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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 20 Collections and/or Records:

Alhambra Theatre of Varieties Programme, 10 August 1896

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.122
Scope and Contents

Leiscetes Square, London. Three fold programme containing colour illustration of women and Pierrots dancing on the outside, inside commercial advertising and programme listing The Musical Korries, Emmy's Troupe of Trained Toy Terriers, The Luppus, The Newsky Roussotine Troupe, The Animatographe, Mr Morris Cronin, Rip Van Winkle dramatic ballet and Les Minstrels Dumond.

Dates: 10 August 1896

Bill Barnes Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0172
Scope and Contents

Programmes, posters and photographs mainly related to the Poole family's travelling Myriorama show.

Dates: 1881 - 2017

Capitol Ystalyfera Poster, 10 February 1930

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.39
Scope and Contents

Al Jolson the singing fool, Talkies. Red, blue and yellow type on off white background and yellow border. Printed by Willsons', Printers, Leicester.

Dates: 10 February 1930

Colston Hall Poster, Tuesday 21 February c1882

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.54
Scope and Contents Bristol. Harry H. Hamilton's Grand Panstereorama of Passing Events, Relief of Candahar by Gen. Roberts, The Cabul Massacre, Death of Sir Louis Cabagnari, Destruction of the 66th Regiment, Finding the Body of Lieut. Maclean, Windsor Castle, Thames Enbankment, Mr Charles Heywood, Mr Lindon Travers, O.I.C.M. Minstrels, Messrs Monti Collins, H. Sullivan, J.E. Drew, Stuart Cowell. Red and black type on white background and colour illustration of a military camp and soldiers in the centre. Printed...
Dates: Tuesday 21 February c1882

Colston Hall Poster, 21 February 1882

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.55
Scope and Contents

Bristol. A Congress of Solid Fun, The Monarchs of Ethiopians by Hamilton's. Black and red type on white background and colour illustration of a head portrait of a black man wearing American themed clothes with illustrations of black people along the bottom of the images spelling the word Minstrels in the centre. Printed by J. Upton, Steam Printing Works, Great Charles Street, Birmingham.

Dates: 21 February 1882

Empire Theatre Morning Performance in Aid of Funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Programme, 25 February 1897

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.70
Scope and Contents

Black and white illustration of a sinking ship and a boat rowing away in rough seas on the front cover and black type on white background, inside programme listing; The Adolphi Trio, Lumiere Cinematographe, Miss Connie Ediss, Les Minstrels Parisiens, Mr Edmund Payne & Miss Katie Seymour, Mr Norman Salmond, Miss Marie Tempest, Mr Arthur Roberts, Miss Letty Lind, Semmel's Hungarian and Russian Troupe and Monte Cristo, 2p.p.

Dates: 25 February 1897

Great Colston Hall Poster, January 1894

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.26
Scope and Contents

Bristol. Brown type on yellow background listing Joseph Poole's sights of the world, Off with 'em by Mr Poole's Minstrels, Venice, Chicago, Loss of the H.M Ship Victoria, Poole's Variety Confederation, Poole's Popular Programme, Mr Fred Mayer, Miss Dent, Mr A.W. Hallo, Miss May Finch, Spence & Wright, Mr Somers, Miss May Finch, Pongo, Seeblod & Dent, Horton & Linder, Beno. Printed by Fry Bros, Printers, Broad Quay, Bristol.

Dates: January 1894

Harry H. Hamilton Original Excursions to America Programme, c1800 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.30
Scope and Contents Visiting all scenes of importance from the palaces of the East to the Wigwams of the Wild West, 120,000 miles in 120 minutes, Harry H. Hamilton's original O.I.C.M. minstrels, Anglo-American concert confederation, Mr Walter Osborne, singing act, Mr Stuart Cowell, comedy act, Miss Emmie Watson, singing act, Messrs. Waters and Kelly, comedy and dancing act, M. Essmann. Blue type on white background with blue border and small scenes on the corners of the front cover, inside programme and listing...
Dates: c1800 - 1899

Harry H. Hamilton's Panstereorama of Passing Events Programme, c1880 - 1889

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.21
Scope and Contents America, Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, British deeds of valour, Soudan incident, General Gordon“s fate, Mr H.D. Glover, Mr Walter Osborne, singing act, Mr Arthur Sullivan, comedy act, Miss Emmie Watson, singing act, Mr Stuart Cowell, comedy act, Mr Bob Matin, Miss Ethel Silvena, comedy act, Messrs Waters and Kelly, comedy act, Harry H. Hamilton's original O.I.C.M. minstrels and celebrated Blondin mules. Green type and illustrations of buildingings, weapons and a portrait on an easel on...
Dates: c1880 - 1889

