Barnes, Bill (William), 1920 - 2019
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 63 Collections and/or Records:
Adam's New Diorama of Scotland Programme, 18 April 1885
Victoria Hall, Glasgow, 50 paintings illustrating cities, towns, mountains, rivers,lochs and the coast of Scotland, Scottish songs, solos, duets and humourous selections. Maroon type on brown background and maroon illustrations of views and architecture on the front cover inside programme, marron illustration of female figure and a deer on landscape, also press reviews inside and on the back cover, 2p.p.
Bill Barnes Collection
Programmes, posters and photographs mainly related to the Poole family's travelling Myriorama show.
Congress Hall Poster, 21 January 1884
Reading. Messrs Poole new mastodone Diorama of the World, America, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Asia, Europe, War in Egypt, The Royal Review, Poole's Concert Party, Orchestra and Military Bands. Black and red type on blue, yellow, white and red backgrounds with colour illustration of Chinese acrobatics and fireworks in the centre. Printed by Stafford & Co., Printers and Engravers, Neherfield, near Nottingham.
Corn Exchange Assembly Rooms Poster, Monday 16 December c1901
Preston. Poole's & Young's New Diorama of Turkey, Cyprus, England and our Great Indian Empire, Poole's & Young's Excursions to the East, A Splendid Band and Staff of Vocals. Black type on white background around the edges, in the centre colour illustration of a war battle.
Crystal Palace Programme, 1 January 1881
Gomp-Ertz Grand Diorama Programme, c1882
Gompertz's Gigantic Diorama Poster, c1880 - 1899
Corn Exchange, Braintree. Garibaldi's Campaign in Italy and Sicily, Mr Albert Smith's panorama of the tour up the Rhine. Black type on off white background.
Great Colston Hall Poster , c1893 - 1895
Guide Book of Charles W. and John R. Poole Latest Myriorama, c1920 - 1929
Hamilton and Overend's New Patented Royal Panorama Programme, c1876 - 1882
Hamilton's New Excursions Programme, c1880
Introductory tableau showing California, London, Crossing the Channel, Paris, Madrid, Rome, Constantinople, Ceylon, Washington, Southampton to Trasvaal, The Cotterells, comedy act, Miss Trixy Holland, comedy act, Arnetti, musical act, Walter Roselle, ventriloquist, Sid Colenza, comedy act, Godfrey Martin's latest cinematoscope. Black type on green background and two small illustraton of men in tailcoats, contains hand written annotations. Printed by Leader Printing Works, Lincoln, 2p.p.
Hamilton's Tour Around The World Programme, c1800 - 1899
Charing Cross to China, China to San Francisco, San Francisco to New York, New York to St. Pancras via Liverpool, Afghanistan. Blue type on off white background with knot border on front cover, inside guide to the show, on back cover lyrics of songs sung by W.C. Mappin and Mr L. Travers. Printed by Thornton and Pattinson, Printers Etc., Scale Lane, Hull, 2p.p
Handbills, 1882 - 2017
Handbills for Brick Lane Music Hall, Admission All Classes, Colston Hall, Harry H. Hamilton, Wilton's Music Hall, Player's Theatre, Hoxton Hall.
Harry H. Hamilton Original Excursions to America Programme, c1800 - 1899
Harry H. Hamilton's Excursions Handbill, 21 February 1882
Colston Hall, Bristol. Four fold handbill with programme and almanac, also blue and white illustration of world scenes in the centre.
Harry H. Hamilton's Excursions Programme, c1880 - 1889
Harry H. Hamilton's Panstereorama of Passing Events Programme, c1880 - 1889
Harry Poole's Greatest Myriorama Programme, 27 February 1893
J. Poole's Myriorama Booklet, c1900 - 1999
J. Poole's Myriorama Booklet, c1900 - 1999
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- Animal trainers 2
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