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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 62 Collections and/or Records:

La Lanterne D'Arlequin Booklet, 25 February 1883

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.13
Scope and Contents

Black type and illustration of harlequin holding a lantern and a sword on the front cover, inside black and white illustrations and text, 10p.p.

Dates: 25 February 1883

Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material, c1900 - 2018

 Series
Reference code: 178B44
Scope and Contents

Monographs, articles and research material on early travelling moving picture shows, related to the Poole family , Wilton's Music Hall, Walter Sickert, Bedford Music Hall, Randall Williams and early cinema in Scotland

Dates: c1900 - 2018

Mr Joseph Poole's Grand New Myriorama Poster, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.6
Scope and Contents Colonial Hall, New Street, Cardiff. Picturesque trips abroad to all parts of the globe, Grand fashionable night, The Mayor David Jones, Esq., Ex-Mayor, Alderman T. Windsor Jacobs, Poole's Acme Combination Company, Mons. Martini's bicycle troupe, The Musical Marvels, Lizzie Dent and Jack Seebold, Mr Felix Somers, ventriloquist act, Miss Jessie Arnelli, musical act, Mr R.H.A. Williams, musical act, Mr Frank Freeland, Poole's orchestra and military band conducted by Mr C.W. Horton. Red type on...
Dates: c1880 - 1899

Mr Joseph Poole's New Myriorama Pictoresque Trips Abroad to all Parts of the Globe Poster, Friday 4 to Saturday 12 April c1890

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.1
Scope and Contents New Corn Exchange, Rochester. The Nile Expedition, Stanley in Africa, The falls of Niagara, The Goodwin Sands, London by day and night, The Queen's visit to Westminster Abbey, Ireland, Lakes of Killarney, Scenes of Liverpool, Poole's Acme Combination Company of talented artistes, The Great Alvantee, high wire act, Mr Harry Stewart, fast outfit change and musical act, Professor Le Ray, ventriloquist act, Miss Jessie Arnelly, musical act, La Petite Mdlle. De Lisle, musical act, Mr R.H.A....
Dates: Friday 4 to Saturday 12 April c1890

Mr Joseph Poole's Trips Abroad Poster, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.3
Scope and Contents New Assambly Hall, Fawcett Street, Sunderland. The Nile Expedition,Battle of Abu Klea, Battle of Gubat, Bird's eye view of Khartoum, The Soudan war, The war in Egypt, The Burmese war, Bulgaria, Miss Keturah Evans, musical act, Mr Harry Stewart, Mr Bob Desmond, comedy act, Mr C.W. Wilmott, comedy act. Black type on white background and blue and white illustrations of male portraits around the right and left edges, cote of arms on top centre and view of Suakim on bottom edge. Printed by Fry...
Dates: c1880 - 1899

No Title Programme, c1900 - 1910

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.57
Scope and Contents

Black type on off white background. Lists Part 1 and Part 2 of the show containing various musical acts as well as a ventriloquist act.

Dates: c1900 - 1910

Original Artworks, c1821 - 1869

 Series
Reference code: 178V20
Scope and Contents

Small groups of artist prints depicting scenes of music hall and variety entertainment, magic and clowning and watercolour of battleships. Also prints of the London Coliseum and other archicture in Regent's Park.

Dates: c1821 - 1869

Pavilion Threatre of Varieties Programme, 25 April 1910

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.42
Scope and Contents

Glasgow, Miss Margaret Cooper, 4 Celestas, Dolly Harmer, Mr John R. Poole, The Adras, Alexander Prince, Denaro Bros, J. M'Cormack, Tenka Troupe. Four folding programme with red, white and black type and red and grey illustration of a man in medieval clothing blowing a trumpet in the front, inside programme and commercial advertising.

