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Barnes, Bill (William), 1920 - 2019

 Person

Biography

William 'Bill' Barnes was a renowned film history and collector, who together with his twin brother John (1920-2008), amassed one of the finest collections of early British cinema in the country.

Bill and John became fascinated with cinema from an early age. When they were twelve years old they had a home cine projector and soon after, still in their teen years, they started to make their own films and documentaries. Examples of the titles they created together are Cornish Nets and With the Gypsies in Kent.

Bill and John started to collect cinema material in the 1930s. The brothers served together in the Royal Navy during WWII. At the end of the war, they became specialist booksellers of cinema and pre-cinema material.

The brothers opened the Barnes Museum of Cinematography in St Ives in 1936. John managed the collection while Bill continued to build up the collection visiting fairs, markets and auctions around the country. At this time Bill was working as a Film Production Consultant in London, where he used to visit markets and antique shops. The museum closed in 1986 and the collection was split between the Museo Nazionale del Cinema in Turin and Hove Museum. Eventually, Bill started to run his own stall in Chelsea antiques market selling optical toys, lantern slides and photo cine items. John, who remained in Cornwall all his life, died in 2008. The brothers had always been very close and Bill felt a great loss.

Bill became a leading authority on many aspects of the optical media that preceded cinema and in particular of the early years of cinema itself.

John and Bill wrote extensively on early cinema history, John was known for The Beginnings of Cinema in Britain series and Bill for his articles on The Magic Lantern journal among others.

Bill and John received an honorary doctorate from the University of Stirling in 2006 and the Jean Mitry Prize.

Found in 286 Collections and/or Records:

Poole's Trips Abroad Poster, 10 January 1885

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.23
Scope and Contents

Town Hall, Northampton. Poole's Trips Abroad, Egyptian Campaign, Soudan War, Teband Tamasi, new mastodont diorama, Tour Round the World, the War in Egypt, Miss Ada Violet Poole, Miss Keturah Evans, Mr Harry Stewart, Great Orville Pitcher, Mr Charles Heywood, Mr C. W. Wilmott. Brown type on yellow background. Printed by Stafford & Co., Printers and Engravers, Netherfield near Nottigham.

Dates: 10 January 1885

Poole's World Diorama Programme, 14 May 1883

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.12
Scope and Contents Victoria Amphitheatre and Grand Circus, Boar Lane, Leeds, War in Egypt, Bormbardment of Alexandria, Tel-El-Kebir, London, British Fleet, Turkey, Russia, Berlin, The Holy Land, Egypt, Alexandria, South Africa, India, Afghanistan, Poole's Excelsior Concert Company, Henderson and Stanley, comedy act, Wilton and Audley, singing and dancing act, J. Sullivan and Miss Josephine, comedy act, Herr Blitz, magic act, Horace Wilton, comedy singing act, Poole's band conducted by Mr Alfred Horton. Black...
Dates: 14 May 1883

Poole's World Diorama Programme, 16 November 1885

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.29
Scope and Contents Corn Exchange, Hereford, England and Russia, Egypt and the Soudan, India and Afghanistan, The Nile expedition, The Great Battle of Gubat, Entry of General Sir Garnet Wolseley with British forces in Cairo, Alexandria bombardment, General Stewart's victory at Abu Klea, The difficulties at the second catract of the Nile expedition, The Mediterranean sea, South Africa, Holland and Belgium, Suakim to Berber, Cairo to Kahrtcse, The fall of Khartoum, Lord Wolseley in the Soudan, Mr Harry Stewart,...
Dates: 16 November 1885

Poole's World Diorama Programme, 17 May 1884

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.5
Scope and Contents Messrs. Poole's excursions, entitled The World, London, British Fleet, Turkey, Egypt, Alexandria, The Soudan, Inida, Afghanistan, China, America, Artic Regions, Russia and Berlin, Poole's Excelsior Concert Company, Miss Kitty Clare, singing act, Cosmo, musical clown, Professor Hawthorn, quick costume change act, Mr Horace Wilton, comedy singing act, Poole's band conducted by Mr C. W. Horton. Black type on pink background and black border on front cover, inside inside listing of the shows...
Dates: 17 May 1884

Portrait of Maclagan Print, c1800 -1899

 Item
Reference code: 178V20.1
Scope and Contents

Bust portrait of a man in a suit facing towards the right with inscription reading yours truly Maclagan. Woodcut on yellow card.

Dates: c1800 -1899

Posters, c1880 - 1899

 Series
Reference code: 178R53
Scope and Contents

Poster related to the Poole family film shows, Gompertz's diorama and other early cinema travelling shows and venues.

Dates: c1880 - 1899

Programmes , 1881 - 2016

 Series
Reference code: 178K53
Scope and Contents

Pre-Film and variety and music hall programmes mainly related to the travelling shows of Joseph Poole and Harry Poole, Harry H. Hamilton, Mapleston Brothers and Adams but it also includes other showmen.

Dates: 1881 - 2016

Publicity for Salambo Leaflet, 2018

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.19
Scope and Contents

Blue type on yellow background on front cover, inside black and white images of posters for Salambo, 2p.p.

Dates: 2018

Putney Cinema Programme, 18 May 1914

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.128
Scope and Contents Blue type and illustration of a man holding a banner on white background and blue and white photographs of the interior and exterior of the building on the front cover, inside programme listing Anne of the Golden Heart, Wifey's Visit Home, A Treacherous Rival, Mabel's Stormy Love Affair, The Staircase of Death, The Battle of Get His Own Back, Bernina Railway in Winter, Pathe Gazette, The Banker's Son, Max Cures Cinemania, The Burglar's Sacrifice, Why Reginald Reformed, The Maked Dancer,...
Dates: 18 May 1914

Queen's Hall Programme, 17 December 1898

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.59
Scope and Contents

Music recital programme including the words of songs with special display of animated pictures including the Boer War. Black type on off white paper with commercial advertising and programme in the centre, 6p.p.

