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 98 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.
Admission All Classes Handbills, 2007
Handbills for two separated events of Admissions All Classes, containing colour photographs and listing of acts.
Alhambra Theatre of Varieties Programme, 5 July 1897
Leicester Square, London, Emmy's Trained Toy Terriers, The Tzigane, Musical Dale, Dagmar and De Celle, Mlle La Tostia, May and Flora Hengler, The Frank Bonhair Troupe of Acrobats, Miss Cissie Loftus, Victoria and Merrie England, Sells and Young. Colour illustration of chrubs and two women floating in the air holding wreaths of flowers and a banner with the theatre's name on it on a golden background on the front, on the reverse programme, 1p.
Argyle Theatre of Variety Poster, 7 November 1897
Berlin Winter Garten Programme, 1937
Bill Barnes Collection
Programmes, posters and photographs mainly related to the Poole family's travelling Myriorama show.
Brick Lane Music Hall Handbill, 2016 - 2017
Colour photograph of music hall performers waving Union Jacks on the front cover, inside colour photographs of acts and some informantion.
Crystal Palace Programme, 1 January 1881
Dooner's Bioscope Poster, c1890 - 1900
Fairground Aberavon. Hunting the Fox with the Hounds, Blanco White coon impersonator and dancer, Sisters Williams the Welsh Nightingales. Black type on green background.
Drury Lane Theatre Print, Published 11 August 1821
Tom and Bob enjoying a theatrical treat. Part of 36 scenes from real life, designed and etched by I.Robert and George Cruikshank in the book: Life in London: or, the day and night scenes of Jerry Hawthorn, Esq., and his elegant friend Corinthian Tom, accompanied by Bob Logic, the Oxonian, in their rambles and sprees through the Metropolis. London published by Jones and Co. Hand coloured etching and aquatint on paper.
Gomp-Ertz Grand Diorama Programme, c1882
Great Colston Hall Poster , c1893 - 1895
Guide Book of Charles W. and John R. Poole Latest Myriorama, c1920 - 1929
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.
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 Programme, c1880 - 1889
Harry H. Hamilton's Panstereorama of Passing Events Programme, c1880 - 1889
Harry Poole's Greatest Myriorama Programme, 27 February 1893
Hippodrome Programme, 28 August 1933
Brighton, The Big Crazy Gang from the London Palladium. Blue type on white background with Art Deco style frame decorations on the front cover, inside programme and commercial advertising. Printed by Stillwell Darby and Co., Advertising Contractors, Charing Cross House, W1, 6p.p
Filtered By
- Subject: Variety X
Additional filters:
- Type
- Archival Object 97
- Collection 1
- Subject
- Acrobats 5
- Aerialists 5
- Anglo-Afghan Wars 7
- Anglo-Burmese War, 3rd, 1885 4
- Anglo-Egyptian War, 1882 22
- Animal trainers 3
- Animals 4
- Circus 4
- Clowning 5
- Comedians 31
- Dance 3
- Dwarfs (Persons) 3
- Equestrians 3
- Exhibitions 4
- Fairs 2
- Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871 2
- Gymnasts 5
- Jugglers 3
- Magic 11
- Male impersonators 3
- Minstrel shows 13
- Motion pictures 54
- Music-halls 57
- Musical performances 48
- Musicians 3
- Optical illusions 69
- Pantomime 6
- Performers 64
- Pierrot 4
- Puppets 4
- Showman 64
- Showwoman 1
- Sideshows 2
- Singing 31
- South African War, 1899-1902 7
- Stunt performers 4
- Tableaux vivants 4
- Travel 47
- Ventriloquists 19
- War 36
- World War, 1914-1918 4
- Zulu War, 1879 6 + ∧ less