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January 20, 2021 3:50 pm  #1


Billy Van bio shows he was much more than his Frightenstein characters

Seems only appropriate that this would be published in the Hamilton Spectator, the city where "Frightenstein" was filmed. 

New Billy Van biography shows he was much more than his Frightenstein characters

 

January 20, 2021 4:24 pm  #2


Re: Billy Van bio shows he was much more than his Frightenstein characters

Mr. Van was also prominent in a couple of TVO series, playing the robot in "How Do You Do", and was paired with Luba Goy in the series about personal computing called "Bits and Bytes"...

 

 

January 20, 2021 6:36 pm  #3


Re: Billy Van bio shows he was much more than his Frightenstein characters

Billy was a regular in the popular sketch comedy series Bizarre and the Ray Stevens Show that were both taped at CFTO.  He also was in the cast for the CBS Sonny and Cher Show which was produced by a couple of ex-pats from the CBC. And of course he was on the very popular CHCH TV game show Party Game that was on channel 11 five days a week for 11 years.

Billy had a musical group called the Billy Van Singers, they were an MOR recording act that recorded one  album.  The Billy Van Singers recorded various jingles with the Laurie Bower Singers.  They  sang the original Spiderman theme song from the 1967 cartoon series which is now a classic.
https://www.superoldies.com/featured/billyvan/billyvansingers.html

 

January 21, 2021 3:51 pm  #4


Re: Billy Van bio shows he was much more than his Frightenstein characters

It's a shame CBC or CTV never gave Billy Van his own variety or comedy sketch show in the 70s or 80s - he was a real talent and could have easily hosted and carried his own network show. 

 

January 23, 2021 6:48 am  #5


Re: Billy Van bio shows he was much more than his Frightenstein characters

I agree. He deserved his own comedy/variety show.  My fondest memory of him though will still be as the guy learning computers in Bits and Bytes (and he then graduated to being the teacher in the next season, which was a cool transition, although I did miss Luba Goy)

 

January 23, 2021 3:46 pm  #6


Re: Billy Van bio shows he was much more than his Frightenstein characters

He really should be on the Canadian Walk of Fame.


- Not an industry person.  Just a guy with a love of Toronto radio.