contents

Alfred Court with his Monarchs of the Jungle, Flying Codonas, Maximilian Truzzi juggler, Karolly Troupe equestrians, Cooke's Pony Revue, comedy jazz and boxing ponies, Gordon and Lester comedy acrobats, Ilés and Loyal, Nico and Nico, Six Rolling Wonder Girls, Loretta Ballet, Doodles, 3 van Normans, Marton Sisters. Colour illustrations of a lion, tiger, polar bear, leopard, the 3 Codonas and a couple in Edwardian costume roller skating. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd.

Dates: c1933 - 1990

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1943

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.150
Scope and Contents

Felix with his tigers and lions, The Cairolis musical clowns, Bertram Mills' Liberty horses, Coco the clown with Michael and Tamara, Victor Barna v Alec Brook table tennis champions, Rassana queen of the air, Jon high school act, The Circusettes, Doodles, Yangtse Chinese, Zola and Mattie, Mills' elephant ballet, Cavalini's canine comedians. Main background blue with white stars, type multicoloured on multicoloured background. First performance during wartime. Printed by W. E. Berry

Dates: 1943

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1940

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.151
Scope and Contents

Adele's Royal Assam elephants, Tommy Kayes with his lions, 7 Gridneffs unsupported ladder acts, The Dario Bario Family clowns, Pepino with his Miniture Circus, Emmy Truzzi with her Equine Revue, Rao Bros Indian bobbin act, 4 Balatons springboard performers, Les Filles de la Cheval ballerinas with horses, Doodles, Jix, Jax and Max, 3 Van Normans, Paul and Earl Rollo with Carole, skaters. Main background blue with white stars, type red and blue on white background. Printed by W. E. Berry

Dates: 1940

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1953

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.153
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli with Paul clowns, 8 Flying Croneras, Fischer's elephants, 5 Hansels, John, The Balladinis, 5 Talos, Knie's Legionnaires equestrian act, Klant's Lions presented by Tarzana, 2 Canters, Karl Kossmayers unrideable mule, Jimmy Scott, Little Jimmy, Annette's Circusettes, Carola's cockatoos and parrots, Trio Olympiads. Colour illustrations of lion and tamer, clown, aerial acrobat, elephant and a man on horseback, main background blue with a red stage curtain at the top, type red on...
Dates: 1953

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1952

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.154
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli with Paul, Knie's lions and tigers presented by Trubka, Ghezzi Brothers, Rose Gold Trio, Tosca de Lac, Knie's horses and zebras presented by Wenzel Kossmayer, Rogge Sisters, Duncan's Collies, Jacky Lupescu, The Oliveras, Little Jimmy, Annette's Circusettes, Jimmy Scott, Knie's animal carousel presented by Douglas Kossmayer, Knie's baby elephants presented by Wenzel Kossmayer, Edith Crocker's bear. Colour illustrations of a clown, aerial acrobats, a tiger and a lion, two...
Dates: 1952

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1963

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.155
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli and his Company, The Great Pusztai Troupe, The Flying Zemgannos, Los Onas, Rudi Llata, Ruppert's bears, Knie's lions, tigers, leopards, polar bear, panthers and black bear presented by Eugen Weidmann, Baranton Sisters, Robert Brothers's elephants presented by Edith Schickler, Sacha Houcke's Ben-Hur, Roman riding, Sacha Houcke and Edith Schickler high school act, The Hermanis, Desmond and Marks, The Bearis. Colour illustrations of a clown, a lion, a tiger, a polar bear, and...
Dates: 1963

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1957

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.157
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli with Paul, Krone's ponies and polar bears presented by Jozsi Vinicky, Krone's Arabian horses presented by Doris Arndt, Excess Baggage presented by Alma Michaels, Flying Marilees, Five Cristianis, Nino Rubio, Bedini Troupe, Yokoi Troupe, Aerial Chapmans, Little Jimmy, Golden Linders, Frances Duncan. Colour illustrations of a clown, monkeys in clothes, a polar bear balancing on a ball, two horses, two ponies pulling carts and a man on a ladder balancing teacups on his head,...
Dates: 1957

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.158
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli with Paul, Knie's panthers, polar bears, black bears, lions and tigers presented by August Natsch, Three Craddocks, Vivian and Tassi, 4 Ramses, 2 Rassos, Harold Gautier's Excess Baggage presented by Alma Michaels, The 7 Eagles, Two Cherks, Fattini, Knie's radio horses and wist drive horses presented by Wenzel Kossmayer, Argentine Pony Express presented by Douglas Kossmayer, dancing horse and his Partner Sandry presented by Douglas Kossmayer and George Ruzsa, Jimmy Scott,...
Dates: 1954

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 140
Collection 3
 
Subject
Acrobats 24
Aerialists 45
Animal trainers 13
Animals 106
Art 1