Toonhound - Hattytown Tales

       "This is Hatty Town, where all the people live in hats.
            This little boy with the great big hat on is Sancho,
               and this is Carrots who is Sancho's very special friend..."

     Hatty Town was inhabited by a population of walking, talking hats with arms and
     legs and faces. Tales focused upon a sombrero character called Sancho and
     his 'special friend' Carrots the donkey. This duo would regularly encounter a
     member of the Hatty Town community in distress, or off on a trip somewhere,
     or requiring assistance in some way. Problems would be solved, mysteries
     unravelled and the Hattyland residents would return safely to their hat-houses
     for another day...

     Amongst the regular 'hattys' were Posty the postman's hat, Mr Bun the baker's
     hat, Mr Wimple the Mayor, Bobby the policeman's helmet, Milko the milkman's
     hat and Simon who was a deerstalker, and hence, an amateur detective.
     The range of characters was expanded through the series and in the
     accompanying books and annnuals. In due course we also met Mr Bishop,
     The Royal Guards, Farmer Oatfield, Cyril the fishmonger, Scouty, Felix the
     fireman, Ethelbert the King of Hattyland, Mrs Wimple the Mayor's Wife,
     Mrs Bagwash, Mrs Mobcap the teashop lady, Sailor Boy, Mr McTammy,
     Mr Spud the barrow owner, Harold the railway ticket inspector and more.

        Mr Wimple - Hatty Town Mayor - outside his home      Posty the Postman's house...

     Hatty Town itself consisted of oversize hat buildings - hats with windows
     doors, chimmneys and what-not - and each was designed in a style in
     keeping with the occupant. Thus Sancho lived in a big straw hat, Bobby
     lived in a larger policeman's helmet, etc. Hatty Town had a Royal Palace
     and Town Hall, with Top Hat Square nearby. When time allowed, the Hattys
     would take the the Hatty Town Express train to the sandy shores and quay
     of Hatty Bay.

     Keith Chatfield's 'Hattytown' stories first appeared on our tv screens in 1968,
     via tv's 'Small Time'. In their original guise the stories were simply read aloud,
     by Peter Hawkins, with pictures by John McLusky accompanying the storytelling.
     Ivor Wood's FilmFair series didn't arrive until 1980. The production shares many      similarities with 'The Magic Roundabout' - a series that Wood had previously
     helped design and direct. Hatty Land features numerous small geometric flowers
     and trees set upon a white background, just like The Magic Garden. Carrots the
     donkey with his dangling carrot, is rather Dylan-esque. There's also a melancholic
     tone to the narration. However, where 'Roundabout' has irony, 'Hattytown Tales'
     has no such hidden depths to discover. This is a gentle children's series, nothing
     more, nothing less.

     By the way, the eagle-eyed among will have noticed the two distinct ways
     of writing 'Hattytown'. If you're referring to the series itself you should always
     run the two words together. However, 'Hatty Town' is a separate place so the
     words should be separated too. And here endeth the lesson!

     Creator Keith Chatfield also introduced us to Issi Noho the popular panda
     character, who made it to our screens in the 1970s. Keith has written a whole
     range of children's picture books and stories over the years, and many are
     available to purchase directly through his web site - including two fab 'Hattytown'
     picture books.

      'Ello it's Cheeky! - as drawn by Frank McDiarmid     Hatty Town artwork by Frank McDiarmid

     Now here's a question for you: What do Hatty Town and Fleetway comics
     star Cheeky have in common?

     Given up yet? - Well I'll tell you. Legendary comic artist Frank McDiarmid
     who brought us the weekly delights of Cheeky, Boy Boss, and numerous
     other star strips co-illustrated the Hattytown annuals and books with Percy
     Blayney. And in case you don't believe me, here's Mr McDiarmid's daughter
     Mandy recalling those days:

        '...I distinctly remember as a young child Dad doing the Hattytown
       series which was also on TV. It was indeed him. I remember there being
       pictures taken of his original work on the living room floor to record this
       fantastic new project he was working on. We were living in Carnoustie at
       the time. It was particularly memorable since it was the first time I remember
       him working in colour - all the comic stuff was done in ink....'

     What an extraordinary connection! - Frank McDiarmid is still going strong
     today, exhibiting and selling his scenic oil paintings - like those on display
     over at Nicholson's. Meanwhile those wishing to wallow in the delights of
     his Fleetway past should toddle on over to Fleetway St....


      produced by FilmFair
      puppets and animation by Ivor Wood

     writer:          Keith Chatfield
     design
      consultant:   Colin Groves
     decor:          Rafael Esteve
     narration:     Keith Chatfield

      On the web

      Issi Noho
      http://www.issinoho.net/
      Keith Chatfield's site identifies and offers for sale many of the books
      he's written over the years - including two new 'Hattytown' books.
      I want, I want, I want!...

      Little Gems
      http://www.thechestnut.com/hatty/hatty-town.htm
      FilmFair's series gets the Little Gems treatment. A little bit of series
      info, plenty of screen grabs a character guide and episode guide - Hats
      off to 'em, I say!

      80sCartoons
      http://80scartoons.8k.com/hattytown.html
      Claire's site features new pics and series info for scatty
      hatty fans to salivate over...

