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W. E. Berry Ltd (1888 - 2004)

 Organisation

Dates

  • Existence: 1888 - 2004

Biography

The W.E. Berry Ltd printing company was founded by William Edward Berry in the early 1900s after taking over his father’s printing company and splitting with his business partner. The original company had been founded by William Berry in 1888 at 13 Currer Street in Bradford to print advertising posters. Business soon started to specialise in the railway and entertainment sector, specially the circus industry and over time became one of the most significant printers of entertainment posters in the UK.

In the 1920s the company started to print posters for the film industry after W.E. Berry met Fred Martin at Paramount Pictures. This developed into a lucrative partnership with Berry becoming one of only three companies in Britain to specialise in printing large format posters. Successive contracts with Disney and Columbia arrived, turning Berry into one of the leading producers and distributors of film posters in the UK. Some of the most famous posters include Star Wars (1977) and Flash Gordon (1980).

The mid of the twentieth century saw the production of Berry’s most beautiful and sought posters in the entertainment sector and the company continued experiencing success until the end of the late 1990s when it employed around 140 people, including Chief Illustrator Leon Crossley and a team of freelance commercial artists. However, by the early twentieth century Berry’s fortunes started to turn and after heavy financial losses the company went into administration in 2004, ceasing business on the 4th day of February that year.

Found in 143 Collections and/or Records:

Anglo-American Circus Poster, Friday 4 Saturday 5 May 1945

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.40
Scope and Contents Redditch, Beoley Road, Recreation Ground. Jumbo, The Alleys acrobatic act, Marthines troupe of performing dogs, The Albertas juggling act, Miss Rosey and her comedy horse, Mdlle. Rigley equestrian act, The Nondescripts, Black Eagle, Gerry Lee and Partner, Madam Mazelle om poblie wom womskie comedy act, Royal Cream ponies, Tiney and September, Prince Abdul, A host of clowns, Vokes strongman. Black type on yred, yellow and white background on the left hand side and colour illustration of...
Dates: Friday 4 Saturday 5 May 1945

Austen Brothers London Festival Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.29
Scope and Contents

Nottingham the Forest. Black type and colour banner and footer. Printed by W.E. Berry Ltd. Bradford.

Dates: c1980 - 1989

Austen Brothers London Festival Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.32
Scope and Contents

Banstead. Black type and colour banner and footer on white background. Printed by W.E. Berry Ltd. Bradford.

Dates: c1980 - 1989

Billy Smart's Circus and Menagerie Poster, 18 - 28 March 1959

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.64
Scope and Contents Cardiff, Sophia Gardens. The Six Biros, Billy Smart Junior presenting 10 elephants, Alma Piaia, aerial act, 3 Peters, aerial act, Fle-Ming's sea lions, Bartschelly plate spinning act, The Brooke Bond Chimps, The Four Willers, The Lunasz trapeze act, The Four Jungoves ladder act, Camel Caravan, plus 200 artistes from every nation. Colour illustration of clown on centre left behind the list of acts which are printed in multicolour type and background, and circus scenes on the right hand side...
Dates: 18 - 28 March 1959

Billy Smart's Circus and Menagerie Poster, 26 October - 14 November 1959

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.125
Scope and Contents

Clapham Common. White and red type on blue and white background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 26 October - 14 November 1959

Billy Smart's Circus and Menagerie Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.130
Scope and Contents

Gloucester, The Oxleaze, 1-6 May. White, yellow and red type on blue and white background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus and Menagerie Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.131
Scope and Contents

Worcester, The Pitchcroft, 10-12 September. Plus Fairyland Fantasy. Yellow, white and blue type on dark blue, pink and white background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus and Menagerie Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.132
Scope and Contents

Clampham Common, 28 October to 23 November. White, yellow and red type on dark blue and white background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus and Menagerie Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.133
Scope and Contents

Porstmouth, Southsea Common, 27 July to 8 August. White, yellow and red type on dark blue and white background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus and Menagerie Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.135
Scope and Contents

