The majority of the Hal Cooper Papers consists of scripts for television shows that he directed and sometimes produced. The scripts are divided into two series, Scripts and Production Notes and Bound Scripts and Production Notes. The two series have similar content but have been divided due to the different format. The rest of the collection is material related to these shows, as well as to Hal Cooper's early career and the career of his first wife, Pat Meikle.
Hal Cooper was born February 23, 1923, in New York, NY. His father was Benjamin Cooper, a Polish coffee broker, and his mother was Adeline Rachimove Cooper. He began his career as a child actor in radio soap operas in 1932. He then starred in Big Brother's Rainbow House from 1936 to 1940. He enrolled at the University of Michigan theater department in 1940, while continuing his radio career in the Lone Ranger for WXYZ in Detroit. His education was interrupted by military service in WWII from 1943 to 1946. He was a lieutenant (junior grade) in the United States Naval Reserve, Pacific Theater of Operations. He then returned to the University of Michigan and graduated with a B.A. in 1946.
Hal Cooper met his wife, Pat (Mary Patricia) Meikle, at the University of Michigan. They were married December 21, 1944 and had two children, Bethami and Pamela. After graduation, they worked in the Dock St. Theater Company in Charleston, SC, where he was assistant director from 1946 to 1948. They then moved to New York City and became involved in the fledgling television industry, working for the DuMont station. Hal Cooper developed, wrote, produced and acted in three children's television shows: Your School Reporter (1948-52),Your Television Babysitter (1948-52) and The Magic Cottage (1950-56), all starring Pat Meikle. He also directed and produced many daytime shows from 1950 to 1957, includingSearch for Tomorrow, the first successful soap opera, andKitty Foyle.
When the focus of the television industry shifted to the West Coast, Hal Cooper moved there as well, taking a job directing a soap opera in 1958. He was then able to become a director of nightime television, considered more prestigious, starting with the Dick Van Dyke Show (1962) and Death Valley Days (1965-67). Hal Cooper was interested in being more exclusively involved with television comedy. He became one of the regular directors for the well-loved and long-running comedy, I Dream of Jeannie (1965-69) and spent the rest of his career as a director and producer of television comedy. Hal Cooper also appeared as a guest actor on I Dream of Jeannie in "The Second Greatest Con Artist in the World," 1967, Mayberry RFD in "Goober and the Telephone Girl," 1969 and The Courtship of Eddie's Father in "The Encounter Group," 1971 and "The Investors," 1972.
Hal Cooper is best known for his work as director and executive producer of Maude (1972-78). He was also executive producer and director of Phyl and Mikhy (1980), Love, Sidney (1982-83), Gimme a Break (1983-87) and Empty Nest (1988-89). He was involved in the development of numerous pilots in the 1970's and 1980's. His last project was as a director for Something So Right (1996).
Hal Cooper divorced Pat Meikle in 1970. He married Marta Lucille Salcido, an actress, on June 26, 1971. They had a son, James Benjamin Cooper, in 1972.
Hal Cooper is a member of the Writers Guild of America, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of TV and Radio Artists, the Actors' Equity Association and the Directors Guild of America. He received three Emmy nominations and four Directors Guild Nominations for best comedy director forMaude.
