Harry M. Miller
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Harry Maurice Miller (born 6 January 1934) is an Australian promoter and publicist.
Contents |
[edit] Early career
Born in Sydney, Australia, Miller moved to Australia in 1963, where he established a company called Pan Pacific Productions with two Sydney nightclub owners. During the 1960s, Miller promoted many concert and theatre tours of Australia and New Zealand, including Louis Armstrong, Artur Rubinstein, The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys.[1]
In 1969, Miller discovered 16-year-old American singer Marcia Hines in Boston, Massachusetts and cast her in 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.[2] 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.[3]
[edit] 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 lead to the collapse of the company, and he served ten months in prison at Long Bay and Cessnock Correctional Centres.[4]
[edit] 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
- Schapelle Corby, convicted of drug smuggling in Bali[5]
- Alan Jones, radio host, over the cash for comment affair[6]
- Michelle Leslie, former model
- Judy Moran, wife of slain Melbourne underworld figure Lewis Moran[7]
- Gai Waterhouse, horse racing trainer
- Gough Whitlam, former Prime Minister of Australia
Miller often represents people selling big stories to the media in Australia, for example, Stuart Diver, the only survivor of the 1997 Thredbo landslide.
[edit] References
- ^ 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.
- ^ Enter Harry M, stage left, The Sydney Morning Herald, June 21, 2005.
- ^ Harry M. Miller, Enough Rope with Andrew Denton, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 30 October 2006.
- ^ Judy Moran signs with Harry M Miller, The Sydney Morning Herald, April 12, 2004.
