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“Not many people in Newport today know the source of their town’s nickname, “The Sunshine Town.” Fewer people still know the name “Billy B. Van.” It is time to change that.

Paul Rheingold, of Rye, NY, and Sunapee, NH, is to thank as the impetus behind the Newport Historical Society’s 2016 focus on Billy B. Van. A long-time fan of Billy B. Van – vaudeville actor and dairyman-turned soap producer -, Rheingold took it upon himself to honor Newport’s “Sunshine Peddler” with a granite gravestone that served a more fitting tribute than did the previous footstone that marked Van’s place of burial in Newport’s Pine Grove Cemetery.

And truly, Billy B. Van is a man to be honored. Though much current research – sparse as it is – has focused primarily on Van’s turn-of-the-20th-century contributions to the entertainment industry, Billy B. Van was a stalwart promoter of his adopted hometown, Newport, NH, from 1920 until his death in 1950. He was a funny man, yes, but he was a generous man, an optimistic man, and, by all accounts, a man committed to particular enduring and time-tested values that serve as the foundation of human prosperity – body, mind and spirit. Indeed, as Van wrote, “a sense of values is the greatest asset any funny man can have.”

This biography of Billy B. Van is produced with thanks to the inspiration of Paul Rheingold, the support of the Newport Historical Society, the enthusiasm of Dean Stetson who assisted with the scanning of images and procurement of photographs, as well as the comradery of Ron Garceau who also shared photographs of Billy B. Van. Additionally, it is produced with gratitude to my family who patiently and graciously endured my nose in books and on computer screens for too many hours! It is agreed: the short sacrifice was worth it. We hope you readers will agree as well.”

Jayna Hooper, July 2016

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