About
"I finally got the call,'we're going on the air November 1st' (1948). I said, 'OK, when do we rehearse, when do we get on camera?' He said, 'we'll let you know.' As it turned out, we went on the air November 1st with two shows. We had never been on-camera. We had only entered and looked at the studio once, and we were on television. That could never happen in any day's world but then."
In his five-hour interview, Hal Cooper (1923-2014) talks about breaking into TV at the DuMont network following his service in World War II. He discusses DuMont children's programs Television Baby Sitter and The Magic Cottage, and talks about his work directing 1950s soap operas, including Search for Tomorrow and Portia Faces Life. He details his work as an associate producer/director of Gilligan's Island and his long tenure on I Dream of Jeannie. Cooper also recounts his time directing Gidget, That Girl, Mayberry R.F.D., Death Valley Days, and The Courtship of Eddie's Father. He speaks extensively about the groundbreaking 1970s sitcom Maude, on which he served as an executive producer and director. He also talks of directing 1970s shows The Brady Bunch, Free Country, and The Odd Couple. Cooper then discusses his later efforts on series Love, Sidney; Gimme a Break; and Dear John. Karen Herman conducted the interview on December 11, 2003 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Hal Cooper on his first television jobs directing Your School Reporter and Magic Cottage for DuMont
Hal Cooper on working with Sidney Sheldon on I Dream of Jeannie
Hal Cooper on acting with Milton Berle as a guest star on I Dream of Jeannie
Hal Cooper on how he viewed his work
Hal Cooper on advice for aspiring television directors
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early childhood and influences; on his time as a child performer and director on radio; on his service in Wold War II
On creating and directing the early series Your High School Reporter, TV Babysitter and Magic Cottage for the DuMont Network
Chapter 2
On creating and writing Magic Cottage; on working at the DuMont studio; on acting with Jack Palance on The Plainclothesman
On directing Search For Tomorrow; on directing Patty Duke and Mary Stuart on Search For Tomorrow
Chapter 3
On producing Portia Faces Life; on relocating from New York to Los Angeles; on playing a bailiff on various court shows; on directing the game show Your Surprise Package
On the Hollywood Blacklist; on being hired by Sheldon Leonard to direct The Dick Van Dyke Show
Chapter 4
On directing I Spy; on directing Death Valley Days
On casting and directing Gilligan's Island; on how he came to direct I Dream of Jeannie
Chapter 5
On working with Sidney Sheldon on I Dream of Jeannie; on directing the "magic" in I Dream of Jeannie; on the cast of the show; on censorship issues in his career
On various guest stars and the longevity of I Dream of Jeannie; on directing Hazel, Gidget, The Flying Nun, My World and Welcome To It and Insight
Chapter 6
On directing Insight; on directing That Girl
On directing Mayberry R.F.D.; on directing The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Chapter 7
On directing The Brady Bunch; on directing The Odd Couple; on directing Love, American Style, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and All in the Family
On directing Maude; on the cast of Maude and the Maude spinoff Good Times
Chapter 8
On the cast of Maude; on the talent of Beatrice Arthur; on the Maude episode "Maude Bares Her Soul"
On specific episodes of Maude
Chapter 9
On network interference on Maude; on becoming executive producer of the show and why it was cancelled; on directing Sanford and Son and One Day at a Time
On directing various other Norman Lear shows - A Year at the Top and The Nancy Walker Show; on directing Rob Reiner in Free Country; on directing Love, Sidney
Chapter 10
On directing Love, Sidney; on directing Gimme a Break!; on directing Empty Nest
On directing Dear John; on directing The Powers That Be; on directing Bob
Chapter 11
On his decision to retire; on advice for aspiring directors and the importance of rehearsing; on highlights and challenges in his career
On B-Roll photos from his career: with Marlo Thomas; with Larry Hagman and Barbara Eden; with Bill Bixby and Brandon Cruz; with the cast of Maude; with Helen Hays; with Sammy Davis, Jr.; on the set of The Brady Bunch; with partner Rod Parker
Shows
All in the Family
Hal Cooper on directing two episodes of All in the Family; on differing with director/producer John Rich
Bob
Hal Cooper on directing Bob
Brady Bunch, The
Hal Cooper on directing "Jan's Aunt Jenny" and "Law and Disorder" episodes of The Brady Bunch
Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Hal Cooper on working in the DuMont studio
Courtship of Eddie's Father, The
Hal Cooper on directing The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Dear John ...
