TV personality Tom Hatten hosting ‘Double Indemnity’

48 HOURS

In the 1944 film, “Double Indemnity,” it’s the reversal of roles

that charms TV and radio personality Tom Hatten.

The film stars Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G.

Robinson. Stanwyck’s character concocts a plan with MacMurray’s

insurance salesman to murder her husband and collect the insurance

money. But they don’t anticipate the relentless insurance

investigator played by Robinson.

Hatten will reprise his “Family Film Festival” role as host at two

screenings of the Paramount film today presented by the Alex Film

Society at The Alex Theatre in Glendale. Society officials invited

Hatten to do the honors.

“Since it’s one of my very favorite movies, they didn’t have to

twist my arm at all,” he said.

While growing up in North Dakota, Hatten dreamed of becoming an

actor. An avid theater-goer, he saw “Double Indemnity” when it was

first released. The film places MacMurray in the bad-guy role while

Robinson, usually playing a tough guy, was the hero.

“It is the reversal of roles that caught my interest,” he said.

“Fred is a schnook in this movie, out of his usual nice-guy

character. Robinson’s character has not a crooked bone in his body.”

Hatten learned early in his career about being typecast when he

was chosen to play Tom Sawyer in a high school play.

“I wanted to play Injun Joe, which was more of a challenge. He was

nasty,” he said.

Seeing “Double Indemnity” made him realize versatility is an

actor’s greatest asset.

“Since I knew I’d like to be an actor, it was great getting to see

MacMurray and Robinson were able to go away from what I expected of

them and do such a wonderful job,” Hatten said.

As host of the screenings, Hatten will discuss film noir, defined

as the types of movies from the 1940s and 1950s done in a fatalistic

or cynical mood often about crime and corruption. He’ll talk about

the way this genre was filmed, emphasizing a lot of dark shadows and

dramatic background music.

Hatten shared his love for films on the TV show “Family Film

Festival” on weekends during the 1970s and ‘80s. He was host and

friend of “Popeye,” the afternoon TV cartoon show that ran from 1956

to ’64 and returned Sunday mornings in the 1980s. He is now entertainment editor for radio station KNX-AM (1070).

Today’s screenings are at 2 and 8 p.m. at The Alex Theatre, 216

N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. The additional short subject will be the

Technicolor Academy Award-nominated Mr. Magoo cartoon, “Trouble

Indemnity” (1950). Tickets are $8.50, $7 for the matinee and $6 for

society members at the box office or call 243-2539.

SPECIAL EVENTS

CHILDREN’S DAY AT BRAND LIBRARY ART GALLERIES

The Associates of Brand Library will have a Children’s Day from 1

to 5 p.m. today at Brand Library Art Galleries. Children will be able

to create their own artwork and frame them on poster board.

Brand Art Galleries are in Brand Park, 1601 W. Mountain St.,

Glendale.

HARMONICA VIRTUOSO IN CONCERT

Harmonica virtuoso Robert Bonfiglio will perform at 2:30 p.m.

Sunday as part of the music series sponsored by the Glendale

Community Concert Assn. The concert will be at Glendale High School,

1440 E. Broadway in Glendale.

Bonfiglio has appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl and

the Lincoln Center. He performs classical selections as well as pop,

jazz and blues.

The association is celebrating its 50th season.

For tickets, call 248-4080 or 244-3398.

GLENDALE SONGWRITER APPEARS AT COFFEE HOUSE

Singer/songwriter Jon Baston of Glendale will showcase his

repertoire of country, folk and ballad songs during a free concert at

8 tonight at the ThetaSound Studios Coffee House, 1309 Riverside

Drive in Burbank.

For reservations or more information, call 955-5888.

FRIENDS OF VIVA DISPLAY AT ARTS CENTER

A juried group show, Friends of VIVA, which is an acronym for

Valley Institute of Visual Arts, has opened at the Burbank Creative

Arts Center Gallery.

Artists in the show are members of the five groups that make up

the institute, said Betty Beam, president of the institute’s board of

directors. They are Women Painters West, the Valley Watercolor

Society, Collage Artists of America, Valley Artists Guild and the San

Fernando Valley Art Club.

There are 92 pieces in the show in the mediums of ink, collage,

watercolor, pencil drawings, mixed media and sculpture. Judging was

performed by Cathey Cadieux, an oil and pastel painter, who attended

the Academy of Art in Chicago.

