Skip to main content

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:

Photographs and Postcards Related to Pre-Cinema Shows and Early Cinema, Showpeople and Performers, c1900 - 1929

 File
Reference code: 178C129.1-33
Scope and Contents

Black and white and colour photographs and postcards of performers including dwarves, blackface performer, a white face pierrot and Du'calion, the interior of a theatre, a photograph of the Parade at Newport, Isle of Wight, photographs of Poole's myriorama, employess and brass band and a small family photo album.

Dates: c1900 - 1929

Pitt's Palace Pictures Poster, c1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.35
Scope and Contents

Caerphilly. Pitt's Eletric Pictures and Varieties, our star film The Border Ranger, Dogs not Admitted, Calino as a Postman, An Eventful Evening, Freddie and the Aliens, True to his Trust, An Evil Influence, The Tale of the Sea, Children Mustn't Smoke, The Statue Dog, A Glimpse of the Neapolitan Camorra, Attacked by Araphoes, Help Wanted, Nat Pinkerton in the Smugglers' Den. Blue type on off white background and blue border. Printed by Willson's Printers, Mount Street, Nottingham.

Dates: c1899

Player's Theatre Handbill, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178T47.5
Scope and Contents

Victorian Music Hall and Hoxton Hall, Sunday 2 December, Union Jack on top section, title in red and blue and rest of typescript on black and framed colour photograph of a man on the front, on reverse information, contact details and map.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Poole and Young's New Dioramic Excursions Programme, 9 June 1879

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.13
Scope and Contents The Opera House, Cork, Zulu War, Russia, Turkey, Cyprus, Afghanistan, Berlin, London, St. Petersburgh, Bucharest, Turkey, A battle before Kars, The battle before Plevna, British fleet at Prinkipo, Constantinople, Mosque of Santa Sophia, Cyprus, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Miss Clara Farren, singing act, Mr Stuart Cowell, singing act, Mr Frank Freeland, impresonation act, Professor Alexander, ventriloquist act, The band conducted by Mr Jas. Montague. Blue type on pink background,...
Dates: 9 June 1879

Poole and Young's New Overland Mail Route to India Programme, 18 May 1874

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.51
Scope and Contents

Queen's Rooms, Ayr, From London to Calcutta, Suez Canal, Arrival at Dover, The City of Calais,The Tunnel, The City of Turin, Brindisi, The Mediterranean Sea, Ismalia, Cairo, Ceylon, Madras. Orange and white illustration of a map covering the front and back covers showing Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and part of South Asia and a red line going from London to Calcutta, inside programme. Printed by J. W. Last and Co., Lithographers and General Printers, London, 2p.p

Dates: 18 May 1874

Poole's Grand Diorama Programme, c1890 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.49
Scope and Contents Trips Abroad, The mammoth map of the world, Charing Cross railway station, The cathedral of St. Paul's, Arrival at Dover, Calais, Paris, The Mont Cenis Tunnel, The Dardanelle, Constantinople, Bombardment of Alexandria, Charge of the Cavalry at Kassassin, The battle of Tel-El-Kebir, Cairo, Suez, Hick Pasha's defeat, Khartoum, The first battle of Teb, The battle of Tamasi, Zululand, Rorke's drift, Ulundi, Burning of King Cetewayo's Kraal, Ceylon, Calcutta, City of Agra, Cabul, Candahar,...
Dates: c1890 - 1899

Poole's Latests Myriorama Programme, 1882 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.47
Scope and Contents Munt's Hall, Clapham Junction, Commencing Monday 15 May, Poole's latets trip around the world, London, Paris, Venice, Moscow, Norway, Cyprus, Cairo, Stanley in Africa, Shouth Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon, Herat, China, Niagara, The Wild West, Quebec, Belfast, North Wales, The Phydora Trio, musical act, Miss Rosie Williams, musical act, Professor Carson, ventriloquist act, Munro and O'Toole, comedy act, Otto Elliott (Silent Otto), comedy act, Mr J.J. Taylor, comedy act, Poole's...
Dates: 1882 - 1899

Poole's Myriorama and All About It, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.25
Scope and Contents

Poster describing Poole's myriorama show, black type on white background.

Dates: c1880 - 1899

Poole's Myriorama and Diorama Items, c1885

 File
Reference code: 178Z64.4
Scope and Contents

Tickets, invitations, dancing card and other items related to Poole's Myriorama and Diorama shows, one of them at Hengler's Grand Cirque and a business envelope with colour illustration of two elephants in a jungle and a black and white portrait.

Dates: c1885

Poole's Myriorama Scrapbook, 1880 - 1901

 Item
Reference code: 178G56.1
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook containing newspaper cuttings, some black and white photographs, posters, programmes and telegraphs relating to Poole's Myriorama, also some loose newspaper cuttings, 36p.p

Dates: 1880 - 1901

Poole's New Mastodon Diorama Programme, 12 November 1883

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.15
Scope and Contents Public Hall, Lowestoft, Illustrating a grand tour all over the world, Europe, Asia, Africa, America, Australia and New Zealand, showing manners, customs, sports and pastimes, Grand miorama of current events, The war in Egypt, Bombardment of Alexandria, Grand charges at Kassassin and Tel-El-Kebir, Poole's Exclesior Concert Company, Mr Harry Stewart, quick outfit change and singing act, Mr Felix Somers, ventriloquist act, Mr Charles Washington Wilmot, Miss Lizzie Wilmot, singing act, Poole's...
Dates: 12 November 1883