Hal Cooper on directing Dear John
Death Valley Days
Hal Cooper on directing Death Valley Days
Hal Cooper on how he came to direct Death Valley Days
Hal Cooper on shooting Death Valley Days
Hal Cooper on directing Robert Taylor in Death Valley Days
Dick Van Dyke Show, The
Hal Cooper on being hired by Sheldon Leonard to direct two episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Divorce Court
Hal Cooper on playing a bailiff on Divorce Court and Juvenile Court
Empty Nest
Hal Cooper on directing Empty Nest
Flying Nun, The
Hal Cooper on directing Gidget and The Flying Nun
For Better or Worse
Hal Cooper on producing and directing For Better or Worse
Free Country
Hal Cooper on directing Free Country
Gidget
Hal Cooper on directing Gidget and The Flying Nun
Gilligan's Island
Hal Cooper on casting Gilligan's Island and directing two episodes
Gimme A Break!
Hal Cooper on directing Gimme a Break!
Good Times
Hal Cooper on the Maude spinoff Good Times
Hazel
Hal Cooper on directing Hazel
I Dream of Jeannie
Hal Cooper on how he came to direct I Dream of Jeannie
Hal Cooper on working with Sidney Sheldon on I Dream of Jeannie
Hal Cooper on directing the "magic" in I Dream of Jeannie
Hal Cooper on directing Barbara Eden in I Dream of Jeannie
Hal Cooper on directing Larry Hagman on I Dream of Jeannie
Hal Cooper on directing Bill Daily on I Dream of Jeannie
Hal Cooper on censorship issues on I Dream of Jeannie and in his career
Hal Cooper on censorship issues on I Dream of Jeannie and in his career
Hal Cooper on directing Groucho Marx as a guest star on I Dream of Jeannie
Hal Cooper on the decision to have "Jeannie" and "Tony Nelson" get married on I Dream of Jeannie
Hal Cooper on the longevity of I Dream of Jeannie
I Spy
Hal Cooper on directing an episode of I Spy
Insight
Hal Cooper on directing Insight
Hal Cooper on directing Insight
Love, American Style
Hal Cooper on directing episodes of Love, American Style (including one with Burgess Meredith); on his surprise that some of his work has continued to be memorable to others
Love, Sidney
Hal Cooper on directing Love, Sidney
Hal Cooper on directing Love, Sidney
Magic Cottage
Hal Cooper on his first television jobs creating and directing Your School Reporter, TV Babysitter, and Magic Cottage for DuMont
Hal Cooper on creating and writing Magic Cottage
Hal Cooper on working in the DuMont studio
Mary Tyler Moore Show, The
Hal Cooper on directing episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show including "The Good Time News"
Maude
Hal Cooper on being hired to direct Maude; on the first episode he directed; on the creative atmosphere
Hal Cooper on the concept of the series and directing Maude; on the Maude spinoff Good Times
Hal Cooper on directing Maude
Hal Cooper on Maude's funniest moment
Hal Cooper on directing the Maude episode "Maude Bares Her Soul"
Hal Cooper on directing the Maude episode "Maude's Dilemma, Part II"
Hal Cooper on directing the Maude episode "Life of the Party"
Hal Cooper on directing the Maude episode "Walter's Heart Attack"
Hal Cooper on network interference on Maude
Hal Cooper on becoming an executive producer on Maude
Hal Cooper on why Maude was cancelled
Mayberry R.F.D.
Hal Cooper on directing Mayberry R.F.D.
