The Films
Billy B. Van appeared in numerous silent comedies between the mid-1910s and early 1920s.
Most of his films are now lost, and surviving documentation comes primarily from contemporary trade publications, studio catalogs, and later film reference works.
This page presents the most complete and carefully documented listing currently known of the films of Billy B. Van, with notes on their production and surviving evidence.
As a living document, it will be updated as additional documentation or surviving material comes to light. Additional information about these films or their survival is always welcome.
The Early Films – Equity Motion Picture Company
Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire
“Some Hero” (1915)
Status: lost, later mentioned in advertising as a re-release by Miller & Steen in 1925.
“The Exploits of Emilene” (1915)
Status: lost
“The Janitor’s Birthday” (1915)
Status: lost, later mentioned in advertising as a re-release by Miller & Steen in 1925.
Actors and other members of the Equity company pose on the front steps of the new film studio. Among those pictured are Billy B. Van (front-row center), the Beaumont Sisters (on either side), and Walter Hiers one row back, second from the right. The goat, which appears in these early films, also stands still enough for a portrait.
(click to enlarge)
Where are they now?
Little documentation survives, and the trail for these films has largely gone cold as it’s doubtful that many prints were ever made- however, the mention of “Some Hero” and “The Janitor’s Birthday” in a Miller & Steen advertisement from 1925 does offer some hope that additional copies of these titles might have been made in advance of their distribution.
Billy B. Van in the Kodascope Library
A page from the 1926 Descriptive Catalog of Kodascope Library Motion Pictures
The following titles were originally made in the 1915-1919 time period and later distributed through the Kodak Kodascope Library, a home-rental system that circulated 16mm reduction prints to a new market: people watching movies at home. These versions were often re-edited, shortened, or even retitled from the original theatrical releases.
“Van-ar-chy” (c.1919; Kodascope release 1926)
Status: survives
Surviving materials: private collection print, recently rediscovered in Japan
“A slapstick comedy without much of any plot, and designed principally to feature the antics and horse-play of the vaudeville comedian who takes the principal part. It is a tale of anarchists, bombs, dynamite explosions, kidnapping and a few other crimes or misdemeanors. It is full of ‘moving accidents by flood and field.’ For those who like this kind of a comedy, it is the sort of comedy that they will like.”
- 1926 Descriptive Catalog of Kodascope Library Motion Pictures
Production details
Listed as an independent production
Reel #4019
1574 feet (2 reels)
Recently rediscovered in Japan, “Van-ar-chy” will receive its first screening in nearly a century with live accompaniment in the Lake Sunapee area in fall 2026.
“The Plucky Hoodoo” (c. 1915; Kodascope release 1926)
Status: Lost
A copy of the original, longer Reelcraft production survives (see below).
“Slapstick comedy of the rube farmer type, featuring a country blacksmith, a lazy farmhand and a city family visiting the country in their automobile. The new farmhand has all sorts of troubles with his employer, but finally proves himself a hero (?) and wins the farmer’s daughter.”
- 1926 Descriptive Catalog of Kodascope Library Motion Pictures
Production details
Listed as an independent production
Reel #4020
1800 feet (2 reels)
Billy B. Van as the hero Oscar Oops in “Van-ar-chy”
Where are they now?
As Kodak had to stock their home-rental libraries in several cities with the titles in their catalog, there is quite a bit of hope that there are additional copies of “Van-ar-chy” and “Where Are Your Husbands?” yet to be found. Despite having found copies of these films, the ones that have been found are incomplete. Finding other copies would aid in the creation of complete versions as Billy B. Van had intended. Collections mentioning “Kodascope,” or local libraries, museums, historical societies, archives, or even film “buffs” in the cities where Kodak had Kodascope Libraries are all possible routes yet to be explored.
The Reelcraft Royal Comedy Series (1920)
“More Bull” (1920)
Status: lost
Mentioned as a title for the first Billy B. Van Reelcraft Royal Comedy. Subsequent reports state that the first Billy B. Van film for the Royal Comedies was titled “Snakes.”
Reelcraft Pictures released a series of short comedies starring Billy B. Van in 1920. Trade publications confirm at least three titles in wide release.
