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FeedJul 18, 201102:58 PM
Remembering "Happy Hal" Miller
If you don't remember Happy Hal, then you didn't grow up in Memphis in the 1950s, '60s, or even '70s. Because that's how long he was the "King of Toys" in our town. In fact, the photo here shows him in a typical role — showing off the latest gadgets for a bunch of children. In this case, it was something called a "spud gun," which you operated by cramming the barrel into a potato (yes, a potato) and when you pulled the trigger, it fired a pellet of mashed potato at your unsuspecting victim.
Looks like that kid on the right, in the checked coat, is about to shoot his eye out! Be careful with those spud guns, kids!
Born in 1923, Hal Miller was a remarkable gentleman. A graduate of Central High School, he studied at the New York Theater School of Dramatic Arts and earned a degree from Northwestern. When he returned to Memphis he appeared in just about every play in town. Besides acting and singing, he was also — like myself — an award-winning tap dancer.
But his big break came in 1955, when WHBQ-TV approached him about hosting a children's show called Snicker Flickers. Over the years, that program evolved into The Happy Hal Show, featuring Miller and a curious puppet he called L'il Bow, which a reporter once described as "an indistinguishable blue critter." He later told the Press-Scimitar that when he first asked the producer what the show would be, he was told, "It's not going to be about anything. It's going to be whatever you want it." Audiences obviously liked what he offered, for he stayed on the air for the next 17 years, hosting old movies, doing his puppet acts, and showing off the newest toys.
A toy store seemed like a natural step, and in the late 1950s Miller opened his first business at the corner of Bellevue and Lamar. He always claimed he was the first person to bring the Hula-Hoop to the Mid-South, and who's to argue? He moved Happy Hal's Toy Town to various locations over the next few years, eventually settling on a retail store at 1640 Union (where the Art Center is today), and a large wholesale operation at 269 Monroe (since demolished).
Miller opened another place, Happy Hal's Toys and Gifts, at 666 Beale, and lots of Memphians remember this place because it caught fire on the night of September 18, 1976. The very notion of a toy store burning down gave children here nightmares, especially so close to Christmas! But firemen quenched the blaze before too much damage was done, and Miller reopened just in time for Santa to stock up.
Miller shut down his toy operation in 1986, but never really retired. He studied painting at Memphis College of Art and became president of the Memphis-Germantown Art League, which he once said "was one of the highest honors ever bestowed upon me." He passed away in 1997, but is still remembered fondly by many people, young and old, who shopped at his toy store or — even better — got to sit in the audience during one of his TV shows.
PHOTO COURTESY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS LIBRARIES
Ask Vance is the blog of Vance Lauderdale, the award-winning columnist of Memphis magazine and MBQ: Inside Memphis Business. Vance is the author of two books: Ask Vance: The Best Questions and Answers from Memphis Magazine's History and Trivia Expert (2003), as well as Ask Vance: More Questions and Answers from Memphis Magazine's History Expert (2011). He is also the recipient of quite a few nice awards, the creator of several eye-catching wall calendars, and the only person we know with a vintage shock-treatment machine in his den. 
Oh yes!
I do remember Happy Hal. The spindel rack of toys in our local drug store was the highlight of my week as a young child. It was a connection between us poor country kids and the more affluent kids in the nearby big city of Memphis. Magic Land didn't come out to us, but Happy Hal did.
He would have been so pleased that he is still remembered.
I grew up in Jackson TN but anyone growing up in the mid south who watched Memphis TV saw Happy Hal. Did you know that Happy Hal had a lot of his toys made my Tigrett toys in Jackson. Yep that Tigrett of Glub Glub duck fame and father of John who was a co-founder of the Hard Rock Cafe and the House of Blues.
I remember seeing him more than once refilling the toy rack in my local drug store.
I remember Happy Hal
but wasn't there another guy Trent Wood that did some children shows too?
excuse me for the correction. john tigrett did NOT start hard rock or the house of blues. john was found dead in a tent on a beach in mexico in 1968. his younger brother ISAAC founded the aforementioned establishments. isaac was the twin brother of hewitt tigrett who died in a sand dune cave-in near scottsdale, az in 1958. they were my friends. just want to set the record straight.
excuse me for the correction. john tigrett did NOT start hard rock or the house of blues. john was found dead in a tent on a beach in mexico in 1968. his younger brother ISAAC founded the aforementioned establishments. isaac was the twin brother of hewitt tigrett who died in a sand dune cave-in near scottsdale, az in 1958. they were my friends. just want to set the record straight.
btw...isaac's partner in the original london hard rock was peter morton who ultimately started mortons on melrose in la and the entire hard rock casino chain. isaac's father, john burton, financed the effort with sir james goldsmith. when the tigrett/morton team decided to come to america, they agreed to divide the nation east and west by who established the first location east or west of the mississippi river. isacc established the first hard rock in america in the old hickory mall in jackson which was owned in part by his mother frances. and thats how big deals get done.
I remember the dash for toys in his toy store at Christmas time. As far as Tigrett, if we build a Pyramid, will he put a hard rock cafe in it, or will it sit empty?
Always takes me back to fond memories when I read articles about Happy Hal and, of course, Lil Bow. I would love to see a street or park named in his honor. Any suggestions on how to go about it?