Ranger Hal
Encyclopedia
Washington, DC
Ranger Hal was a children's television
program that originated in Washington, DC on what was then WTOP-TV (now WUSA
) and aired from 1957 to 1969. It was hosted by Hal Shaw (1925–1999), a local television personality who created and produced the show.
Ranger Hal was a US Forest Service
Ranger who was assigned to an unnamed national forest, apparently somewhere just outside of Washington, and befriended various local animals (represented by puppets) among them Oswald or Ossie the Rabbit, Dr. Fox and Eager Beaver. While Shaw voiced all the characters, his puppeteers included some future famous names, among them Barry Levinson
and Max Robinson
. The show ended in 1969 and Shaw was promoted to WTOP management. In 1978, Hal Shaw suffered from a brain aneurysm
that forced him into permanent disability. In 1985, the Forest Service made him an honorary Ranger. He retired to his farm near Great Falls, Virginia where he died from cancer in 1999.
Jacksonville, Florida.
The Ranger Hal Show ran on WJXT
, Channel 4 in Jacksonville, Florida
, from 1958 through 1969, starring Henry Baranek (stage name Henry Baran) (1927–1979). It was a morning show for youngsters and was popular with all age groups. WJXT was owned by the Washington Post. The Post also owned WTOP-TV (Channel 9) in Washington DC, where Ranger Hal had started. The show was so popular in Washington that WJXT brought the idea to Jacksonville. Ranger Hal caught on quickly in Jacksonville and was a strong hit for over ten years.
Ranger Hal was a children's television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
program that originated in Washington, DC on what was then WTOP-TV (now WUSA
WUSA (TV)
WUSA is a television station broadcasting on channel 9 in Washington, D.C.. Owned by the Gannett Company, WUSA is an affiliate of the CBS television network, and the longest-tenured affiliate of that network...
) and aired from 1957 to 1969. It was hosted by Hal Shaw (1925–1999), a local television personality who created and produced the show.
Ranger Hal was a US Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
Ranger who was assigned to an unnamed national forest, apparently somewhere just outside of Washington, and befriended various local animals (represented by puppets) among them Oswald or Ossie the Rabbit, Dr. Fox and Eager Beaver. While Shaw voiced all the characters, his puppeteers included some future famous names, among them Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson is an American screenwriter, film director, actor, and producer of film and television. His films include Good Morning, Vietnam, Sleepers and Rain Man.-Early life:...
and Max Robinson
Max Robinson
Max Robinson was an American broadcast journalist, and ABC News World News Tonight co-anchor. He was the first African American broadcast network news anchor in the United States and one of the first television journalists to die of AIDS...
. The show ended in 1969 and Shaw was promoted to WTOP management. In 1978, Hal Shaw suffered from a brain aneurysm
Cerebral aneurysm
A cerebral or brain aneurysm is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel.- Signs and symptoms :...
that forced him into permanent disability. In 1985, the Forest Service made him an honorary Ranger. He retired to his farm near Great Falls, Virginia where he died from cancer in 1999.
Jacksonville, Florida.
The Ranger Hal Show ran on WJXT
WJXT
WJXT, channel 4 , is an independent television station serving Jacksonville, Florida, and surrounding communities. Its transmitter is in the Kilarney Shores section of Jacksonville, with the WTLV transmitter. The station originally broadcast an analog signal on VHF channel 4 and a digital signal...
, Channel 4 in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, from 1958 through 1969, starring Henry Baranek (stage name Henry Baran) (1927–1979). It was a morning show for youngsters and was popular with all age groups. WJXT was owned by the Washington Post. The Post also owned WTOP-TV (Channel 9) in Washington DC, where Ranger Hal had started. The show was so popular in Washington that WJXT brought the idea to Jacksonville. Ranger Hal caught on quickly in Jacksonville and was a strong hit for over ten years.