Poole's New Mastodon Diorama Programme, 26 November 1883

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.20
Scope and Contents Athenaeum Hall, West Hartlepool, Illustrating a grand tour all over the world, visiting Europe, Asia, Africa, America, Australia and New Zealand showing the manners, customs, sports and pastimes, Grand myriorama of modern events, including the war in Egypt, the bombardment of Alexandria, grand charges at Kassassin and Tel-El-Kebir, The Strand and Temple Bar, Saint Thomas's Hospital and Houses of Parliament, Westminster Bridge, The thames, Liverpool from the Mersey, Voyage to America, New...
Dates: 26 November 1883

Poole's New Pictorial Tour All Over the World Programme, c1890 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.52
Scope and Contents Agricultural Hall, Mohack Minstrel's Hall, Islington, The mammoth map of the world, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, The Strand and Temple Bar, Liverpool from the Mersey, Voyage to America, New York, Brooklyn Bridge, Niagara Falls, Greenland, Polar Bears, The Artic Regions, South Carolina, South America, The Congo, South Africa, The French Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon, India, Madras, Calcutta, Taj Mehal at Agra, Lahore, China, Port of Amoy, Foo Chow, Ningpow, Nankin, Pakin, Japan, Russia,...
Dates: c1890 - 1899

Poole's New Production Poster, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.5
Scope and Contents Temperance Hall, Pembroke Dock. Grand fashionable night, Capt. and Mrs Chatfield, Special military night, Officer of the Royal Artillery, Battle of Abu Klea, Second cataract of the Nile Expedition, Bird's eye view of Khartoum, Poole's Trips Abroad, Messrs Poole's new exhibition, The Soudan war, The war in Egypt, Mr Harry Stewart, The Great Orville Pitcher, comedy act, Mr C.W. Wilmott, comedy act. Black type on white background and blue and white illustrations of male portraits around the...
Dates: c1880 - 1899

Poole's New Trips Abroad Programme, 29 September 1884

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.7
Scope and Contents Agricultural Hall, Norwich, Poole's trips abroad visiting Europe, Asia, Africa, America and New Zealand, Grand myriorama of modern events including scenes from the battlefield of the wars in Egypt and the Soudan, the bombardment of Alexandria, the battle of Tel-El-Kebir and the battles of Teb and Tamasi, Poole's Conbination Company, Miss A.E. Hughes, singing act, Mr Fred Le Ray, comedy ventriloquist, Mr Harry Dales, Mr Richard Kirby, comedy act, brass and string bands conducted by Mr J....
Dates: 29 September 1884

Poole's Pictoresque Trips Abroad Poster, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.4
Scope and Contents Royal Public Rooms, Exeter. The Burmese war, Mandalay, Egyptian and Soudan wars, Grand fashionable night, The Mayor of Exeter, The Sheriff of Exeter, Miss Marie Sheedy, musical act, Inventions exhibition, George Poole's Acme concert party, Mr T. Maclagan, Mr Oliver Pitcher, Professor G. Roselle. Black type on white background and green and white illustrations of male portraits around the right and left edges, cote of arms on top centre and view of Suakim on bottom edge. Printed by Fry Bros...
Dates: c1880 - 1899

Poole's Popular Trips Abroad Programme, 12 October 1885

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.53
Scope and Contents Assambly Rooms, Agricultural Hall, Norwich, Egypt and the Soudan campaign, England, France, Italy and the Mediterranean, Turkey and Asia Minor, Suez Canal and India, Afghanistan and China, America, the Atlantic Ocean and the Artic Regions, Russia, Austria, Switzerland and Germany, Poole's concert company, Miss Kitty Clare, Mr George Mayo, Professor Holden, Mr Oscar Hartwell, Orchestral and military band coducted by Mr C.W. Horton. Blue and white illustrations of Brittania whatching a battle,...
Dates: 12 October 1885

Poole's Trips Abroad, 1 June 1885

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.58
Scope and Contents

Royal Victoria Hall, Waterloo Road. Black type on white background and blue and white illustrations of Egypt. Egyptian and Soudan Wars, Poole's Concert Company, Miss Kitty Clare, Great Cosmo, Dr Aden, Mr Oscar Hartwell.

Dates: 1 June 1885

Poole's Trips Abroad Poster, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.2
Scope and Contents Temperance Hall, Grimbsby. Messrs. Poole's new diorama, Egyptian and Soudan wars, Poole's excelsior concert company, Miss Kitty Clare, musical act, Mr George Mayo (The Elactic Man), grotesque act, Prof. Holden, ventriloquist act, Mr Oscar Hartwell, musical act, Orchestral and military bands conducted by Mr C.W. Horton. Black type on pink background and green illlustrations of war scenes, portraits of Colonel Burnaby and Lode Charles Beresford and other scenes along the top, left and bottom...
Dates: c1880 - 1899

Poole's Trips Abroad Poster, 1884

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.8
Scope and Contents

London, Agricultural Hall, Town Hall, Morley Hall and Public Hall. The cities and battlefields of Egyp and the Soudan, all the disasters, marches, battles and great British successes at Teb and Tamasi, Gordon at Khartoum, Variety entertainers, Orchestral and military bands. Blue type on blue background with wavy border. Printed by Stafford and Co., Printers and Engravers, Netherfield, Notts

Dates: 1884

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