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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 165 Collections and/or Records:

Derby Castle Programme, August 1907

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.72
Scope and Contents

Douglas, Isle of Man. Black illustration of a couple dancing on a pink background on the front cover, inside dance programme, Vesta Tillie, Harry Wood's 1907 Lancers and Vernon's Bioscope, 2p.p.

Dates: August 1907

Dooner's Bioscope Poster, c1890 - 1900

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.27
Scope and Contents

Fairground Aberavon. Hunting the Fox with the Hounds, Blanco White coon impersonator and dancer, Sisters Williams the Welsh Nightingales. Black type on green background.

Dates: c1890 - 1900

Drury Lane Theatre Print, Published 11 August 1821

 Item
Reference code: 178V20.2
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: Published 11 August 1821

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

Empire Theatre Programme, 16 July 1906

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.98
Scope and Contents

Blue type on white background and embossed crown in gold on the front cover, inside commercial advertising and programme in the centre listing Venus, Australian Ladie's Quartette, Morris Cronin & Truoe, Coppelia and The Biograph, 8p.p.

Dates: 16 July 1906

Exeter Hall Programme, 30 January 1905

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.110
Scope and Contents

Blue type on light pink background with floral illustration on the front cover, inside programme listing Crystalphone solo, special address to the young by the Rev. W.H. Griffith Thomas, Hand-bell ringing and gymnastic display, Dumb bell exercises, Indian Club exercises, Vaulting horse, Flag race, Magic and Mystery by Charles Leslie, Animated Photographs by Messrs. Clarkson, 2p.p.

Dates: 30 January 1905

Gomp-Ertz Grand Diorama Programme, c1882

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.14
Scope and Contents Philarmonic Hall, Southampton, War in Egypt, Mr Owen Vauguard and Miss Marie Coulson, musical act, Fred Medex, Central and Southern Africa, Mr H.M. Stanley's encounter with the natives of the Congo River, Discovery of Livingstone, Tarn Bend, Victoria Falls, Pandanus or screw palm, Horrors of the slave system, Slave market at Zanzibar, Source of the Nile, Victoria Nyanza, Abon Simbel, Second cataract of the Nile, Throne of Pharoah, Nubian water wheel, The sitting statues, Sphynx, Sir Garnet...
Dates: c1882

Great Colston Hall Poster , c1893 - 1895

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.25
Scope and Contents Bristol. Mr Joseph Poole's latest Myriorama, Sights of the World, City of Chicago, The Loss of H.M.S Victoria, Venice, Poole's Pictorial Tours, Darkest Africa, The falls of Niagara, Poole's Consolidated Variety Confederation, Horton & Linder, Seebold and Dent, Miss May Finch, Spence and Wright, Mr Felix Somers, Beno, Mr A.W. Hallo, Pongo, Mr Fred Mayer, Ten Minutes in Shadowland. Blue type on white background and yellow border with geometric pattern. Printed by James Upton Printer,...
Dates: c1893 - 1895

Guide Book of Charles W. and John R. Poole Latest Myriorama, c1920 - 1929

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.7
Scope and Contents Colour illustration of the Union Jack on front cover, inside variety programme listing John R. Poole, George Logan, The Lannons, Sam Kelly, The Tree Avenue Girls, M. Joanny and The Murus Comedy Four, descriptions of sights in england, Vienna, Petrograd, Berlin, Brussells, Paris, scenes of WWI including Kitchener's army, the sinking of Kaise Whilheml der Grosse, mine sweeping, camp and hospital scenes and lyrics to the national anthems of the allies and other popular songs such as It's a Long...
Dates: c1920 - 1929

Hamilton's New Excursions Programme, c1880

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.10
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: c1880

Handbills, 1882 - 2017

 Series
Reference code: 178T47
Scope and Contents

Handbills for Brick Lane Music Hall, Admission All Classes, Colston Hall, Harry H. Hamilton, Wilton's Music Hall, Player's Theatre, Hoxton Hall.

