Century-old silent film made in New Hampshire found in Japan antique shop
Summary
A silent comedy film from 1919 made in New Hampshire was recently found in an antique shop in Japan. The film, called Van-ar-chy and starring entertainer Billy B Van, will be shown in New Hampshire in November as part of a historical event.Key Facts
- Van-ar-chy is a silent comedy film made in 1919 in Newport and Sunapee, New Hampshire.
- It was rediscovered by Kohei Okita, a film student in Sendai, Japan, while buying old film reels.
- John Tariot, an archivist of Billy B Van’s work, confirmed the film’s origin and significance.
- Billy B Van was a performer turned filmmaker who opened a studio in Georges Mills, New Hampshire.
- The film shows scenes of local streets, buildings, and people from the area in 1919.
- Van-ar-chy will be shown on November 1 at the Newport Opera House along with another rediscovered Van comedy.
- Some of Billy B Van’s films remain missing and may still exist in unknown archives or private collections.
- The rediscovery helps preserve early American silent films and local history.
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