Britain's largest circus. Produced by master showmen. White and yellow and red combined type on dark blue and red background with red and white border. Left blank to add location and date. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus and Wild West Show Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.70
Scope and Contents

Porstmouth, Southsea Common, 11-16 August. Yellow and orange type and white type on dark blue background with illustration of clown's face and arm in green bowler hat on top section. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd. Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus and Wild West Show Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.140
Scope and Contents

Brighton, The Level, 18-30 August. Produced by Master Showmen. Black, white and yellow and red combined type on white and dark blue background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus Ball Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.128
Scope and Contents

Royal Albert Hall, 15 November. An evening of circus thrills, dancing supper, celebrities, sideshow and cabaret. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd, Nesfield Printing Works, Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus plus Western Spectacle Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.77
Scope and Contents Dewsbury, the Feast Ground, 25-30 March. Jurkschat's Arabian horses, Cowboys, Indians, Squaws, The Foreign Legionaires, The Atlas Sahara Troupe of tumblers, Lilian Kenny trapeze act, Kroplin's chimpanzees, Rock'n'Roll elephants, The Two Loopinos motor-bike aerial act, 12 polar bears, The Flying Hungarian Lunasz, The Camel caravan, Spider Austin and Company, The Larenty Troupe, Gloria's Indian ponies, Flemming's Californian sea lions, Clown's firehouse. Colour illustration of cowboys and...
Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus plus Western Spectacle Poster, 5 - 10 August 1957

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.78
Scope and Contents Inverness, Bught Park. Jurkschat's Arabian horses, Cowboys, Indians, Squaws, The Foreign Legionaires, The Atlas Sahara Troupe of tumblers, Lydia and Lydda trapeze act, Kroplin's chimpanzees, Rock'n'Roll elephants, Musical chais on horseback, 12 polar bears, The Flying Hungarian Lunasz, The Camel caravan, Sasha Coco and Company, The Larenty Troupe, 8 African Lions, Flemming's Californian sea lions, Clown's firehouse. Colour illustration of cowboys and Indians scene galloping towards the...
Dates: 5 - 10 August 1957

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.61
Scope and Contents

Clapham Common, South Side, open until 20 November. Colour illustration of baby elephant on blue background, wearing a pointy hat with a bauble and a green bowtie, seated on a circus platform in front of a small woman in circus band uniform wearing a tall red hat and black shorts, holding a poster with his trunk with the location and time of the circus, also yellow and white type. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Nesfield Printing Works Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, c1946 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.62
Scope and Contents

Birmigham, Hay Mills, 18 March to 3 April. Colour illustration of elephant on blue background, wearing a pointy hat with a bauble and a green bowtie, seated on a circus platform in front of a small woman in circus band uniform wearing a tall red hat and black shorts, holding a poster with his trunk with the location and time of the circus, also yellow and white type. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Nesfield Printing Works Bradford.

Dates: c1946 - 1999

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 28 October - 23 November 1968

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.63
Scope and Contents

Clapham Common, South Side. Colour illustration of elephant wearing a tutu and a pointy hat with a bauble stood on a circus platform and a mouse dressed as an elephant trainer holding a whip on blue background. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd Bradford.

Dates: 28 October - 23 November 1968

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 31 March - 5 April 1969

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.67
Scope and Contents

Peterborough, Agricultural Show ground. Colour illustration of bust of Billy Smart wearing hat and bow tie and holding a cigar with circus ring scene on the background showing wild west act.

Dates: 31 March - 5 April 1969

Billy Smart's Circus Poster, 9 - 11 June 1966

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.68
Scope and Contents

Cheltenham, Sandford Mill Road/Old Bath Road. Colour illustration of bust of Billy Smart wearing hat and bow tie and holding a cigar with circus ring scene on the background showing wild west act.

Dates: 9 - 11 June 1966

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 140
Collection 3
 
Subject
Acrobats 24
Aerialists 45
Animal trainers 13
Animals 106
Art 1