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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:

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

Louise Tussaud's New Exhibition Programme, c1891-1892

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.121
Scope and Contents

St. Jame's Great Hall, Oxford Street, Manchester. Black type and colour centre containing the names of Tussaud's staff and officials on the front cover, inside programme listing Mr Percival Craig, Sydney Gandy and Miss Inglefield, Professor Bracken, Living Pictures or Tableaux Vivant and The Grand Panorama, on back cover Chamber of Horrors, 2p.p.

Dates: c1891-1892

Magician Print, c1800 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178V20.3
Scope and Contents

Illustration from a book showing a magician in a tail suit with a table with magician implements on it, throwing toys up in the air to children running towards him in a room. Colour etching and acquatint on paper with text beneath.

Dates: c1800 - 1899

Maplesone Brothers' Great Panorama of America and Canada Programme, c1883

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.6
Scope and Contents Pavilion Gravesend, week commencing Monday 25 February. 100 magnificent scenes, The Niagara Falls, rapids and whirlpool, The scene of the late Captain Webb's fatal swim, Miss Nellie Goddard, sigingin act, Mr Reuben Maplesone singing act. Black type on yellow background with illustration of eagle and shield on top centre and a decorative border containing scenes in the corners and other illustrations along the bottom and top edges on the front cover, inside introduction to the American...
Dates: c1883

Market Hall Poster, Monday 6 August 1883

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.52
Scope and Contents

St. Austell. Entry of Sir Garnet Wolseley with British Forces into Cairo. Alexandria Bombardment on Fire and in Ruins, Poole's World Diorama, Events in Egypt, Review of British Troops, Mr Harry Stewart, Mr Felix Somers, Mr Oscar Hartwell, Poole's Splendid Bands. Black type on stripey orange and white background. Printed by Theophilus Crever, Steam Printer, Unition Street, Phymouth.

Dates: Monday 6 August 1883

Messrs J. and G. Poole's New Dioramic Excursions Programme, c1880

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.9
Scope and Contents Druid's Hall, Redruth, Monday 4 October, until Saturday 16 October, Depicting the most important events during the last three years in the East, also Afghan and Zulu wars, Map of Europe, The journey through India, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Mrs. Hartwell, singing act, Mr. T. Maclangan, impersonation act, Mr. Oscar J. Hartwell, late of the Royal Poytechnic Institution, London, The band conducted by Mr. Carl Webb. Black type on yellow background with line border on front covern inside...
Dates: c1880

Messrs. Poole and Young Great Dioramas Programme, c1889

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.27
Scope and Contents

Assembly Rooms, Cheltenham, Overland route to India, Mr Davies, lecturer, Mr C. Montgomery, Miss Blandford, Mr Bond, Mr Walters, Mr French. Black print on light pink background with simple black line border on front cover, inside programme, on back cover lising of variety acts and illustration of cherub. Printed by Stafford and Co., Steam Printing Works, Nottingham, 2p.p

Dates: c1889

Messrs. Poole and Young New Dioramic Programme, 4 August 1879

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.19
Scope and Contents Grand Concert Hall and Skating Rink, West Street, Brighton, Zulu War, Russia, Turkey, Cyprus, India, Afghanistan, Germany, Europe, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Miss Mable de Verne, singing act, Mr Frank Freeland, impresonation act, Professor Alexander, ventriloquist act, The band conducted by Mr Jas. Montague. Blue type on pink background and wavy border on the front cover, inside programme, on back cover Liverpool press reviews and listing of variety acts. Printed by Stafford and...
Dates: 4 August 1879

Messrs. Poole Bros. New Dioramic, Excursions Programme, 28 March 1881

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.2
Scope and Contents Assambly Rooms, Cheltenham, General Sir F. Roberts' triumphal entry into Cabul with the British Forces, Messrs. Poole Bros. new dioramic, Excursions depicting the most important events of the last two years in Afghanistan and South Africa, The new exhibition illustrating a journey to the capitals of Europe, Scenes in St. Petersburgh, Tour of the Swiss Alps, Opinions of the Bristol Press, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Miss Jennie Bowmaker, singing act, The Great Maclagan, impersonation...
Dates: 28 March 1881

Messrs. Poole Bros. New Dioramic, Excursions Programme, 9 May 1881

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.3
Scope and Contents Theatre Royal, Gloucester, General Sir F. Roberts' triumphal entry into Cabul with the British Forces, Messrs. Poole Bros. new dioramic, Excursions depicting the most important events of the last two years in Afghanistan and South Africa, The new exhibition illustrating a journey to the capitals of Europe, Scenes in St. Petersburgh, Tour of the Swiss Alps, Opinions of the Bristol press, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Miss Jennie Bowmaker, singing act, The Great Maclagan, impersonation...
Dates: 9 May 1881

