My Grandfather, My Hero, "Ranger Hal" Shaw

Imagine you are being filmed "live", dressed as a forest ranger, and you must hold the attention of more than half-a-million school-age children for a full 30 minutes by conversing with puppets-- a rabbit, a fox, and a very eager beaver. Better yet, imagine you have to do this six days a week with no real operating budget and you have to produce and write the show all by yourself. That's the way it was for my Grandfather, who performed the very difficult but rewarding role of "Ranger Hal."

Let me tell you a little about my Grandfather's background.

After earning a degree in Drama from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he performed in summer touring companies with other famous actors such as Ernst Borgnine and Andy Griffith. In 1957, Harold "Hal" Shaw came to Washington, DC with a passionate desire to perform. After substituting on another kids show for the summer and becoming a role model for many children, Hal Shaw decided to create his own influential television show to educate children. He created a forest ranger character in order to help teach young children about nature and positive morals with the help of some very knowledgeable animal sidekicks. In an interview with Stephen Moore and Donn B. Murphy in 1985, Hal Shaw explained why he developed Ranger Hal. "I thought that a forest ranger stood for everything right and good and he had to know what he was doing."

It didn't take long for the show to become an instant success.

Hal Shaw was not only Ranger Hal but also the pre-recorded voice and personality of Oswald Rabbit, Dr. Fox, and Eager Beaver. The puppets were developed by the Muppets creator, Jim Hensen. The show included cartoons, short skits, and even famous guest appearances by Timmy and Lassie and Smokey Bear, which all advocated forest safety and fire prevention and imparted positive morals. The show aired at various times in the morning for a total of 13 years, running from October 1957 until February 1969. My Grandfather did not have time to rest during the weekends. Ranger Hal made local appearances at various shopping centers in the DC/metropolitan area where thousands of anxious children stood in line for hours just to see him and get his autograph.

Hal Shaw received 3 Emmy's for "Outstanding Children's Programming." Because of his popularity, Ranger Hal made guest appearances on other famous TV Shows, like the very popular western, "Gunsmoke." Ranger Hal was quite an influential role model to many children. The Washington Post cited a letter from a parent about how her child had been offered candy to take a ride in a car with a stranger. The child refused and ran away, later stating that "Ranger Hal said never to speak to strangers." My Grandfather admitted "...I still get a thrill meeting and hearing from fans... It excites me to know how much they enjoyed the program... To think that I made that much of an impression." Ranger Hal's greatest accomplishment was his ability to reach children. "I learned a great respect for children. They are true believers, and I was careful not to take advantage of their belief in me."

Want to learn more about Ranger Hal? Visit http://kidshow.dcmemories.com/hal1.html.


Gerald Owens, from CBS, wrote the following excerpt on 2/8/02:.
"I was fortunate enough to interview Ranger Hal back in 1998 (one of his last, if not THE last interview he ever gave) as part of Channel 9's 50th anniversary celebration. It was as if I'd gone back in time. When we got to his house, there he was sitting on his couch, advanced in age and illness, in the original Ranger Hal uniform. And it still fit! He was surrounded by Oswald Rabbit and the rest of his famous sidekicks. Though many of them had weathered over the years. I'm 41 now, and admit that I rarely watched the show, and hardly remember it. But it didn't matter. During the hour or so we spent with him, the vitality and charisma he showed made it abundantly clear why he was such a big hit. Here he was, dealing with a painful and unmerciful disease like cancer, yet his famous smile never left his face the entire time we were there. He was gracious with his time, answering every question with a story from the '50s and '60s that put it all in perspective. It's rare that we get to experience history first hand. I'm lucky that I have. It's one of my most memorable interviews."


In dedication to my wonderful Grandfather. You are missed.