H and J Smith: The Department Store and the TV Show Explained

If you’ve ever searched for “H and J Smith,” you might have been surprised to find two very different stories: a beloved New Zealand department store that served customers for over a century, and a classic TV western that ran for just two seasons. The surname is the same, but the histories couldn’t be more distinct, and this article separates the two, giving you the real story behind the store and the show.

Years aired (Alias Smith and Jones): 1971–1973 ·
Episodes (Alias Smith and Jones): 50 ·
Network (Alias Smith and Jones): ABC ·
Founded (H&J Smith): 1900 ·
Closed (H&J Smith): 2023 ·
Duration (H&J Smith): 123 years

The table below lays out the key dates and figures side by side, making the comparison between store and series clear at a glance.

The pattern: One entity spanned 123 years of New Zealand retail history; the other lasted just 50 episodes on American television — the only common thread is the surname.

Who are Smith and Jones?

To answer the question that many people are actually asking, “Smith and Jones” refers to two entirely different things: a New Zealand department store and a pair of fictional outlaws from a 1970s TV series. The confusion is understandable, since the store’s name is simply “H&J Smith” and the show’s title is “Alias Smith and Jones.”

The characters of the TV series

• Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry, two outlaws trying to go straight, assume the aliases “Smith and Jones” in the ABC series Alias Smith and Jones (Wikipedia: Alias Smith and Jones).
• The show was created by Roy Huggins and inspired by the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Wikipedia: Alias Smith and Jones).

Pete Duel and Ben Murphy

• Pete Duel played Hannibal Heyes (the “Smith” alias) and Ben Murphy played Kid Curry (the “Jones” alias) (Wikipedia: Alias Smith and Jones).
• Both actors were relatively unknown before the series, but their on-screen chemistry made the show a hit (IMDb: Alias Smith and Jones).

Why was Alias Smith and Jones cancelled?

The cancellation of the show is often attributed to one tragic event, but network decisions also played a role.

The death of Pete Duel

• On December 31, 1971, Pete Duel died by suicide at his home in Hollywood (Wikipedia: Pete Duel).
• The show had already filmed most of the second season, and producers replaced Duel with Roger Davis for the remaining episodes (Wikipedia: Alias Smith and Jones).

Ratings and network decisions

• Despite the cast change, the show’s ratings declined after Duel’s death (Wikipedia: Alias Smith and Jones).
• ABC cancelled the series at the end of its second season in 1973, citing lower viewership (IMDb: Trivia).

The pattern: The show’s fate was sealed by a personal tragedy, but the network’s decision reflected a broader shift in audience tastes.

Was Alias Smith and Jones based on Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?

Yes, the series was directly inspired by the 1969 film that starred Paul Newman and Robert Redford.

Inspiration from the film

• Creator Roy Hugins pitched the show as a lighthearted western about two outlaws trying to go straight, much like the film (Wikipedia: Alias Smith and Jones).
• The show even borrowed the historical figure “Sundance Kid” as a reference, though the characters were fictional (Wikipedia: Aias Smith and Jones).

Similarities and differences

• Both the film and the series feature a pair of charismatic outlaws on the run, but the show adds a comedic tone and a recurring cast of lawmen (IMDb: Plot).
• Unlike the film, which ends in tragedy, the series ends with the characters still seeking amnesty (Wikipedia: Alias Smith and Jones).

What happened to the cast of Alias Smith and Jones?

The castr’s fate after the show is a mix of tragedy and quiet success.

Pete Duel’s tragic death

• Duel’s suicide on December 31, 1971, shocked the cast and crew (Wikipedia: Pete Duel).
He was 31 years old at the time of his death (Wikipedia: Pete Duel).

• After the show, Murphy continued acting in TV series such as The Love Boat and Fantasy Island (IMDb: Ben Murphy).
• He later moved to New Zealand and retired from acting (Wikipedia: Ben Murphy).

Other cast members

• Roger Davis replaced Duel as the voice of Hannibal Heyes after Duel’s death, but the show’s chemistry was never fully restored (Wikipedia: Aias Smith and Jones).
• Supporting actors like Sally Field (guest star) and John McIntire (recurring governor) continued their careers elsewhere (IMDb: Ful Cast).

What is Ben Murphy doing now?

Ben Murphy, now in his 80s, leads a private life in New Zealand.

Retirement from acting

• Murphy’s last credited acting role was in 2003 in the TV series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (IMDb: Ben Murphy).
• He has stated in interviews that he enjoys the slower pace of life in New Zealand (Wikipedia: Ben Murphy).

Life in New Zealand

• Murphy moved to New Zealand in the 1990s and has lived in the Bay of Islands area (Wikipedia: Ben Murphy).
• He has largely avoided the public eye, making only occasional appearances at fan conventions (IMDb: Ben Murphy).

Why this matters: For fans of the show, knowing that Murphy found peace in New Zealand offers a contrast to the tragedy that ended the series.

The name “H and J Smith” carries two distinct legacies: a department store that defined retail in New Zealand’s Southland for 123 years, and a TV show that captured the imagination of a generation for two brief seasons. For anyone searching today, the confusion is a reminder that a single phrase can open doors to very different worlds. For fans of the store, the closure marks the end of an era. For fans of the show, the story lives on in reruns and memories.