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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:

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

Great Colston Hall Poster, January 1894

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.26
Scope and Contents

Bristol. Brown type on yellow background listing Joseph Poole's sights of the world, Off with 'em by Mr Poole's Minstrels, Venice, Chicago, Loss of the H.M Ship Victoria, Poole's Variety Confederation, Poole's Popular Programme, Mr Fred Mayer, Miss Dent, Mr A.W. Hallo, Miss May Finch, Spence & Wright, Mr Somers, Miss May Finch, Pongo, Seeblod & Dent, Horton & Linder, Beno. Printed by Fry Bros, Printers, Broad Quay, Bristol.

Dates: January 1894

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

Guild Hall Poster, 12 - 13 May 1902

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.17
Scope and Contents Carnavon. Transalantic Animated Photo Co., animated pictures of Life in Carnarvon during the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Life of the Handy Man & Tommy Atkins Our Navy & Army, English Cup Final played at the Crystal Palace, 1000 humorous, Magical, Trick and Sporting Pictures, vaudeville entertainment by Miss Florence Lorrell, optical effects by the Stereopticians, mucisl recitals by Mr Herbert Barnard, pictorial demonstrator and lecturer Mr Rickaby Scott. Red, green...
Dates: 12 - 13 May 1902

Hamilton and Overend's New Patented Royal Panorama Programme, c1876 - 1882

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.26
Scope and Contents Grecian Hall, Barnstaple, The war, The German Rhine at sunrise, The falls of Schaffhausan, The lake of Constance, The Bavarian mountains, Kehl on the Rhine, Imperial Paris, The river Seine, Notre Dame, The heights of Monmartre and St. Denis, Berlin, The Anhault railway station, The heights of Spicheren, The battler of Wissenberg, The Prussian attack, The Landwehr, The town of Forbach, The Thanksgiving Day, St. Paul's, Grand Triumphal Arch, The Prince of Wales, The Queen, Conclusion of the...
Dates: c1876 - 1882

Hamilton's Excursions and Panstereorama of Passing Events Programme, c1880

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.11
Scope and Contents Britain's glories on sea and land, Africa, Waterloo, Balaclava, Rorke's Drift, Egypt, Trafalgar, Ye Story of Dick Whittington by James J. Blood. Red type on off white background and black and white illustrations of a cavalry charge, a man's portrait in a shield with militaria and flags behind, a large sailing ship, a steam ship and a red and black border on the front cover, inside programme, Dick Whittington's play and commercial advertising for The White Star Line steamer, on back cover...
Dates: c1880

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

Hamilton's Tour Around The World Programme, c1800 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.28
Scope and Contents

Charing Cross to China, China to San Francisco, San Francisco to New York, New York to St. Pancras via Liverpool, Afghanistan. Blue type on off white background with knot border on front cover, inside guide to the show, on back cover lyrics of songs sung by W.C. Mappin and Mr L. Travers. Printed by Thornton and Pattinson, Printers Etc., Scale Lane, Hull, 2p.p

Dates: c1800 - 1899

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

Harris Advertisement, c1870 - 1890

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.24
Scope and Contents

Black type on off what background, advertisement for a clothing show.

Dates: c1870 - 1890

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 Handbill, 21 February 1882

 Item
Reference code: 178T47.3
Scope and Contents

Colston Hall, Bristol. Four fold handbill with programme and almanac, also blue and white illustration of world scenes in the centre.

Dates: 21 February 1882

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 GordonĀ“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

Hengler's Grand Cirque Poster, c1879 - 1889

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.24
Scope and Contents

Brunswich Road, Liverpool. Blue type on white background, Poole & Young's new excursions, Zulu War, Rorke's Drift, Cetywayou the Zulu King, The Dioramic Effects, Electric light, singers and ventriloquists, Miss Mary Townley, Mr W. D'Almaine, Le Petite Maud and the Petit Charlie, Mr Felix Somers, Mr Frank Freeland. Printed by Stafford and Co., Printers and Engravers Nottingham.

Dates: c1879 - 1889

Her Majesty's Theatre, King John Souvenir Booklet, 13 November 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.18
Scope and Contents

Souvenir guide presented by Herbert Beerbohm Tree on the occasion of the 60th consecutive performance of King John at her Majesty's Theatre containing black and white photographs, illustrations on the play and text, including various images of tableau vivants. Black, brown and grey illustration of King John on a horse with soldiers and title on top left and brown type on front cover. Published by teh British Mutoscope and Biograph Company Limited, 24p.p.

Dates: 13 November 1899

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. N. Studd's Picture Palace Poster, Monday 17 June 1912

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.36
Scope and Contents

Aberfan. Black type on brown background, pictures and varieties, Great Sporting Week, Billy Ross & Co., in Mr Maloney's Troubles, The Derby 1912, Pictorial Concert every Sunday. Pinted by Jones Printer, Aberfan.

Dates: Monday 17 June 1912

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