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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 286 Collections and/or Records:

The Holborn Empire Programme, 19 February 1906

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.108
Scope and Contents

Black type on light brown background with floral illustration and illustration of theatre stage on the front cover, inside commercial advertising and programme listing Fred Karno's Company, Jail Birds, The Mezzettis, J.P. Ling, Jordan & Harvey, Tom Costello, The Poluski Brothers, The Carlyles, Gladys Mavius, Virginia & Piccaninnies, The Tramp's Dream on the bioscope, Miss Camilla Dalberg & Co., and sheet music for I Want to Get Away Back Home song, 4p.p.

Dates: 19 February 1906

The Last Days of Pompeii Programme, 1913

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.136
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration in red, orange and black of erupting volcano and red type on the front cover, inside description of scenes and black and white photographs, 8p.p.

Dates: 1913

The Last Days of Pompeii Programme, 1913

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.139
Scope and Contents

Black type and illustration of ruins in the centre on the front cover, inside description of scenes and black and white photographs, on back cover list of Central Hall Circuit, 8p.p.

Dates: 1913

The Magic of Music Hall Programme, 24 - 25 October 2015

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.44
Scope and Contents

Wilton's Music Hall. Blue, red and white and blue type on off white background, containing programme and a children's activity on reverse, 4p.p folded

Dates: 24 - 25 October 2015

The Metropolitan Programme, 26 March 1898

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.115
Scope and Contents Three fold programme containing black and white illustrations of people singing and dancing in the contryside on and an illustration of the outside of the theatre on the outside, inside commercial advertising and programme listing Mdlle. Lucretia, Miss Helen Stuart, Mr George Brooks, The Sisters Aindow, Miss Godwynne Earle, Mr Dennis K. McCarthy, Miss Millie Lindon, Mr William E. Bates, Mr T.E. Dunville, Mr Paul Marinetti, Miss Kittee Rayburn, The Grat Shawline, Miss Rose Dearing, Mr Bernard...
Dates: 26 March 1898

The Metropolitan Programme, 1 January 1898

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.116
Scope and Contents Three fold programme containing black and white illustrations of people singing and dancing in the contryside on and an illustration of the outside of the theatre on the outside, inside commercial advertising and programme listing Mr Lester King, Miss Lily Marney, Mr Arthur Lennard, Miss Amy Clevere, Mr Fred Herbert, Miss Florrie Gallimore, Mr Frank Coyne, Mill Lyly Burnand, The Leonards (Bob & Jennie), Mr Chas. Godfrey, Les Frassettis, Mr G.W. Hunter, Miss Marie Lloyd, Miss Kate James,...
Dates: 1 January 1898

The Norwich Hippodrome Programme, 10 October 1910

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.93
Scope and Contents

Three fold programme containing colour illustrations of various circus acts, a woman plaing a hand held harp and a woman dancing on the front over a red background and programme inside in green type on off white background listing Fred Karno's company, The Bodina Trio, Little Dando, Mdlle. Haydee, Chas. J. Lever, Animated Pictures and Bros. Andreasen. Also contains commercial advertisement.

Dates: 10 October 1910

The Norwich Hippodrome Programme, 7 November 1910

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.94
Scope and Contents

Three fold programme containing colour illustrations of various circus acts on the front over a green background, inside programme in green type on off white background listing Calude Ginnett's original Rejected Remounts, The Dandys, Leonse, Mabel Kempton, Henry Kaiser, Morny Cash, The Tree Sisters, Anderson, Minnie Moran, Coram, Animated Pictures and British Quartette. Also contains commercial advertisements.

Dates: 7 November 1910

The Norwich Hippodrome Programme, 3 October 1910

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.95
Scope and Contents

Three fold programme containing colour illustrations of various circus acts, a woman playing a hand held harp and a woman dancing on the front over a red background and programme inside in green type on off white background listing Burke, Andrus and Frisco, Beanland & Bath, Geo. Antill, Ray & Calden, Kardoc, The Haywards, The Llewelyns, Muir & Bartlett, The Mezettis, Animated Pictures and The Bros. Bellong. Contains Commercial advertisements.

Dates: 3 October 1910

The Oxford Programme, 10 June 1912

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.39
Scope and Contents Mr S.W. Wyndham, Miss Violet King, Harvey Boys, Miss Minnie Mace, Mr Henry de Vry, Mr Harry Bedford, Gintaro, Mr Ernest Shand, The Four Vagabonds, Mr Ernest Rees, Hall and Earle, Mr Wilkie Bard, Miss Cissie Curlette, Miss Annette Kellermann, Mr Tom Jones, Mr Martyn Roland, The Fitzroys, Ruffell's Imperial Biodcope. Three fold programme with brown type and colour illustration of a woman in black robes and mortarboard cap above the front entrace of the theatre in the centre and colour...
Dates: 10 June 1912

The Oxford Programme, 1 October 1897

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.36
Scope and Contents Mr Leonard Barry, Miss Muriel Richards, The Faues, Miss Maud Distin, Miss Elsa Moxter, Mr G.W. Hunter, Miss Jenny Lynn, Mr Tom White's Arabs, Mr R.G. Knowles, Miss Ada Lundberg, Bellonini, Miss Billee Barlow, Mr Dan Leno, Mr Barnsby Williams, Three Sisters Hawthorne, Mr Herbert Crowley, La Belle Rose, Sisters Preston, Mr Charles Godfrey, Katrine, Mr Tom Leamore, Mr George Chirgwin, Miss Ada Alexandra, Mr Will Evans. Three fold programme, blue type on white background with illustration of a...
Dates: 1 October 1897