      Jedi's Paradise
      http://www.jedisparadise.co.uk/
      Jediman offers up this fine addition, featuring some seriesfacts and
      figures and 5 pics of the original 'Hattytown' puppets, on display as part
      of a 'Watch With Mother' childrens tv exhibition. Very useful....

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			Hattytown Tales (1980) producers: Hattyland Enterprises & FilmFair Ltd animation: stop-motion animation episodes: 39 x 10mins

	"This is Hatty Town, where all the people live in hats. This little boy with the great big hat on is Sancho, and this is Carrots who is Sancho's very special friend..." Hatty Town was inhabited by a population of walking, talking hats with arms and legs and faces. Tales focused upon a sombrero character called Sancho and his 'special friend' Carrots the donkey. This duo would regularly encounter a member of the Hatty Town community in distress, or off on a trip somewhere, or requiring assistance in some way. Problems would be solved, mysteries unravelled and the Hattyland residents would return safely to their hat-houses for another day... Amongst the regular 'hattys' were Posty the postman's hat, Mr Bun the baker's hat, Mr Wimple the Mayor, Bobby the policeman's helmet, Milko the milkman's hat and Simon who was a deerstalker, and hence, an amateur detective. The range of characters was expanded through the series and in the accompanying books and annnuals. In due course we also met Mr Bishop, The Royal Guards, Farmer Oatfield, Cyril the fishmonger, Scouty, Felix the fireman, Ethelbert the King of Hattyland, Mrs Wimple the Mayor's Wife, Mrs Bagwash, Mrs Mobcap the teashop lady, Sailor Boy, Mr McTammy, Mr Spud the barrow owner, Harold the railway ticket inspector and more. Hatty Town itself consisted of oversize hat buildings - hats with windows doors, chimmneys and what-not - and each was designed in a style in keeping with the occupant. Thus Sancho lived in a big straw hat, Bobby lived in a larger policeman's helmet, etc. Hatty Town had a Royal Palace and Town Hall, with Top Hat Square nearby. When time allowed, the Hattys would take the the Hatty Town Express train to the sandy shores and quay of Hatty Bay. Keith Chatfield's 'Hattytown' stories first appeared on our tv screens in 1968, via tv's 'Small Time'. In their original guise the stories were simply read aloud, by Peter Hawkins, with pictures by John McLusky accompanying the storytelling. Ivor Wood's FilmFair series didn't arrive until 1980. The production shares many similarities with 'The Magic Roundabout' - a series that Wood had previously helped design and direct. Hatty Land features numerous small geometric flowers and trees set upon a white background, just like The Magic Garden. Carrots the donkey with his dangling carrot, is rather Dylan-esque. There's also a melancholic tone to the narration. However, where 'Roundabout' has irony, 'Hattytown Tales' has no such hidden depths to discover. This is a gentle children's series, nothing more, nothing less. By the way, the eagle-eyed among will have noticed the two distinct ways of writing 'Hattytown'. If you're referring to the series itself you should always run the two words together. However, 'Hatty Town' is a separate place so the words should be separated too. And here endeth the lesson! Creator Keith Chatfield also introduced us to Issi Noho the popular panda character, who made it to our screens in the 1970s. Keith has written a whole range of children's picture books and stories over the years, and many are available to purchase directly through his web site - including two fab 'Hattytown' picture books. Now here's a question for you: What do Hatty Town and Fleetway comics star Cheeky have in common? Given up yet? - Well I'll tell you. Legendary comic artist Frank McDiarmid who brought us the weekly delights of Cheeky, Boy Boss, and numerous other star strips co-illustrated the Hattytown annuals and books with Percy Blayney. And in case you don't believe me, here's Mr McDiarmid's daughter Mandy recalling those days: '...I distinctly remember as a young child Dad doing the Hattytown series which was also on TV. It was indeed him. I remember there being pictures taken of his original work on the living room floor to record this fantastic new project he was working on. We were living in Carnoustie at the time. It was particularly memorable since it was the first time I remember him working in colour - all the comic stuff was done in ink....' What an extraordinary connection! - Frank McDiarmid is still going strong today, exhibiting and selling his scenic oil paintings - like those on display over at Nicholson's. Meanwhile those wishing to wallow in the delights of his Fleetway past should toddle on over to Fleetway St.... produced by FilmFair puppets and animation by Ivor Wood writer: Keith Chatfield design consultant: Colin Groves decor: Rafael Esteve narration: Keith Chatfield On the web Issi Noho http://www.issinoho.net/ Keith Chatfield's site identifies and offers for sale many of the books he's written over the years - including two new 'Hattytown' books. I want, I want, I want!... Little Gems http://www.thechestnut.com/hatty/hatty-town.htm FilmFair's series gets the Little Gems treatment. A little bit of series info, plenty of screen grabs a character guide and episode guide - Hats off to 'em, I say! 80sCartoons http://80scartoons.8k.com/hattytown.html Claire's site features new pics and series info for scatty hatty fans to salivate over... Jedi's Paradise http://www.jedisparadise.co.uk/ Jediman offers up this fine addition, featuring some seriesfacts and figures and 5 pics of the original 'Hattytown' puppets, on display as part of a 'Watch With Mother' childrens tv exhibition. Very useful.... index » previous » next »
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