Dates: 1882 - 2017

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 Excursions Programme, c1880 - 1889

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.22
Scope and Contents Chung Ling Soo, Hyde Park, Westminster, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle, the King's Guests, London Bridge, The London Docks, The Union Castle, Southampton Waters, Porstmouth, The Transvaal, Kimberley, Rhodesia, New Zealand, The Chinese Empire, The Chinese Imperial family, A Chinese wedding, Hong-Hong, Formosa, Korea, Japan, Ceylon, America, The Missisippi, The Hundson river, Dominion, Montreal, New York, Tom Birchmore comedy act, Bertha Greahame comedy act, Suli and...
Dates: c1880 - 1889

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

Harry Poole's Greatest Myriorama Programme, 27 February 1893

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.48
Scope and Contents Assembly Rooms, Cheltenham, The approach, engagement and destruction of The Spanish Armada, St. Paul'd Cathedral,Buckingham Palace, Newcastle-on-Tyne, The Forth Bridge, Ireland, Mechanical set of shipping, Newhaven, Crossing the Channel, Paris, Italy, Switzerland, St. Gothard Tunnel, Vienna, St. Petersburgh, Adrianople during the war, The Holy Land, Ceylon, India, China, Japan, New Zealand, San Francisco, Trinidad, The West Indies, New York, Egypt, The Soudan, Battle of Kirbekan, Stanley in...
Dates: 27 February 1893

Hippodrome Programme, 28 August 1933

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.32
Scope and Contents

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

Dates: 28 August 1933

Holiday Rumbles in the Isle of Man Poster, c1880 - 1890

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.40
Scope and Contents

Popular Musical and Dioramic Entertainment, Illustrated Songs, Humorous Recitals, Railway Collision, Fire, Fire, Edison's Budget of Fun, Lincoln in the Cinematograph, Return of the Lincolnshire Volunteers from South Africa, Volunteer Review at Lincoln. Red and black type on white background and black and white photograph of a man with a cinematographic camera on top left corner.

Dates: c1880 - 1890

J. Poole's Myriorama Booklet, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.8
Scope and Contents London to Pretoria. Colour illustrations of a bustling city on top section, on bottom section view of military parade and soldiers raising the Union Jack, in the centre black and white photograph of Joseph Poole in a medallion surrounded by flags on the front cover, inside introduction, description of sights in England, Europe and South Africa, descriptions of scenes from the Transvaal war including Colenso, Paardeburg and Elandslaagte, followed by scenes in india, China, Hong Kong, Boston,...
Dates: c1900 - 1999

Joseph Poole's Latest Myriorama Programme, 10 February 1890

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.4
Scope and Contents County Hall, Salisbury, Views of London, Porstmouth, Ireland, a tableau of Bristol, Liverpool, New York, Niagara Falls, the Artic regions, Russia, Bulgaria, Varna, The Suez Canal, Egypt, India, Afghanistan, Burmese war, China, Malta, Italy, Holland, Belgium and England, Poole's Acme Combination Company, The Great Alvantee, wire walking act, Mr Harry Stewart, quick costume change and singing act, Miss Jessie Arnelly, singing act, Le Pettite Mdlle. De Lisle, musical act, Professor Le Ray,...
Dates: 10 February 1890

Joseph Poole's Myriorama Poster, c1895

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.7
Scope and Contents Colonial Hall, New Street, Cardiff. Picturesque trips abroad to all parts of the globe, The British Fleet, The Lord Mayor's Show, Falls of Niagara, Poole's excelsior concert company, Mons. Martini's Bicycle Troupe, Lizzie Dent and Jack Seebold, musical act, Mr Felix Somers, ventriloquist act, Miss Jessie Arnelli, musical act, Mr R.H.A. Williams, musical act, Mr Frank Freeland, Grand orchestral band conducted by Mr C.W. Horton. Black type on green background with chain border. Printed by...
Dates: c1895

Filtered By

  • Subject: Variety X

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 164
Collection 1
 
Subject
Acrobats 6
Aerialists 5
Anglo-Afghan Wars 7
Anglo-Burmese War, 3rd, 1885 4
Anglo-Egyptian War, 1882 22