“Where Are Your Husbands?” (1920)
Status: fragment survives (Library of Congress)
Possibly the fifth Billy B. Van film for the Reelcraft Royal Comedy series.
“Obviously this two reeler, one of a set known as Royal Comedies and starring Billy B. Van, was made before the end of the war, for it is sort of a burlesque on the conflict. A fight of American women to protect their talcum powder forms the backbone of the piece, the effeminate habits cultivated by the men during the absence of their wives being depicted throughout most of the footage. As many people will expect, it turns out to be a dream at the finish, while the principal gleeful over the fact that what has passed was merely a nightmare. Generally an average comedy which is not timely now.”
— The Film Daily, August 29, 1920
A mostly complete copy of this film was rediscovered by chance in the uncatalogued holdings of the U.S. Library of Congress in 2017. A modern reconstruction of the film, created in 2017 with a newly prepared opening and piano accompaniment, is available on this site.
“Snakes” (1920)
Status: lost
Variously reported as the first or second Billy B. Van film for the Reelcraft Royal Comedy series.
“Bolshevism and bombs were a much more popular topic for discussion up to about a year ago than they are today, and this Billy B. Van comedy obviously was made at that time. While it is somewhat disconnected at times, there are several humorous bits and the production as a whole is acceptable. Well photographed in most places, this maintains a reasonably good average and should get over in quite a few houses. Some of the hokum is of the rather hackneyed type, but much of it can be depended upon to hold its own. This is the second of the series of Royal Comedies.”
— The Film Daily, August 1, 1920
“The Plucky Hoodoo” (1920)
Status: Survives
Surviving materials: poor-quality videotape to DVD transfer of unknown date/origin (private collection)
Released as an edited two-reel Kodascope reduction print in 1926 (see above).
Possibly the fourth Billy B. Van film for the Reelcraft Royal Comedy series.
A 50’ reel sold by the Novelty Film Co. with the title “Down the Well” features one of the gags from “The Plucky Hoodoo” but is not a separate title.
Househusband Billy B. Van turns down the advances of an amorous lover in the role-reversal comedy “Where Are Your Husbands?”
Where are they now?
While Reelcraft was in existence for only a few short years before going bankrupt, and its assets changing hands at least once to the Export & Import Film Company, multiple copies of Billy B. Van’s “Royal Comedies” were likely made for distribution to the many movie theaters in Reelcraft’s network of film exchanges across the U.S. Of all of Billy B. Van’s lost films, titles from this collection are perhaps the most likely to still exist. Local libraries, museums, historical societies, archives, or even film “buffs” in the cities where Reelcraft operated may have copies of these films.
With studios in NYC and Hollywood, and a national network of theaters, Reelcraft embarked on the mission to make Billy B. Van a star of its Royal Comedies series.
Billy B. Van in his comedic turn as a “hoodoo-” a jinx or someone who brings bad luck or misfortune.
The Miller & Steen Releases
This Miller & Steen advertisement provides proof that many of the films Billy B. Van made in 1915 had survived long enough to be sold again a decade later, and raises the hope that some may still exist.
Advertised in 1925, though likely produced around 1915. Actor Walter Hiers later stated that the films were made “10 years ago.” These productions are believed to have been filmed at least partly in New Hampshire, and all are considered lost.
“Some Hero” (first mentioned in 1915 local paper)
“The New Clerk”
“The Inventor”
“Bootlegger’s Legacy”
“The New Woman”
“The Janitor’s Birthday” (first mentioned in 1915 trade press)
Where are they now?
Likely another cold lead, unfortunately. While Miller & Steen advertised the availability of Billy B. Van’s films, and may have struck multiple prints for distribution, little has been found out about where the films may have been shown, or what happened to Miller & Steen’s collection after disappearing from the industry trade press entirely after 1925. Further, public complaints lodged by actor Walter Hiers as to the quality of the films may have played some role in the survival of these films.
Other Confirmed Film Appearances
“The Beauty Shop” (1922)
Status: lost
A Cosmopolitan Production, released by Paramount Pictures, 1h 10min.