My World ... and Welcome to it
Hal Cooper on directing My World and Welcome to It
Nancy Walker Show, The
Hal Cooper on directing various other Norman Lear shows - A Year at the Top and The Nancy Walker Show
Odd Couple, The (1970-75)
Hal Cooper on directing episodes of The Odd Couple; on the show going from single-camera to multi-camera
Hal Cooper on working with Tony Randall on The Odd Couple
One Day at a Time (1975-84)
Hal Cooper on directing the pilot for One Day at a Time
Plainclothesman, The
Hal Cooper on almost getting killed by Jack Palance on The Plainclothesman
Portia Faces Life
Hal Cooper on producing Portia Faces Life
Powers That Be, The
Hal Cooper on directing The Powers That Be
Sanford and Son
Hal Cooper on directing Sanford and Son
Search For Tomorrow
Hal Cooper on how he came to direct Search For Tomorrow
Hal Cooper on a typical production week for Search For Tomorrow
Hal Cooper on working with Patty Duke on Search For Tomorrow
Hal Cooper on working with Mary Stuart on Search For Tomorrow
Hal Cooper on directing a scene from Search for Tomorrow
That Girl
Hal Cooper on directing Marlo Thomas on That Girl
Hal Cooper on directing Ted Bessell on That Girl
Hal Cooper on directing the That Girl episode "This Little Piggy Had A Ball"
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Hal Cooper on Allan Sherman insisting Bill Cosby be a guest on The Tonight Show
Year at the Top, A
Hal Cooper on directing various other Norman Lear shows - A Year at the Top and The Nancy Walker Show
Your School Reporter
Hal Cooper on his first television jobs creating and directing Your School Reporter, TV Babysitter, and Magic Cottage for DuMont
Your Surprise Package
Hal Cooper on directing Your Surprise Package for Allan Sherman
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Hal Cooper on censorship issues on I Dream of Jeannie and in his career
Characters & Catchphrases
Hal Cooper on directing Beatrice Arthur as "Maude Findlay" on Maude
Comedy
Hal Cooper on Maude's funniest moment
Hollywood Blacklist
Hal Cooper on the Hollywood Blacklist
LGBTQIA+
Hal Cooper on directing Love, Sidney
Memorable Moments on Television
Hal Cooper on Allan Sherman insisting Bill Cosby be a guest on the Tonight show
Hal Cooper on directing the Maude episode "Maude's Dilemma, Part II"
Pop Culture
Hal Cooper on Maude's funniest moment
Hal Cooper on directing Beatrice Arthur as "Maude Findlay" on Maude
Representation on Television
Hal Cooper on directing Love, Sidney
Television Industry
Hal Cooper on censorship issues on I Dream of Jeannie and in his career
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Hal Cooper on his first television jobs creating and directing Your School Reporter, TV Babysitter, and The Magic Cottage for DuMont
We Considered
Hal Cooper on directing the Maude episode "Maude's Dilemma, Part II"
We Laughed
Hal Cooper on Allan Sherman insisting Bill Cosby be a guest on the Tonight show
Professions
Directors
Hal Cooper on a typical production week on Search For Tomorrow
Hal Cooper on working as a director in the DuMont studio
Hal Cooper on directing the Maude episode "Maude Bares Her Soul"
Hal Cooper on directing Bob
Hal Cooper on the importance of rehearsing
Hal Cooper on advice for aspiring television directors
Genres
Comedy Series
Hal Cooper on being hired by Sheldon Leonard to direct two episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Hal Cooper on casting Gilligan's Island and directing two episodes
Hal Cooper on directing I Dream of Jeannie
Hal Cooper on directing That Girl
Hal Cooper on directing Mayberry R.F.D.
Hal Cooper on directing The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Hal Cooper on directing Maude
Hal Cooper on directing Maude
Hal Cooper on directing Maude (continued)
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Hal Cooper on directing Search For Tomorrow
Western Series
Hal Cooper on directing Death Valley Days
People
John Amos
Maude director Hal Cooper on the Maude spinoff Good Times
Beatrice Arthur
Hal Cooper on directing Beatrice Arthur as "Maude Findlay" on Maude
Hal Cooper on directing the Maude episode "Maude Bares Her Soul"
Hermione Baddeley
Hal Cooper on directing Hermione Baddeley as "Mrs. Naugatuck" on Maude
Adrienne Barbeau
Hal Cooper on the concept of the series and directing Maude; on the Maude spinoff Good Times
Ted Bergmann
Hal Cooper on Allen B. Du Mont and Ted Bergmann
Milton Berle
Hal Cooper on acting with Milton Berle as a guest star on I Dream of Jeannie
Ken Berry
Hal Cooper on directing Mayberry R.F.D.