Dates: 17 December 1898

Queen's Hall Programme, 11 February 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.60
Scope and Contents

Music recital programme including the words of songs with special display of animated sport pictures including boxing, rowing and diving as well as the serpentine dance. Black type on off white paper with commercial advertising and programme in the centre, 6p.p.

Dates: 11 February 1899

Queen's Hall Programme, 2 March 1907

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.61
Scope and Contents

Music recital programme including the words of songs with future programme containing animated pictures. Black type on off white paper with commercial advertising and programme in the centre, 4p.p.

Dates: 2 March 1907

Queen's Hall Programme, 6 October 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.141
Scope and Contents Black type on off white background listing Robert Newman's Queen's Hall Orchestra, the Polytechnic and Animated Pictures on the front cover, inside description of the concert and listing of moving pictures including Gathering of the Clans at Balmoral, Fiftieth Annual Visit by the Queen, March Past and Highland Fling, Incoming Tide at Worthing, The Legacy, The Conjurer and Henley Regatta 1899, on back cover listing of programme for the week and The Sunday Concert Society concert, contains...
Dates: 6 October 1899

Queen's Hall Programme, 7 September 1900

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.142
Scope and Contents Black type on off white background listing Robert Newman's Queen's Hall Orchestra, the Polytechnic and Animated Pictures on the front cover, inside description of the concert and listing of moving pictures including Razing a Factory Chimney, Tommy's Washing Day, The Seaford Highlanders, A Skirmish with the Boers near Kimberley, A Panorama, Clearing the Bush, A 5in Siege, The Essex RegimentCrossing the Vaal River, The C.I.V's March on Johannesburgh, The Cameron HIghlanders, The Surrender of...
Dates: 7 September 1900

Queen's Hall Programme, 8 September 1900

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.143
Scope and Contents Black type on off white background listing Robert Newman's Queen's Hall Orchestra, the Polytechnic and Animated Pictures on the front cover, inside description of the concert and listing of moving pictures including Razing a Factory Chimney, Tommy's Washing Day, The Seaford Highlanders, A Skirmish with the Boers near Kimberley, A Panorama, Clearing the Bush, A 5in Siege, The Essex RegimentCrossing the Vaal River, The C.I.V's March on Johannesburgh, The Cameron HIghlanders, The Surrender of...
Dates: 8 September 1900

Queen's Hall Programme, 4 October 1900

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.144
Scope and Contents Black type on off white background listing Robert Newman's Queen's Hall Orchestra, the Polytechnic and Animated Pictures on the front cover, inside description of the concert and listing of moving pictures including Paris Exhibition Buildings, Reversed Film, Chinese Women Spinning, The Yellow Peril, Departure of Steamer from Calais, Three Torpedo Boats Chasing a Cruiser, Diver Going Under Water, An Easy Shave, Firing of the 4'7 Gun, A Detachment of Australian Volunteers, Royal Horse...
Dates: 4 October 1900

Queen's Hall Programme, 5 October 1900

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.145
Scope and Contents Black type on off white background listing Robert Newman's Queen's Hall Orchestra, the Polytechnic and Animated Pictures on the front cover, inside description of the concert and listing of moving pictures including Paris Exhibition Buildings, Reversed Film, Chinese Women Spinning, The Yellow Peril, Departure of Steamer from Calais, Three Torpedo Boats Chasing a Cruiser, Diver Going Under Water, An Easy Shave, Firing of the 4'7 Gun, A Detachment of Australian Volunteers, Royal Horse...
Dates: 5 October 1900

Queen's Hall Programme, 15 October 1900

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.146
Scope and Contents Black type on off white background listing Robert Newman's Queen's Hall Orchestra, the Polytechnic, Animated Pictures and TSave Concerts on the front cover, inside description of the concert and listing of moving pictures including All Hands Aloft, The Famous Illusion, Neptune's Parade, Shooting the Rapids, Afternoon Tea Scandal, The Wandering Minstrel, High Diving, A Good Joke, A Bloodless Encounter, The Legacy, Tarantella, The Conjurer and Fire Scenes, on back cover listing of programme...
Dates: 15 October 1900

Queen's Hall Programme, 3 September 1901

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.147
Scope and Contents Black type on off white background listing Robert Newman's Queen's Hall Orchestra, the Polytechnic and Animated Pictures on the front cover, inside description of the concert and listing of moving pictures including Henley Regatta, The Polytechnic Harriers Paperchase, The Bathers, The Santos Dumont Steerable Balloon, The Great Paris-Berlin Motorcar Race, The One Man Band, Fishing Extraordinary, Railway Panorama, Torpedo Boats in the Manchester Ship Canal, The Irritating Monocle, The...
Dates: 3 September 1901

Queen's Hall Programme, 5 September 1901

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.148
Scope and Contents Black type on off white background listing Robert Newman's Queen's Hall Orchestra, the Polytechnic and Animated Pictures on the front cover, inside description of the concert and listing of moving pictures including Henley Regatta, The Polytechnic Harriers Paperchase, The Bathers, The Santos Dumont Steerable Balloon, The Great Paris-Berlin Motorcar Race, The One Man Band, Fishing Extraordinary, Railway Panorama, Torpedo Boats in the Manchester Ship Canal, The Irritating Monocle, The...
Dates: 5 September 1901

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 285
Collection 1
 
Subject
Acrobats 7
Aerialists 5
Anglo-Afghan Wars 10
Anglo-Burmese War, 3rd, 1885 4
Anglo-Egyptian War, 1882 33