Adapted from the musical comedy of the same name, Billy B. Van appears as the character “Sobini,” the undertaker. He appears with his long-time vaudeville co-star Jim Corbett:
“Billy B. Van and James J. Corbett will play the parts of prominent Bolognians who conspire to make Dr. Budd’s life in their native country a series of highly uncomfortable thrills.”
“Dr. Budd, beauty doctor, faces bankruptcy—when suddenly he is told that he is the descendant of the famous Sizerellas, and a fortune awaits him in Bolognia. With his ward, Anna, and her fiancé, Briggs, Budd travels to Bolognia only to be told there is no fortune, but he must settle a family feud by fighting a duel. The only way out of the duel is by marrying the innkeeper’s funny-looking daughter. But when Budd’s beauty lotion makes the girl beautiful he is permitted to leave Bolognia and go back to America where the success of his preparation will make him rich.”
Unlike most films associated with Billy B. Van, “The Beauty Shop” was a widely distributed feature film and received substantial contemporary reviews.
— The Film Daily, May 14, 1923
Billy B. Van and Montague Love in “The Beauty Shop”
Where is “The Beauty Shop” now?
Poor reviews may have contributed to this film being overlooked or even discarded. While lacking the Lake Sunapee setting of Billy B. Van’s other films, “The Beauty Shop,” with a well-known cast and the Paramount Studio name attached, was undoubtedly the biggest movie Billy B. Van was in. Witnessing Van’s turn as “Sobini” would add to our appreciation of this star of many talents. Multiple prints likely were made for its nation-wide release, and it is hoped that at least a portion of this film may still exist, but has yet to be identified. As an example: one reel of a 6-reel feature might survive, but with no title information the reel will continue to sit unidentified and uncatalogued.
From left to right, grouped around a table in a courtyard in a scenic still from the 1922 silent comedy "The Beauty Shop," are the actors James J. Corbett, Louise Fazenda, Billy B. Van, and Montague Love. Courtesy Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research. Used with permission.
Misattributed Appearances
“The White Sin” (1924)
Status: misattributed
Some advertising for this film lists Billy B. Van in the cast. This appears to be a case of confusion with the better-known comedy actor Billy Bevan, a mistake that occasionally appears in contemporary sources.
An advertisement for the film “The White Sin” incorrectly lists Billy B. Van in the cast- a case of mistaken identity with comedian Billy BeVan
Billy B. Van Films Mentioned on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
“Screen Snapshots, Series 2, No. 9-F” (1921)
Status: lost
Federated Film Exchanges of America, Inc. Produced by Jack Cohn and Louis Lewyn. Showing life of the stars behind the scenes, it aimed to be the “fan magazine of the screen.”
Other stars mentioned as appearing in the series include Richard Barthelmess, Monte Blue, Irene Castle, James J. Corbett, Marion Davies, Jack Dempsey, Mary Hay, Johnny Hines, Raymond Hitchcock, Robert Z. Leonard, Marcus Loew, Mae Murray, Eugene O’Brien, Constance Talmadge, Norma Talmadge, Conway Tearle, David Warfield, and Winifred Westover.
“She Done Him Wrong” (1933)
Status: survives
Billy B. Van is mentioned on IMDb as appearing uncredited as a piano player in the Oscar-nominated feature starring Cary Grant and Mae West (who delivers her most famous line, “Why don’t you come up sometime and see me?”). Piano player “Rag Time Kelly” is played by Fuzzy Knight.
Digital copies of the film are widely available online; however, Billy B. Van has so far not been identified in the film.
“The Lucky Hobo”
“Zulu Nightmare” (or “Zooloo Nightmare”)
Mentioned in an interview with Billy B. Van late in life, the existence of these two films has not yet been confirmed in contemporary trade publications or studio records- though a few still photos purported to be from “Zulu Nightmare” appear to show that some production might have occured. Perhaps made as demonstrations or the result of an early hobby, it’s doubtful that many prints were made- and, thus, there’s little hope that these titles will be found.
Titles Recalled by Billy B. Van
A “dragon boat” ferries prisoner Billy B. Van across Lake Sunapee for filming of the lost film “Zulu Nightmare” in 1915.