The Oxford Programme, 19 March 1898

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.37
Scope and Contents Miss Ada Owen, Conway and Clarke, The Brothers Artois, Miss Sophie May, Herbert La Martine, Sisters Lloyd, Mr Bransby Williams, Miss Topsy Sinden, Mr Frank Coyne, Sisters Winterton, Mr Bernard Armstrong, Tom White and his Merry Company, Mr Walter Munroe, Mr Leo Stormont, Miss Jessie Lindsay, Mr Tom Leamore, Miss Maud Irving and Rousby, Mr Pat Rafferty, Mr Albert Christian, Mr Paul Mill, Miss Florrie Forde, Mr Harry Tate, Ara, Zebra and Vora, Vendome and Chase, Mr Mark Milton, Bibb and Bobb....
Dates: 19 March 1898

The Oxford Programme, 14 March 1910

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.38
Scope and Contents Mr Leonard Teel, Miss Lily Eyton, Little Jack Marks, Sinclair and Whiteford, Miss Meredith Meredro, Wilson and Waring, Mr Fred Land, The 3 Royal Dreadnoughts, Miss Flora Cromer, Mr Will E. Stopit, Henri de Vries, Mr Fred Keeton, The Martineks, Mr Harry Pleon, The Princess D'Aryaba, Dent and Harris, Miss Ella Retford, Mr Jake Friedman, Miss Queenie Essex, The Selbinis, Ruffell's Imperial Bioscope. Three fold programme with yellow, white and black type on white background and blue, black and...
Dates: 14 March 1910

The Palace Programme, August 1908

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.73
Scope and Contents Douglas, Isle of Man. Black illustration of a dancing hall full of people dancing on a yellow background on the front cover, inside dance programme, Vernon's Bioscope, Madame Melba, Zena Dare, Seymor Hicks, The London Company in the Gay Gordons, The Palace Opera House, Professor Norton, Farr & Farland, May New All, Humpsti Bumsti, The Violas, Ernest Shand, Carter Liversey, Lilian Rosebery and Co and Vesta Tillie the following week, on back cover list of refreshement and prices. Inside...
Dates: August 1908

The Palace Programme, 3 August 1903

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.74
Scope and Contents

Black type on yellow background, listing programme of dances, Hubner's Animatograph, Ernest Shand, Sandford & Lyons, The Bros. Artois, Nellie Stratton, The Norman Leonard Trio, Lelia Roze, Mr Edward Terry and the London Company.

Dates: 3 August 1903

The Palace Programme, c1903

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.75
Scope and Contents

Black type on green background listing Mr Harry Wood's Grand Orchestra, The American Biograph, The Salambos, W. Edward Kaye, Alcide Capitaine, Binns and Binns, Olivette, Jimson's Animal Circus and Mr George Edwardes' Company. Printed by Brown & Sons Ltd, Printers, Douglas.

Dates: c1903

The Palace Theatre of Varieties Programme, 6 July 1895

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.41
Scope and Contents

Elsa May, Will Crackles, Miss Rose Dearing, J.C. Harrington, La Belle Rose, The Tiller Troupe, Clara Wieland, R.H. Douglass, Cissie Loftus, O'Brien and Redding, Miss Lottie Collins, John Le Hay, Tableaux Vivants. Three fold programme with red, gold and blue type and colour illustration of a women dancing, lifting the sides of her skirt in the centre, on the sides colour illstrations of a building exterior and interior, inside programme and commercial advertising.

Dates: 6 July 1895

The Palace Theatre of Variety Programme, c1900 - 1910

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.76
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of woman dancing on the front, on the back black and light green type on white and light green background and programme listing Buck Dance, John E. Coyle, J. Gillan, Norman and Leonard Trio, Maidie Scott, Eadie and Ramsden, Daisy Dormer, Howard and Harris, The Palace Girls, Carlton, Homer B. Mason and Marguerite Keeler, The Merry Wives of Windson, Jack Lorimer, Miss Marie Tempest, Malcolm Scott and The Bioscope.

Dates: c1900 - 1910

The Palace Theatre of Variety Programme, 10 May 1911

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.78
Scope and Contents

Three fold programme with colour illustration of theatre scene covering the outside and programme inside listing Miss Ivy Aberdare, Miss Lily Hayes, Will Van Allen, Miss Ouida McDermott, Signorina Irene Penso, Carlton, The McBans, Albert Whelan, The Yamagata Troupe, Miss Margaret Cooper, Anna Pavlova and Michael Mordkin and The Palace Bioscope. Black and red type on white background with commercial advertising including songs by Vesta Tilley.

Dates: 10 May 1911

The Palace Theatre of Variety Programme, 27 March 1897

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.79
Scope and Contents

Three fold programme with black illustration of a woman dancing, illustration of interior and exterior views of the building and a female performer on the outside, on the inside programme listing Charles B. Kay, The Glenroy Troupe, Les Edoardos, G.W. Hunter, Sdie Jerome, Pablo Diaz, Miss Lilian Tree, Les Gardenias, Dutch Daly, The American Biograph, John Hewelt's automatic theatre and Mlle. Diane de Fontenoy. Contains commercial advertisment.

Dates: 27 March 1897

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 285
Collection 1
 
Subject
Acrobats 7
Aerialists 5
Anglo-Afghan Wars 10
Anglo-Burmese War, 3rd, 1885 4
Anglo-Egyptian War, 1882 33