Ted Bessell
Hal Cooper on directing Ted Bessell on That Girl
Bill Bixby
Hal Cooper on directing The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Shirley Booth
Hal Cooper on directing Hazel
Sid Caesar
Hal Cooper on directing Sid Caesar as a guest star on That Girl
Nell Carter
Hal Cooper on directing Gimme a Break!
Bill Cosby
Hal Cooper on Allan Sherman insisting Bill Cosby be a guest on The Tonight Show
Brandon Cruz
Hal Cooper on directing The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Bill Daily
Hal Cooper on directing Bill Daily on I Dream of Jeannie
Bob Denver
Hal Cooper on casting Gilligan's Island and directing two episodes
Patty Duke
Hal Cooper on working with Patty Duke on Search For Tomorrow
Allen B. DuMont
Hal Cooper on Allen B. Du Mont and Ted Bergmann
Barbara Eden
Hal Cooper on directing Barbara Eden on I Dream of Jeannie
Sally Field
Hal Cooper on directing Gidget and The Flying Nun
Jodie Foster
Hal Cooper on directing Mayberry R.F.D.
Redd Foxx
Hal Cooper on directing Sanford and Son
Lee Grant
Hal Cooper on the Hollywood Blacklist
Larry Hagman
Hal Cooper on directing Larry Hagman on I Dream of Jeannie
Helen Hayes
Hal Cooper on directing Love, Sydney
Alan Hale, Jr.
Hal Cooper on casting Gilligan's Island and directing two episodes
Pert Kelton
Hal Cooper on the Hollywood Blacklist
James Komack
Hal Cooper on directing The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Norman Lear
Hal Cooper on being hired to direct Maude; on the first episode he directed; on the creative atmosphere
Hal Cooper on Norman Lear's extraordinary ability to cast actors
Sheldon Leonard
Hal Cooper on being hired by Sheldon Leonard to direct two episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Hal Cooper on directing an episode of I Spy
Tina Louise
Hal Cooper on casting Gilligan's Island and directing two episodes
Bill Macy
Hal Cooper on the concept of the series and directing Maude; on the Maude spinoff Good Times
Garry Marshall
Hal Cooper on directing episodes of The Odd Couple; on the show going from single-camera to multi-camera
Groucho Marx
Hal Cooper on directing Groucho Marx as a guest star on I Dream of Jeannie
Rue McClanahan
Hal Cooper on directing Rue McClanahan as "Vivian Harmon" on Maude
Pat Meikle
Hal Cooper on his first television jobs creating and directing Your School Reporter, TV Babysitter, and The Magic Cottage for DuMont
Hal Cooper on creating and writing Magic Cottage
Bob Newhart
Hal Cooper on directing Bob
Jack Palance
Hal Cooper on almost getting killed by Jack Palance on The Plainclothesman
Tony Randall
Hal Cooper on working with Tony Randall on The Odd Couple
Hal Cooper on directing Love, Sydney
Hal Cooper on directing Love, Sidney
Robert Reed
Hal Cooper on directing "Jan's Aunt Jenny" and "Law and Disorder" episodes of The Brady Bunch
Rob Reiner
Hal Cooper on directing Free Country
John Rich
Hal Cooper on directing two episodes of All in the Family; on differing with director/producer John Rich
Esther Rolle
Maude director Hal Cooper on the Maude spinoff Good Times
Sherwood Schwartz
Hal Cooper on casting Gilligan's Island and directing two episodes
Sidney Sheldon
Hal Cooper on working with Sidney Sheldon on I Dream of Jeannie
Allan Sherman
Hal Cooper on directing Your Surprise Package for Allan Sherman
Hal Cooper on Allan Sherman insisting Bill Cosby be a guest on The Tonight Show
O. J. Simpson
Hal Cooper on directing Gidget and The Flying Nun
Mary Stuart
Hal Cooper on working with Mary Stuart on Search For Tomorrow
Robert Taylor
Hal Cooper on directing Robert Taylor in Death Valley Days
Marlo Thomas
Hal Cooper on directing Marlo Thomas on That Girl