Bobby Van was born as Robert Jack Stein in the Bronx, New York.

I briefly got my paws on a copy of a 1971 Playbill for the Broadway musical, No, No, Nanette, which was originally produced in 1925. I’m not a world-class musicals expert, so my very limited knowledge of the show is that it may (or may not) have been the production that theater producer/Red Sox owner Harry Frazee financed by selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees. (Recent evidence suggests that it was an earlier non-musical version of the show that was indeed responsible for the Curse of the Bambino.)

The musical comedy, set in Atlantic City, was created by Irving Caesar, Otto Harbach and Vincent Youmans. It may be best known today for introducing the song “Tea for Two.” The 1971 staging featured the talents of Ruby Keeler, Jack Gilford and Bobby Van. Van was apparently known to most Americans as an amicable guy who hosted and guested on game shows, but theater was his passion. He sadly died in 1980 at age 51 from brain cancer. Here’s an excerpt about him from the Playbill:

“Bobby Van says he ‘never took a dance lesson in my life.’ Both his father and his mother were performers who worked regularly in vaudeville; so young Bobby learned all facets of the performing arts at an early age–so early, in fact, that he was doing a comedy act at 16. To comedy he added singing and dancing which later became his forte. An offer from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lured him to the film capital where he appeared in such films as Kiss Me Kate, Small Town Girl, Because Your Mine and The Affairs of Dobie Gillis in which he played the title character. He is no stranger to TV, appearing as a guest on all the major musical variety shows. He will soon be seen in the Universal film The Last Flight, in which he co-stars with Lloyd Bridges. Mr. Van is married to the very attractive actress Elaine Joyce, regularly seen on the Don Knotts weekly NBC-TV series. Mr. Van received a nomination for a Tony Award for his role in No, No, Nanette. Bobby’s ambition is stay on the Broadway stage forever.”

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Bobby Van hosting Make Me Laugh in 1978, with special guest Frank Zappa.