mostly at KTLA Channel 5, which announced his death Saturday.He worked as an actor in small parts on TV and movies but was best known as host of KTLA’s “Popeye and his Friends” show and the family film series, which ran until 1992. He also served as entertainment correspondent at KNX news radio for many years."I don't mind doing what I'm doing as long as I'm in the business."
Hatten became beloved by children as the doodling, uniformed host of KTLA's"Popeye and His Friends" daily children's show in early '60s and again in the late '70s. One such fan, director Jon Landis, recounted his own unsuccessful efforts as a 10-year-old to get his own kiddie puppet show on"Popeye" when he offered Hatten a part in his movie"Spies Like Us.”
A native of South Dakota who later moved to Idaho, Hatten joined the Navy just before the close of World War II and attended the Pasadena Playhouse School of the Theatre on the GI Bill, graduating cum laude in 1950. An evaluation by a playhouse director, which Hatten quotes from memory, proved prescient:"Tom is a good, good 'type.' He'll make a wonderful 'second man.
Hatten said in the 1991 interview that one of his goals with the film festival was to get new generations interested in old Hollywood. "I try to do the stuff that I think that people who like old films want to know," he said."Who the character man in the background is that they've seen in a hundred movies."Essential California Newsletter
RIP Tom Hatten. We grew up with him here in the LA area, introduced us to the likes of Laurel & Hardy and so many great films of the '50s and '60s. The Family Film Festival really was our childhood film school and Tom was the dean.
KNX1070 I remember watching him 💙
I watched Pipi Longstocking with that dude.
He still is 92.
God Bless Him and His Family..........He was a great man and will be missed by many.
Thanks for the memories. RIP 😪
Saw him in person when he came to my elementary school to give a talk and draw Popeye characters for the students. Seemed like a cool dude.
I watched his show lots when I was a kid :(