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THE LIFE AND TIMES OF PAUL HATFIELD

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"SKY HIGH" HATFIELD

A newspaper clipping from an article in the Baltimore Sun about Paul "Sky High" Hatfield. That's Doctor Emmett Davis, M.D., giving him a checkup on one of his visits during my father's 30-day stay at the top of a telephone pole. The doctor was quoted as saying, "Paul Hatfield is sound of body and mind." My father's nickname was "Sky High". He got this nickname from his boxing trainer while doing a publicity stunt for DeFoe Motors, a car dealership in the 4600 block of Belair Road in Baltimore, Maryland. It was August 1958, and Paul was paid $175 a week to live at the top of a 65-foot tall telephone pole for one month. While still a "regulation" telephone pole, this was not a "regular" telephone pole in use with wires strung on it. The pole was installed in the car lot especially for this stunt, and had a tented platform at the summit. My father did one-armed handstands on the edge of the platform, and announced "Sky High Specials" from the top of the pole, which were also broadcast on radio. After three weeks up the pole and a violent thunderstorm, he demanded more money - $500 a week, to be exact! But the car dealer pointed out that it was already costing him $350 a week for the stunt, and refused to pay.

Paul then threatened to call his agent, Irv Klein, to have him represent him instead of the promoter, Penny Cameron. Upon hearing this, Penny was quoted as saying, "bull____!!!" In the end, the dealer prevailed, and Paul spent the entire 30 days on the pole. My father slept up there, had his meals delivered to him on a dolly, and got regular visits from the doctor and others to make sure he was ok. He survived at least one electical storm, some very hot, humid days and some cold, rainy nights. I spoke to him on the telephone at a trailer on the car lot. I was only five years old (I turned six on the last day of my father's stay up the pole - August 31st), and my father seemed to me to be some sort of god, way up there. When I looked up at the platform at the top of the pole at night (my mother worked at a department store and didn't get off until 9 or 10 pm), all I could see was spotlights in my eyes. I thought my dad was a very great man because of the stunt. And it went on forever, it seemed! To a young child, time is so compressed, that a month seemed to me to be an eternity! When he finally came down from the pole, it was as if he had died and come back to life. Was he still my father? Or was this Elijah himself, having come down from the mountain of bright lights?

ABOUT

All About Paul Leroy Hatfield, a legend in his own time.

THE ENTERTAINER

Paul's show business career spanned three decades. Click on the photo above to read all about it!

SKY HIGH

My father's nickname was "Sky High". Click on the link above to find out why!

REALLY SKY HIGH

My dad's nickname "Sky High" followed him as a pilot. Click on the picture above and take off! - "Clear!"

On July 7th, 2000, at approximately 7:30 PM EDT, Paul Hatfield passed from this life to the next. He was 72 years old. This web site is dedicated with lots of love to you, Dad. You'll always be "Sky High" to me! I know you're flying high now, and your spirit lives on in this web site...