Since 2012, The Betsy has proudly presented over 250 works shot by Bob Bonis, Manager of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones during their first US tours. Bob Bonis (1932-92) was a talent agent at MCA in NYC, and took these images  at a pivotal time in Rock and Roll history: The British Invasion.   Yet the  true scale and significance of the entire Bonis archive has been waiting for its moment in the spotlight – and will be emerging soon (Spring 2025) when Betsy's entire collection will be refreshed and renewed.

The backstory. The collection was discovered in 2009 by the family of MCA talent manager Bob Bonis upon his death, with more than 9,000 photographs in the portfolio including 3,500 rare images of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.  As tour manager for  both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones during their first tours of America from 1964 to 1966, Bob carried his Leica M3 camera; he documented not just performances but the candid, deeply personal moments that no one else had access to—moments of camaraderie, vulnerability, and the innocence of artists who had no idea of their eventual impact on 20th century world culture. These photographs, captured without the intention of publication, were simply stored in Bonis’ basement for half a century. All but the images exhibited at The Betsy to date remained in relative obscurity until 2024 when Acquisition Partners rescued the historic collection with the goal of preservation and celebration.

Update. And so, a meticulous restoration process of the Bob Bonis Archive has begun, involving state-of-the-art remastering technology that involves the cleaning, restoration, and rescanning of each negative – to elevate photographic quality manifold. Currently, two examples of these newly remastered photographs are already on display in the Lobby of The Betsy Hotel. The entire collection will soon be restored to emerge worldwide.

Art Week Miami Beach 2025. Behind the Lens: The Story of Bob Bonis will debut in Liverpool, England before embarking on an international tour featuring the remastered archive. The (restored) Bob Bonis Archive will (re)emerge at The Betsy Hotel during Art Week Miami Beach 2025.  For the first time, the world will experience the unseen, intimate moments of two bands that defined a generation through images brought to life with care, reverence, and a commitment to preserving their legacy for future generations.

A percentage of sales of images from the Bob Bonis archive at The Betsy is allocated to zarascenter.org, an afterschool safe haven for vulnerable children in Emganwini, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, founded and administered by owners of The Betsy Hotel:  Lesley Goldwasser and Jonathan Plutzik and family. 

During this period of archival preservation and restoration, only a very limited number of pieces will be sold.  If you’re interested in purchasing a piece please see the concierge, call 305-531-6100 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.

All images used with permission from Bob Bonis Archives.