Tom Hatten

Tom Hatten (November 14, 1926 – March 16, 2019) was an American radio, film and television personality and actor, known as the long-time host of The Popeye Show (originally The Pier Point 5 Club) and Family Film Festival on KTLA Channel 5 in Los Angeles from the 1960s until the 1980s. Hatten was one of those television "pioneers"—from the 1950s and 1960s programs done "live"—no matter what mistakes happened. He also appeared in dozens of musicals, films and television shows.

Early life Hatten was born in Jamestown, North Dakota. He served in the United States Navy during World War II and used the GI Bill to study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse. He graduated cum laude

The demise of The Pier 5 Club came in 1964 when Hatten left KTLA. In 1976, however, he returned to the station and revived the series as Popeye and His Friends, which ran until 1988.

Family Film Festival The Family Film Festival was a weekend-afternoon feature on KTLA 5 between 1978 and 1992, with Hatten screening a classic film, often from the 1940s, 1950s or 1960s. During breaks in the show, he would offer anecdotes about the film's history or its actors, or conduct brief interviews with a cast or crew member. Many Gen X men and women, born throughout the 1970s, were introduced to the films of Jerry Lewis, The Little Rascals, and Pippi Longstocking, as well as animated films like Gay Purr-ee, Hoppity Goes to Town, The Phantom Tollbooth, Once Upon a Time and Star Blazers through Hatten's Family Film Festival.

Career Hatten's acting credits include portraying a corrupt US Army general in the comedy film Spies Like Us (1985), with Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase. He appeared as Captain Murdock in several episodes of the television show Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. and had a minor role as an officer in three episodes of Hogan's Heroes. Hatten provided the voice of the character Farmer Fitzgibbons in the animated film The Secret of NIMH.

On stage, in 1959, Hatten performed in a Los Angeles production of The Billy Barnes Revue concurrently with hosting the Popeye TV show. He portrayed Horace Vandergelder in the West Coast Opera Theatre's production of Hello, Dolly! in 1991. He also appeared in a touring production of the musical Annie as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He left the station in 2007.

Hatten served on the board of the National Student Film Institute and was a frequent presenter at its annual film festival.

Personal life Hatten was in a relationship with costume and set designer Peter Menefee for over fifty years.

Death Hatten died on March 16, 2019, at the age of 92.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1965 I Saw What You Did Gerald Nyes 1965 A Very Special Favor Therapy Group Member Uncredited 1967 Easy Come, Easy Go Lt. J.G Uncredited 1969 Sweet Charity Man in Tandem Uncredited 1975 Promise Him Anything O'Brien TV movie 1982 The Secret of NIMH Farmer Fitzgibbons Voice 1985 Spies Like Us General Miegs 2004 Bravura Mr. Casey Short, (final film role)