Local Legends presents

Tom Hatten continues to have a long and successful career as varied and entertaining as the man himself.

Starting out life in Jamestown, North Dakota, Tom's family moved to Idaho in his early teens. During World War two, he served in the Navy. In 1947 he attended the prestigious Pasadena School of the Theater for three years (on a GI bill) where he graduated cum laude in 1949

In 1952 Tom launched his broadcasting career off the sunny shores of downtown Hollywood at KTLA studios. It was his first broadcasting job and like a lot of people in the early days of KTLA, wore many hats at the station, from commercial spokesman, staff announcer and newsman to a sailor's hat for KTLA Channel 5's afternoon kid's show, "The Popeye Show". KTLA had just acquired 300 classic Paramount Popeye cartoons and Tom Hatten began his hitch on the show. He soon became a popular and well-liked addition to our local TV family.

Most LA kids will remember that Skipper Tom Hatten's Popeye (Pier 5 club) show was held five days a week on a set that looked like a ship. The original show aired from 1956 to 1964 and featured Skipper Tom and his Squiggle game. Squiggles were impromptu drawings that Tom drew on the show for the kids in the studio and at home. Starting with asking his young guests to squiggle something on his sketch board, he would magically create a finished picture (usually of a Popeye character). He probably was responsible for inspiring many a youngster to investigate their creative sides. (In a KTLA interview a year before his tragic death, Phil Hartman told KTLA viewers that the art segments on Tom's show may have been something that influenced him towards his first career as an artist.) Sketching and cartooning are just a few of Tom Hatten's many talents.

Tom showed Max Fleishcher's classic Popeye cartoons and he is considered an authority on the subject. Between cartoons, Tom entertained his viewers with his quick and humorous on-air sketches. Tom was a three-time Emmy nominee for this show. In recalling the demise of the first show Tom said, "Rock-and-roll shows took over the afternoon airwaves, and kid's shows went out the window, or somewhere".

Squiggle in Progress.

Tom left KTLA for twelve years but came back to the station in a new version of "Popeye And His Friends" in 1976. (This color version of his show lasted till 1988.) KTLA had asked Tom if he'd again like to host a once a week taped show, so Tom dusted off his sketchpad. The ratings were so good that KTLA offered him another weekend hosting spot in 1978. Thus began the "Family Film Festival" and its 14-year run. "Family Film Festival" aired classic films with Tom adding interesting commentary and information on the film being shown. A precursor to Bob Dorian at American Movie Classics, Tom's show usually aired on the weekends and during weeklong marathons. The marathons would feature a theme such as "Warner Musicals" or "Universal Horror". Tom would often interview celebrities for these theme shows like Ruby Keeler or John Carradine. "Family Film Festival" lasted until 1988. Tom himself stayed on at KTLA till 1992.

Tom Hatten has had a long and varied career past what his KTLA viewers watched at home. Starting with his work in the theatre. Playing the lead in "The Man In The Dog Suit" at the Cameo Playhouse and the Laguna Playhouse back in 1958 to his hitch with The Billy Barnes Revue" from 1959-60, "Billy Barnes' L.A." in 1963 with Joyce Jameson and Ken Berry, "Best of Billy Barnes" in 1964. In 1964 Tom co-founded a reparatory group in Studio City, California called "Show Place" and played the leads in many of it's productions till 1967. In 1970 you could catch Tom in "Dames At Sea" with Barbara Sharma at the Ivar Theatre. In 1978-1981 if you bought a ticket to see the musical "Annie", there was a good chance that you caught Tom Hatten as FDR. A part he still does from time to time. From 1990 to 1996 he's worked in numerous productions in Southern California; "She Loves Me", "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" "Born Yesterday" with Rebecca DeMornay, "Anything Goes", "Crazy For You". In 1996 he also co-founded The Musical Theatre Guild.

Tom has been in many films as well, big parts and small. Ever watch the 1969 movie "Sweet Charity"? Check out Tom near the beginning as he rides past a drowning Charity on his bicycle, admonishing his wife's request to "get involved".

You can also enjoy Tom in "Spies Like Us", the Chevy Chase-Dan Ackroyd vehicle, as 5-star General Heggs and in "The Secret OF Nimh" as the voice of Farmer Fitzgibbons.

Back in the 1960's, if you hadn't caught Tom on his KTLA show you could catch him on other shows from that time. TV Shows such as Hogan's Heroes, Gomer Pyle, Farmer's Daughter, and Hawaii Five-O. He's also appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day telethon.

More recently you could find him on an episode of "Lois and Clark" called "Operation Blackout" (season two, 10/30/94) co-starring with J.T Walsh. Also on the show "Wings" with the episode called "Remembrances Of Flings Past" as Mr. Conley.

 How about Tom Hatten the writer? He's worked on TV game shows such as "Split Second", "Double Dare" and "Hollywood Squares". He's has also written special material for Margaret Whiting, Rosemary Clooney, Helen O' Connell and Rose Marie.

Or what about Tom the Producer? He's produced pop and jazz concerts in Los Angeles and San Francisco featuring Bobby Short, Marian Mcpartland and Barbara Cook.

And what about community involvement? From those early Pier 5 club personal appearances at markets and parades to the more recent hosting events such as the L.A. Senior Theater Festival and the City of Duarte parade, it makes Tom a welcome part of Los Angeles.

Tom's won two first place awards (1987 and 1988) and one second place (1989) for Best Entertainment Reporting, while at KNX, from the Greater Los Angeles Press Club. He won a Finalist Award from the International Radio Festival of New York. He has also won an Honorable Mention from the Associated Press Television and Radio Association of California and Nevada for his 1987 mini-series, "Hollywood At Christmas".

2007

Tom Hatten will always be a Los Angeles treasure!

return