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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:

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

J. Poole's Myriorama Booklet, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.10
Scope and Contents London to Pretoria, Dark green and whilte 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...
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 Booklet, c1890 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.9
Scope and Contents Sights of the world and passing events. Colour illustration of a navy ship, a scene in Africa and a cityscape with a crowd and blue and white photographs of Joseph Poole and J. Wolseley Poole on the front cover, inside introduction, description of scenes in London, Liverpool, Dublin, New York, Canada the Spanish-American war, Artic Regions, St. Petersburg, South Africa, the slave trade in central Africa, the Soudan war, India, the Frontier war, Constantinople, Vienna, Paris and others, The...
Dates: c1890 - 1899

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

Joseph Poole's New Myriorama Picturesque Programme, 19 January 1891

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.45
Scope and Contents Town Hall Hounslow, England, France and Italy, Turkey, Egypt, The Soundan, Suez Canal and India, Afghanistan and China, Russia, Austria, Switzerland and Germany, America, the Atlantic Ocean and the Artic Regions, Scotland, Ireland, Mr Joseph Poole's Combination Company, Great Ledderites, The Modern Gladiators, Herr Blitz, Miss May Frinch, Mr Felix Somers, Mr Frank Freeland, Orchetral band conducted by Mr C.W. Horton. Gold type on green background and illustrations of Queen Victoria,...
Dates: 19 January 1891

Joseph Poole's New Myriorama Picturesque Programme, 11 April 1892

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.46
Scope and Contents Victoria Hall Suntherland, England, France and Italy, Turkey, Egypt, The Soundan, Suez Canal and India, Afghanistan and China, Russia, Austria, Switzerland and Germany, America, the Atlantic Ocean and the Artic Regions, Scotland, Ireland, Mr Joseph Poole's Combination Company, The Great Alvantee, high wire act, Herr Blitz, equilibrist act, Miss May Frinch, singing act, Bob Desmond, comedy act, Mr Felix Somers, George Mayo, Mr Fred Mayer, Group of Ladderites, equilibrist act, Poole's Merry...
Dates: 11 April 1892

Joseph Poole's New Myriorama Programme, 23 December 1889

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.16
Scope and Contents Victoria Hall, Southsea,London Bridge,Fishmonger's Hall, Thames embarkment, Westminster Abbey, Victoria Station, Portsmouth, Ireland, The Lakes of Killarney, A tableau of Bristol, Liverpool, New York, Niagara Falls, The Artic Regions, Russia, St. Petersburgh, Bulgaria, Tirnova, Sophia, Varna, The Suez Canal, Egypt, India, Calcutta, Delhi, Afghanistan, Burmese war, The Great Wall of China, Holy Land, The Mediterranean sea, Naples, The carnaval at Rome, Holland and Belgium, Mr Harry Stewart,...
Dates: 23 December 1889

Joseph Poole's New Myriorama Programme, 8 January 1900

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.56
Scope and Contents Town Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Grand re-opening, The Boer War, General Buller's March, The Battle of Elandslaagte, Charing Cross, London, The Royal Navy Review, Osborne, The Bay of Biscay, River Tagus, Gibraltar, Alexandria, Interior of the mosque of El Choree, Our troops at the Pyramids, The Sphinx, Manfalout, The Temple of Karnac, Erment, Elephantina, The Throne of Pharaoh at Philae, Nubia, Abou Simbel, Battle of Tamai, Khartoum, South Africa, General Buller's march, The slave trade,...
Dates: 8 January 1900

Joseph Pool's New Eclipse Myriorama Guide Book and Songs, c1880 - 1889

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.6
Scope and Contents Joseph Poole's new eclipse myriorama picturesque trips abroad all over the world, containing an introduction, descriptions of sights including Dover, Calais, Paris, Turin, Rome, Ancona, Constantinople, Gallipoli, Shumla, Cyprus and battles in Egypt and the Soudan, Stanley's expedition to central Africa, the Suez Canal, India, China, Russia, Europe, America and Great Britain, followed by the lyrics to The Mountain Guide, On, Staley On, Toll Gate, Irish Colleen, When the Lights are Low, Ducth...
Dates: c1880 - 1889

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

Large Hall Literary Institute Poster, Monday 17 May c1886

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.58
Scope and Contents

South Clerk Street, Edinburgh. The Aetheroscope and Professor Pepper's grand optical wonder Proteus, under the patronage of the Lord Provost of Edinburgh James Falshaw, Faust and Marguerite, Comic Festival. Printed by James Brydone, Steam Power Printer, 12 Elder Street, Edinburgh. Purple type on off white silk.

