From the Horse's Mouth
S01 E02: Mad as a Hatter
Episode 2 | 45sVideo has Closed Captions
We can’t keep this origin story under our hat any longer.
The Hatter, often called the Mad Hatter, is the host of a strange tea party attended by Alice while adventuring in Wonderland. But why do we refer to someone as being “mad as a hatter.” There’s only one way to find out — watch this episode of From the Horse’s Mouth and discover the surprising truth about this common phrase.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
From the Horse's Mouth is a local public television program presented by WTVP
From the Horse's Mouth
S01 E02: Mad as a Hatter
Episode 2 | 45sVideo has Closed Captions
The Hatter, often called the Mad Hatter, is the host of a strange tea party attended by Alice while adventuring in Wonderland. But why do we refer to someone as being “mad as a hatter.” There’s only one way to find out — watch this episode of From the Horse’s Mouth and discover the surprising truth about this common phrase.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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- [Narrator] Mad as a hatter.
Has anyone said you are mad as a hatter?
If they have, they just called you completely crazy.
Believe it or not, this phrase did not originate with the Mad Hatter in "Alice in Wonderland," but in the history of hat making.
Mercury was once used to turn small-animal fur into felts for hats.
Prolonged exposure, caused employees to develop a variety of physical and mental ailments, including speech problems, emotional instability, and hallucinations.
And that's where the phrase mad as a hatter comes from.
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From the Horse's Mouth is a local public television program presented by WTVP