Dates: 25 April 1910

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

Player's Theatre Handbill, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178T47.5
Scope and Contents

Victorian Music Hall and Hoxton Hall, Sunday 2 December, Union Jack on top section, title in red and blue and rest of typescript on black and framed colour photograph of a man on the front, on reverse information, contact details and map.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

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

Poole's New Pictorial Tour All Over the World Programme, c1890 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.52
Scope and Contents Agricultural Hall, Mohack Minstrel's Hall, Islington, The mammoth map of the world, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, The Strand and Temple Bar, Liverpool from the Mersey, Voyage to America, New York, Brooklyn Bridge, Niagara Falls, Greenland, Polar Bears, The Artic Regions, South Carolina, South America, The Congo, South Africa, The French Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon, India, Madras, Calcutta, Taj Mehal at Agra, Lahore, China, Port of Amoy, Foo Chow, Ningpow, Nankin, Pakin, Japan, Russia,...
Dates: c1890 - 1899

Poole's New Production Poster, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.5
Scope and Contents Temperance Hall, Pembroke Dock. Grand fashionable night, Capt. and Mrs Chatfield, Special military night, Officer of the Royal Artillery, Battle of Abu Klea, Second cataract of the Nile Expedition, Bird's eye view of Khartoum, Poole's Trips Abroad, Messrs Poole's new exhibition, The Soudan war, The war in Egypt, Mr Harry Stewart, The Great Orville Pitcher, comedy act, Mr C.W. Wilmott, comedy act. Black type on white background and blue and white illustrations of male portraits around the...
Dates: c1880 - 1899

Poole's Pictoresque Trips Abroad Poster, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.4
Scope and Contents Royal Public Rooms, Exeter. The Burmese war, Mandalay, Egyptian and Soudan wars, Grand fashionable night, The Mayor of Exeter, The Sheriff of Exeter, Miss Marie Sheedy, musical act, Inventions exhibition, George Poole's Acme concert party, Mr T. Maclagan, Mr Oliver Pitcher, Professor G. Roselle. Black type on white background and green and white illustrations of male portraits around the right and left edges, cote of arms on top centre and view of Suakim on bottom edge. Printed by Fry Bros...
Dates: c1880 - 1899

Poole's Popular Trips Abroad Programme, 12 October 1885

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.53
Scope and Contents Assambly Rooms, Agricultural Hall, Norwich, Egypt and the Soudan campaign, England, France, Italy and the Mediterranean, Turkey and Asia Minor, Suez Canal and India, Afghanistan and China, America, the Atlantic Ocean and the Artic Regions, Russia, Austria, Switzerland and Germany, Poole's concert company, Miss Kitty Clare, Mr George Mayo, Professor Holden, Mr Oscar Hartwell, Orchestral and military band coducted by Mr C.W. Horton. Blue and white illustrations of Brittania whatching a battle,...
Dates: 12 October 1885

Poole's Trips Abroad Poster, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.2
Scope and Contents Temperance Hall, Grimbsby. Messrs. Poole's new diorama, Egyptian and Soudan wars, Poole's excelsior concert company, Miss Kitty Clare, musical act, Mr George Mayo (The Elactic Man), grotesque act, Prof. Holden, ventriloquist act, Mr Oscar Hartwell, musical act, Orchestral and military bands conducted by Mr C.W. Horton. Black type on pink background and green illlustrations of war scenes, portraits of Colonel Burnaby and Lode Charles Beresford and other scenes along the top, left and bottom...
Dates: c1880 - 1899

Poole's Trips Abroad Poster, 1884

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.8
Scope and Contents

London, Agricultural Hall, Town Hall, Morley Hall and Public Hall. The cities and battlefields of Egyp and the Soudan, all the disasters, marches, battles and great British successes at Teb and Tamasi, Gordon at Khartoum, Variety entertainers, Orchestral and military bands. Blue type on blue background with wavy border. Printed by Stafford and Co., Printers and Engravers, Netherfield, Notts

Dates: 1884

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

Filtered By

  • Subject: Music-halls X

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 61
Collection 1
 
Subject
Acrobats 5
Aerialists 5
Anglo-Afghan Wars 3
Anglo-Burmese War, 3rd, 1885 4
Anglo-Egyptian War, 1882 13