Born in Jamestown, North Dakota, Hatten served in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he would use the GI Bill to study acting at the Pasadena School of Theater, graduating magna cum laude in 1950. in 1952, Hatten began working as a broadcaster for KTLA in Hollywood, later landing the part of the friendly sailor in the station's afternoon children's show, the The Pier Point 5 Club. He followed "Skipper Frank" Herman who appeared earlier in the afternoon with Cartoon Carousel.