DiscoverOur American StoriesMerian C. Cooper Went to War Before He Brought King Kong to Life
Merian C. Cooper Went to War Before He Brought King Kong to Life

Merian C. Cooper Went to War Before He Brought King Kong to Life

Update: 2025-09-04
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On this episode of Our American Stories, Merian C. Cooper never settled for an ordinary life. Before he created King Kong, he was chasing stories as a journalist, flying combat missions in two world wars, and helping to shape the rise of the American movie industry. By the time audiences watched a giant gorilla climb the Empire State Building in 1933, Cooper had already lived through adventures as thrilling as any he put on film. As part of our ongoing Hollywood Goes to War series, Roger McGrath shares the story of the pilot, producer, and dreamer whose life blurred the line between classic adventure movies and history itself.

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Merian C. Cooper Went to War Before He Brought King Kong to Life

Merian C. Cooper Went to War Before He Brought King Kong to Life

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