Tom Hatten facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tom Hatten
Hatten in 2013
Born	(1926-11-14)November 14, 1926 Jamestown, North Dakota, U.S.
Died	March 16, 2019(2019-03-16) (aged 92) California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor TV kids' show host radio broadcaster

Tom Hatten (born November 14, 1926 – died March 16, 2019) was a famous American actor and TV host. He was best known for hosting The Popeye Show and Family Film Festival on KTLA Channel 5 in Los Angeles. Tom Hatten was a true TV pioneer. He worked on many live shows in the 1950s and 1960s. He also acted in many movies, TV shows, and musicals.

Early Life and Education

Tom Hatten was born in Jamestown, North Dakota. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. After the war, he used the GI Bill to study acting. He went to the Pasadena Playhouse, a famous acting school. He graduated with honors in 1950.

Hosting The Popeye Show

In 1952, Tom Hatten started working at KTLA in Hollywood. He was a newscaster and announcer. In September 1956, the station started a children's show called The Pier 5 Club. Tom Hatten became the host, playing a character named Skipper Tom.

He left KTLA in 1964, and The Pier 5 Club ended. But in 1976, he came back to the station. He brought the show back as Popeye and His Friends. This popular show ran until 1988. After the Popeye show finished, Hatten hosted KTLA's Family Film Festival.

Hosting Family Film Festival

The Family Film Festival was a popular show on KTLA 5. It aired on weekend afternoons from 1978 to 1992. Tom Hatten would show classic movies, often from the 1940s, 1950s, or 1960s.

During breaks in the movies, he would share interesting stories. He talked about the film's history or the actors. Sometimes, he even interviewed people who worked on the movies. Many young people growing up in Los Angeles watched this show. They learned about movies starring Jerry Lewis and The Little Rascals. They also saw animated films like Gay Purr-ee and The Phantom Tollbooth. The song Reminiscing by the Little River Band was used as music for the show.

Acting Career

Tom Hatten was also a talented actor. He played a general in the comedy movie Spies Like Us (1985). This film starred Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase. He also appeared in several TV shows. He was Captain Murdock in Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. He had a small role in three episodes of Hogan's Heroes. Tom Hatten also used his voice for cartoons. He was the voice of Farmer Fitzgibbons in the animated movie The Secret of NIMH.

On stage, Tom Hatten performed in musicals. In 1959, he was in The Billy Barnes Revue in Los Angeles. He played Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly! in 1991. He also toured with the musical Annie. In Annie, he played President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

For almost 20 years, Hatten was an entertainment reporter. He worked for KNX 1070 Newsradio in Los Angeles. He reported on new movies and celebrity news. He left the station in 2007. Hatten also helped the National Student Film Institute. He often presented at their yearly film festival.

Death

Tom Hatten passed away on March 16, 2019. He was 92 years old.

Filmography