Receiving top honors at the recent reception were Brenda Bagg of

Los Angeles, first place; Frank Fujita of Burbank, second place; and

Betty Beam of Woodland Hills, third place.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9

a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and, beginning Jan. 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday. The show ends Jan. 24.

ON STAGE

‘SNOW QUEEN’ IS HOLIDAY EVENT FOR FAMILY

The Falcon Theatre is presenting the “Snow Queen,” a winter-themed

production for the whole family, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays and

1 p.m. Sundays.

Magic hangs in the air when the Snow Queen comes to town and

transforms balmy Los Angeles into a snowy winter wonderland. Now she

has only a short time to take Emma, Alexander, and the whole audience

on a musical adventure through L.A. to show them that, though winter

comes and goes, “Love Lasts Forever.”

The play continues through Feb. 2. Tickets are $10. The theater is

at 4252 Riverside Drive, in Burbank. For reservations, call 955-8101.

A NOISE WITHIN PRESENTS ‘MACBETH’

A Noise Within officials have extended the run of William

Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” Remaining performances are at 8 p.m. Jan.

23, 24 and 25.

Tickets range from $28 to $38. For reservations, call 240-0910.

The theater is at 234 S. Brand Blvd. Glendale.

‘SEE HOW THEY RUN’ AT GLENDALE CENTRE THEATRE

Glendale Centre Theatre kicks off its new season of wholesome,

family entertainment with the British farce “See How They Run.” It

was written in the 1940s by Philip King. Burbank resident George

Strattan is directing.

The play is about an English vicarage gone nuts. With the arrival

of the Bishop, one expects the shenanigans to cease, however, the

confusion showballs.

Tickets range from $14 to $17. The play continues through Feb.

15.

For reservations, call 244-8481. Glendale Centre Theatre is at 324

N. Orange St., Glendale.

GENE BUA PRESENTS ‘2ND WIND THE MUSICAL’

The revival performance of the rock opera, “2nd Wind the Musical

2002,” will resume performances at 8 tonight at the Gene Bua Acting

For Life Theatre in Burbank.

The story is about an acting coach, Teacher, who rallies together

three celebrity volunteers to help him with a new program at

Strawberry Fields Residential Treatment Center.

Tickets are $25 with discounts available for seniors, groups and

teens. For reservations, call (310) 680-9109. The playhouse is at

3435 W. Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank.

A LITTLE JAZZ WITH DINNER

JAX OFFERS SUPPER, JAZZ EVERY NIGHT

Jax Bar and Grill is a supper club offering live jazz every night

of the week.

Show times are 8 p.m. to midnight Monday, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Tuesday through Thursday; 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday;

and 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Happy Hour Jazz is 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday.

Tonight, the spotlight shines on Gashouse Dave. Sunday, it’s

Burbank resident Karen Hernandez performing. The schedule for the

week is Brian Elliott on Monday; Justin Ray Quartet on Tuesday;

Harold Bennett on Wednesday; Jack Sheldon on Thursday; and the Mat

Marucci Quartet on Friday.

Jax is at 339 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. For more information, call

500-1604.

RESTAURANT OFFERS MUSIC FROM ‘20s, ‘30s, ‘40s

The Oceanview Bar and Grill offers live entertainment six nights a

week for diners.

Entertainers perform a combination of piano and jazz guitar

pieces, and some accompany with vocals.

Jennifer Russell and Michael Gayle sing jazz while playing piano

and guitar from 7 to 10 tonight. The Oceanview Bar and Grill is at

3826 Ocean View Blvd. For more information, call 248-2722.

RUSTY PELICAN COOKS WITH LIVE MUSIC

Glendale’s Rusty Pelican, 300 Harvey Drive in Glendale, serves

dinner and Sunday brunch, but really cooks with its live singing and

music.

2AZZ1 and The Body & Soul Band, featuring Burbank residents Craig

and Mary Durst, performs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays. There is no cover and

no minimum.

There’s karaoke from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays, live jazz from

7:30 to 11 p.m. Fridays and live blues from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Saturdays.

For information or to make reservations, call 242-9191.

* If you have press releases for the 48 Hours column, please

call JOYCE RUDOLPH at 637-3241 or e-mail joyce.rudolph@latimes.com or

fax them to 241-1975.