Harry M. Miller
Harry Maurice Miller (born 6 January 1934) is an Australian promoter, publicist and media agent.
Early career
Born in New Zealand, Miller grew up in Grey Lynn, Auckland, and moved to Australia in 1963, where he established a company called Pan Pacific Productions with Keith and Dennis Wong, owners of the noted Sydney nightclub "Chequers". During the 1960s, Pan Pacific promoted many concert and theatrical tours of Australia and New Zealand, including Louis Armstrong, Arthur Rubinstein, Herman's Hermits[1] The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys.[2] During the mid-1960s Pan Pacific was locked in a fierce competition in the pop tour market with rival promoter Aztec Services Ltd, headed by veteran promoter Kenn Brodziak, but by the late 1960s Miller and Brodziak had become friends and colleagues and subsequently collaborated on many concert and theatrical promotions.
In 1969, Miller discovered 16-year-old American singer Marcia Hines in Boston, Massachusetts, while casting African-American performers for the Australian stage version of Hair, which he was producing. Hines flew to Australia, unaware that she was already six months pregnant, and Miller acted as her legal guardian in Australia until she turned 21.[3] Miller went on to produce the acclaimed and highly successful Australian productions of Jesus Christ Superstar in 1972 and The Rocky Horror Show in 1974, both of which used many of the production staff from Hair.
In 1970, Miller joined the council of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and was elected chairman of the gallery's society after his opponent for the position, art patron Mervyn Horton was filmed by the ABC commenting on Miller's Jewish background. As chairman, Miller was instrumental in revitalising the gallery from an austere, staid Sydney institution to a modern, welcoming venue.[4]
Computicket and fraud charges
In 1978, Miller started a ticketing company called Computicket, which went into receivership within six months. On 30 April 1982, Miller was found guilty of fraud which led to the collapse of the company, and he served ten months in prison at Long Bay and Cessnock Correctional Centres.[5]
Celebrity agent and manager
Miller is the founder and director of the Harry M. Miller Group, based in Sydney. He has a varied client base, representing a number of well-known figures in Australia including:
- Lindy Chamberlain, whose daughter Azaria was taken by a dingo
- all contestants for some months after their eviction from Big Brother
- Judy Moran, wife of slain Melbourne underworld figure Lewis Moran[6]
- Gai Waterhouse, horse racing trainer
Miller gives advice and manages all communication, negotiations and media attention surrounding an individual or company that finds themselves under intense public spotlight, for example, Stuart Diver, the only survivor of the 1997 Thredbo landslide.
References
- ↑ HERMAN'S HERMITS - Hilton Show" - LIVE 1966
- ↑ Papers of Harry Maurice Miller, National Library of Australia
- ↑ Profile: Marcia Hines, George Negus Tonight (ABC), 14 October 2004.
- ↑ Meacham, Steve: Hang the expense, The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 May 2003.
- ↑ Timeline: The 1980s, Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ↑ Judy Moran signs with Harry M Miller, The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 April 2004.
External links
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