Messrs. Poole, The World Programme, 25 September 1882

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.1
Scope and Contents Public Hall, Smethwick, Entry of General Sir Garnet Wolseley into Cairo with British Forces, Alexandria bombarded, on fire and in ruins!, England to Malta, Turkey, Cyprus, The Holy Land, Egypt, Zululand, India, Afghanistan, Russia, Germany, Holland and Belgium, Bombardment of Alexandria, Scenes of Cairo and the Suez Canal, Mr J. Sullivan and Miss Josephine, excelsior black and white duologists and versatile artistes, Herr Blitz, magic act, Mr Horace Wilton, comic singing. Black type on...
Dates: 25 September 1882

Messrs. Poole's Gigantic Pictorial Enterprise Programme, 14 August 1882

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.18
Scope and Contents Exchange Rooms, New Street, Birmingham, Egypt and the world, Bombardment of Alexandria, Cairo, The Suez Canal, London, South Africa, Afghanistan, India, Assassination of the Szar, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Prince of Wales Minstrels, Mr Charles Ernest, singing act, Mr J. Richards, musical act, Mr Horace Wilton, comedy musical act, Mr Felix Somers, ventriloquist act, Herr Blitz, magic act, Mr Oscar Hartwell, The orchestra conducted by Mr B. Simpson. Black type on pink background with...
Dates: 14 August 1882

Messrs. Poole's New Dioramic Excursions Programme, 17 October 1881

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.17
Scope and Contents Temperance Hall, Tredegar, Afghanistan and South Africa, Capitals of Europe, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey in Europe, Constantinople, Cyprus, Entry of our Troops into Cabul under the command of General Roberts, The Ameer's Palace, General Burrows' disaster or great battle of Khussk-I-Nakhud, The Kojak-pass, City of Candahar, General Roberts great victory, The Kremlin, Viena, Berlin, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Messrs Henri and Pointer, musical act, Mr...
Dates: 17 October 1881

Messrs Strange and Wilson Aetherscope, Spectroscope and Phantoscope Booklet, c1880 - 1889

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.11
Scope and Contents Great Ghost Exhibition. Book of the words, songs and choruses of A Christmas Carol by Chales Dickens. Black type on bright orange background with ribbon and flower border on the front page, inside press reviews, outline of the story and lyrics, followed by ghost shows Muddlehead in a Fix or the Phantom Swindler, The Haunted House and Poor Poet's Plagues, on back cover black and orange illustration of a ghost scene with angels. Printed by James Upton Printer, Great Charles Street, Birmingham,...
Dates: c1880 - 1889

Mitchell & Kenyon Postcard Booklet, 2007

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.22
Scope and Contents

Booklet containing black and white still images from Mitchell and Kenyon films, produced by the British Film Institute, 18p.p.

Dates: 2007

Mohawk Minstrels Poster, 21 October 1885

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.15
Scope and Contents

Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington. Annual Benefit, 20 Songs for the Occasion, Principal London Variety Artistes. Black type on white background. Printed by Aubert's Steam Printing Works, Maiden Lane, Strand.

Dates: 21 October 1885

Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material, c1900 - 2018

 Series
Reference code: 178B44
Scope and Contents

Monographs, articles and research material on early travelling moving picture shows, related to the Poole family , Wilton's Music Hall, Walter Sickert, Bedford Music Hall, Randall Williams and early cinema in Scotland

Dates: c1900 - 2018

Mr G. French as Harlequin Print, c1830 - 1849

 Item
Reference code: 178V20.4
Scope and Contents

Illustration of a harlequin holding a sword towards his back, on the background a cityscape with greenery, London published by John Redington 208, Hoxton Old Town and sold by J. Webb 75 Brick Lane St. Lukes. Hand coloured etching on paper.

Dates: c1830 - 1849

Mr Harry Poole's New Trips Abroad Programme, c1880 - 1889

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.23
Scope and Contents

Red type and illustrations of Egypt and battles, portraits of Wolseley, Gordon and Burnaby on green background on the front cover. Blank programme of overprinting location and programme, 2p.p

Dates: c1880 - 1889

Mr Josep Poole's Myriorama Poster, 7 July 1890

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.29
Scope and Contents Black type on blue background. Large Assambly Rooms, Eyre Arms, St. John's Woods, meeting of H.M. Stanley and Emin Pacha, Mr Joseph Poole's Myriorama, Pictoresque Trips Abroad to all Parts of the Globe, The Emin Pacha Relief Expedition, Events in Egypt and the Soudan, Scenic Surprises and Eclipse Variety Amalgamation, Poole's Acme Combination Company, Herr Blitz, Miss May Finch, Paul de Lara, Mr Felix Somers, Mr Frank Freeland. Printed by Stafford & Co., Printers, Netherfield near...
Dates: 7 July 1890

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