Joseph Poole's New Myriorama Picturesque Programme, 11 April 1892

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.46
Scope and Contents Victoria Hall Suntherland, England, France and Italy, Turkey, Egypt, The Soundan, Suez Canal and India, Afghanistan and China, Russia, Austria, Switzerland and Germany, America, the Atlantic Ocean and the Artic Regions, Scotland, Ireland, Mr Joseph Poole's Combination Company, The Great Alvantee, high wire act, Herr Blitz, equilibrist act, Miss May Frinch, singing act, Bob Desmond, comedy act, Mr Felix Somers, George Mayo, Mr Fred Mayer, Group of Ladderites, equilibrist act, Poole's Merry...
Dates: 11 April 1892

Messrs. Poole's Gigantic Pictorial Enterprise Programme, 14 August 1882

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.18
Scope and Contents Exchange Rooms, New Street, Birmingham, Egypt and the world, Bombardment of Alexandria, Cairo, The Suez Canal, London, South Africa, Afghanistan, India, Assassination of the Szar, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Prince of Wales Minstrels, Mr Charles Ernest, singing act, Mr J. Richards, musical act, Mr Horace Wilton, comedy musical act, Mr Felix Somers, ventriloquist act, Herr Blitz, magic act, Mr Oscar Hartwell, The orchestra conducted by Mr B. Simpson. Black type on pink background with...
Dates: 14 August 1882

Mohawk Minstrels Poster, 21 October 1885

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.15
Scope and Contents

Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington. Annual Benefit, 20 Songs for the Occasion, Principal London Variety Artistes. Black type on white background. Printed by Aubert's Steam Printing Works, Maiden Lane, Strand.

Dates: 21 October 1885

Photographs and Postcards, c1900 - 1929

 Series
Reference code: 178C129
Scope and Contents

Black and white and colour photographs and postcards

Dates: c1900 - 1929

Photographs and Postcards Related to Pre-Cinema Shows and Early Cinema, Showpeople and Performers, c1900 - 1929

 File
Reference code: 178C129.1-33
Scope and Contents

Black and white and colour photographs and postcards of performers including dwarves, blackface performer, a white face pierrot and Du'calion, the interior of a theatre, a photograph of the Parade at Newport, Isle of Wight, photographs of Poole's myriorama, employess and brass band and a small family photo album.

Dates: c1900 - 1929

Poole's Latests Myriorama Programme, 1882 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.47
Scope and Contents Munt's Hall, Clapham Junction, Commencing Monday 15 May, Poole's latets trip around the world, London, Paris, Venice, Moscow, Norway, Cyprus, Cairo, Stanley in Africa, Shouth Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon, Herat, China, Niagara, The Wild West, Quebec, Belfast, North Wales, The Phydora Trio, musical act, Miss Rosie Williams, musical act, Professor Carson, ventriloquist act, Munro and O'Toole, comedy act, Otto Elliott (Silent Otto), comedy act, Mr J.J. Taylor, comedy act, Poole's...
Dates: 1882 - 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

The Empire Programme, 20 July 1896

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.68
Scope and Contents

Black and white illustration of a female dancer on the front cover and black type, inside programme listing La Danse, Dayton Family, Dutch Daily, Elz a & Kate, Les Minstrels Dumond, Taffary's performing dogs, Lumiere's cinematographe, Ducreux & Geralduc, Monsier Grais, Sisters Abbot, Faust and Larsen Family. Contains commercial advertising, 2p.p.

Dates: 20 July 1896

The Harry H. Hamilton's Excursions, Queen and Empire Programme, c1897

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.50
Scope and Contents Columbia, Manchester Picadilly, Liverpool Lime Street, Queenstown, S.S. Teotonic, New York, The lengend of Rip-Van-Winke, Tableaux vivant, Louisiana, New Orleans, Imperial Great Britain, Quebec, Hong Kong, Australia, The S.S. Arundel Castle, South Africa, Gibraltar, Holland, The Queenboro' Flushing route, London, Portsmouth, Windsor Castle, Harry H. Hamilton's variety organization, Flying Dillons, gymnastic act, The 4 Valladolis, acrobatic act, Japa and Japo, equilibrist act, Martinnette...
Dates: c1897

The Royal Canterbury Theatre of Variety Programme, 8 April 1896

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.35
Scope and Contents Will Dalton, Violet Nelson, Star Herman, The Halliwells, Edith St. Clair, The Almontes, Lily Burnand, Brothers Darnely, The Bostons, Harry Tate, Royal Villion Troupe, Charles Seel, Bonnie Kate Harvey, Maynard and Calver, Tom White's Arabs, Arthus Lennard, The Phantos, El Dorado, The Land of Gold ballet, Kate Geraldine, Ara, Zebra and Vora, Katie Lawrance, Athas and Collins, The Leopolds. Three fold programme, brown type on off white background in the centre with brown illustrations of acts...
Dates: 8 April 1896

Filtered By

  • Subject: Minstrel shows X

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 19
Collection 1
 
Subject
Acrobats 3
Aerialists 4
Anglo-Afghan Wars 4
Anglo-Burmese War, 3rd, 1885 2
Anglo-Egyptian War, 1882 4