Mr. Hooper in his store.

Harold Hooper (known almost universally as just Mr. Hooper) was a character on Sesame Street, played by Will Lee, who was the original proprietor of Mr. Hooper's Store, which still retains his name. Old publicity picture of Mr. ... Old publicity picture of Mr. ... Sesame Street is an American educational childrens television series for preschoolers and is a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard, combining both education and entertainment. ... Will Lee (born August 6, 1908 in New York City, New York; died December 6, 1982 in New York) was an American actor who was best known for his role as Mr. ... Mr. ...

Biography

Mr. Hooper is Jewish, according to Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. In true Sesame Street fashion, his religion was irrelevant to all other plots, as characters' differences are generally irrelevant to plot. However, his heritage was suggested in an episode in which Big Bird inquires about the languages that various members of the community can speak. Mr. Hooper reveals that he was taught to read, write and speak Yiddish at after-school religious instruction. This article describes some ethnic, historic, and cultural aspects of the Jewish identity; for a consideration of the Jewish religion, refer to the article Judaism. ... Christmas Eve on Sesame Street scene with Oscar (in garbage can) and Big Bird at the 86th Street station Christmas Eve on Sesame Street is a Sesame Street Christmas special first broadcast in 1979. ... Big Bird finds Ernie in a game of Journey to Ernie. ... Yiddish (ייִדיש, Jiddisch) is a Germanic language spoken by about four million Jews throughout the world. ... Various religious symbols Religion is a system of social coherence based on a common group of beliefs or attitudes concerning an object, person, unseen being, or system of thought considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine or highest truth, and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions, traditions, and rituals associated with...

For some reason that was never really explained, Big Bird had trouble saying "Hooper", instead using various words that rhymed with it, such as "Looper" or "Crouper". This led to frequent retorts of "Hooper! Hooper!" from Mr. Hooper whenever Big Bird mispronounced his surname. Big Bird finds Ernie in a game of Journey to Ernie. ...

His first name was revealed on the March 15, 1976 episode (#871). The name was shown on his GED, which he had just earned. But the woman announcing the names goofed, just as Big Bird would have, identifying him as "Harold Cooper." March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (75th in Leap years). ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... The GED, General Educational Development, or General Equivalence Degree Test, is a test that certifies the taker has attained American or Canadian high school-level academic skills. ...

Death of Mr. Hooper

When Lee suddenly died of a heart attack in 1982, it left the producers of Sesame Street, the Children's Television Workshop, with questions about how to acknowledge the death of one of the series' most visible actors. After considering a number of options, CTW decided to have the character of Mr. Hooper pass away as well, and use the episode to teach its young viewers about death. A myocardial infarction occurs when an atherosclerotic plaque slowly builds up in the inner lining of a coronary artery and then suddenly ruptures, totally occluding the artery and preventing blood flow downstream. ... Sesame Workshop, formerly known as the Childrens Television Workshop (or CTW), is a non-profit organization behind the production of several educational childrens programs that have run on public broadcasting around the world (including PBS in the United States), as well as Noggin. ...

The "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" episode aired November 24, 1983 (Thanksgiving Day), and was quickly selected by the Daytime Emmys as being one of the 10 most influential moments in daytime television. November 24 is the 328th day (329th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in much of North America, generally observed as an expression of gratitude, usually to God. ... The Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York- based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming. ...

Early in the episode, Big Bird — one of the starring Muppet characters in the series, with an innocence that identifies him as childlike to the show's young viewers — makes a silly entrance onto the set, walking backwards with his head between his legs. When Gordon asks why he is walking like that, Big Bird gives the childishly inscrutable reason, "Because. Just because." Big Bird finds Ernie in a game of Journey to Ernie. ... John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together The Muppets are a group of puppets and costume characters created by Jim Henson and the company he created. ...

Later in the episode, Big Bird presents each adult on the show with a gift — a drawing he has made of each of them. The last drawing he has is of Mr. Hooper, and Big Bird is eager to give it to him. When Big Bird asks his adult friends to help find Mr. Hooper, they gently remind Big Bird that Mr. Hooper has died. Not understanding, Big Bird announces he will just wait for him to come back.

The adults pause, looking uncomfortable and sad. They then tearfully explain that when someone dies, they don't come back. Big Bird is dismayed, and the adults (all genuinely emotional) comfort him, explaining that they were lucky to have known and loved Mr. Hooper, and that they will always have their memories of him. It will never be the same without him, they say, but they will all help take care of Big Bird and life will continue.

Big Bird demands to know why Mr. Hooper had to die, and no one has a ready answer. Finally Gordon figures out what to say: "Because. Just because." This is perhaps the only answer that could make sense to Big Bird, at least for now, and he sadly accepts it. He then — as he constantly has throughout the years — humorously mispronounces Mr. Hooper's name once again, even in death ("Mr. Looper"), and the adults and Big Bird embrace.

The episode ended with a brief montage of clips featuring Mr. Hooper from earlier seasons, along with acknowledgement of Will Lee's passing.

The episode was later made into a book called "I'll Miss You, Mr. Hooper" by Norman Stiles, et al. This page includes English translations of several Latin phrases and abbreviations such as . ...

While Mr. Hooper's death is considered by most as a landmark in children's television, this wasn't the first death in a children's program. Upon the 1973 death of George Woodbridge, who played the titular character in the British series Inigo Pipkin, the third season of the show dealt with the character's passing. The series was renamed Pipkins, to reflect the change in cast. 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Pipkins (originally Inigo Pipkin) was a British childrens TV programme. ...