Dates: Monday 17 May c1886

Large Victoria Rooms Poster, c1889

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.57
Scope and Contents

Clifton. Patronised by the Right Worshipful The Mayor G.W. Edwards, all the latest war songs, more new scenes with dioramic changes, St Petersburgh to Constantinople, visiting every place of interest during the late war, Strage and Wilson's New Diorama of the Russo-Turkish Campaign, Vocal and Instrumental music, The Band. Blue type on off white silk. Printed by Taylor Bros., Printers, Baldwin Street Bristol.

Dates: c1889

Lecture Hall Poster, Tuesday 3 March c1857

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.42
Scope and Contents

St. Andrews. Black type on white background, The Day Exhibition, The Mayor, The Great Oritingal Diorama of the Rhine, Mr Albert Smith, The Queen, Gompertz's Panorama, Garibaldi's Campaign in Italy, City of Genoa, The Battle of Calatafimi, Mount Etna, City and harbour of Messina, The Battle of the Volturno, City of Jerusalem, Crypt of the Holy Secpulchre.

Dates: Tuesday 3 March c1857

Llandudno Pier Company Limited Programme, 13 August 1907

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.134
Scope and Contents

Red and white photograph of the beack and red type on white background on the front cover listing members of the orchestra, inside concert programme, on back cover The Royal American Bioscope at the Pier Varieties Theatre, 2p.p.

Dates: 13 August 1907

London Hippodrome Programme, 29 July 1907

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.62
Scope and Contents

Variety programme, listing various acts including Chung Ling Soo, with programme in centre including Macate Sisters, Leonard Gautier's performing ponies, The Four Magnanis, Alfred Loyal, The Chrono Megaphone, Clown Pinta, The Black Hussars, Leipsig, Johnny Watson, The Globe of Life, Paul Conchas and the American Bioscope. Also contains commercial advertising. Light blue covers with white type, 10p.p.

Dates: 29 July 1907

London Hippodrome Programme, 25 August 1902

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.63
Scope and Contents

Variety programme with programme in centre including Three Romas, Mlle. Ella Bradna, The Barra Troupe, Marceline, Edisonograph, Juan A. Caicedo, Mirza Golem troupe, Agnes Spadoni, Chinko, M. Slamonsky, Three Sisters Klos, Sam Elton, The Klein Family and The Bandits. Light green covers with dark blue type, 10p.p.

Dates: 25 August 1902

London Hippodrome Programme, 30 November 1914

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.64
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of woman dresses in flags of the allied countries during world war one on white background. Inside commercial advertising and programme including Gerano, bioscope, Kartelli, 'Business as Usual' a war related play and patriotic songs, also projection of films from the front, 12p.p.

Dates: 30 November 1914

London Hippodrome Programme, 30 July 1900

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.65
Scope and Contents

Programme page for the London Hippodrome linsting Les Melages, Captain Kettle and Stepsons, Leon Morris, Treantanovi Sisters, The Aquamarinoff Troupe, Webb's Cow Boys, Captain Woodward's seals and sea lions, Gibbon's Phono-bio-tableaux, Lockhart's elephants, Gobert, Belling and Filpe and Cinderella, 2p.p.

Dates: 30 July 1900

London Hippodrome Programme, 22 January 1901

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.66
Scope and Contents

Programme page for the London Hippodrome linsting Agnes Krembser, The 3 Donals, The 3 Fratellinis, Burke and Andrus, The Novellos, the latest war pictures depicted by Gibbons Bio-Tableaux, The Kook Trio, Mons. Emile Gautier, The Seddons, The Continental Musical Stars, Mons. Steckel, The Schaffers, Marceline, Siberia, 2p.p.

Dates: 22 January 1901

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