Horace Heidt

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Heidt in 1937
Horace Heidt (May 21, 1901–December 1, 1986) was an American pianist, big band leader, and radio and television personality. His band, Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights, toured vaudeville and performed on radio and television through the 1930s and 1940s.

Biography

Born in Alameda, California, Heidt attended Culver Academies.

From 1932 to 1953, he was one of the more popular radio bandleaders, heard on both NBC and CBS in a variety of different formats over the years. He began on the NBC Blue Network in 1932 with Shell Oil's Ship of Joy and Answers by the Dancers. During the late 1930s on CBS he did Captain Dobbsie's Ship of Joy and Horace Heidt's Alemite Brigadeers before returning to NBC for 1937–39 broadcasts.[1]

Heidt's 1939–41 radio show was adapted for this 1941 film.

Singer Matt Dennis got his start with Heidt's band, and Art Carney was the band's singing comedian. The Heidt band's recordings were highly successful, with "Gone with the Wind" going to No. 1 in 1937 and "Ti-Pi-Tin" to No. 1 in 1938. In 1939, "The Man with the Mandolin" ranked No. 2 on the charts.

His NBC Pot o' Gold radio show (1939–41) was the basis for a 1941 film of the same title. Produced by James Roosevelt (son of the U.S. president) and directed by George Marshall, the film starred James Stewart and Paulette Goddard, and it featured Heidt portraying himself with his band. Carney can be glimpsed in some of the film's musical numbers. The movie gives a fairly accurate depiction of Heidt's radio show but features staged sequences, such as a scene in which a Minnesota farmer (allegedly phoned at random by Heidt during his radio show) is played by well-known character actor John Qualen.[1]

From 1940 to 1944 he did Tums Treasure Chest, followed by 1943–45 shows on the Blue Network. Lucky Strike sponsored The American Way on CBS in 1953.[1]

On December 7, 1947, NBC launched The Horace Heidt Youth Opportunity Program and accordionist Dick Contino, the first winner of the $5,000 prize, soon had his own show. Heidt's talent search catapulted such performers as Art Carney, Frankie Carle, Gordon MacRae, the King Sisters, Alvino Rey, Frank DeVol, and Al Hirt. When the program expanded from radio to television in 1950, it was one of the first talent shows on TV. Other winners included the Philharmonics, vocalist Ralph Sigwald, and blind marimbist Pierce Knox.

With fame, Heidt moved into the then-new Brentwood neighborhood of West Los Angeles at 1525 San Vicente Boulevard. He bought the mansion from the widow of a retired dentist; it offered stunning views of Santa Monica Canyon, overlooking the Riviera Country Club and Catalina Island on a clear day. The expansive chateau-style residence, featured in 1927 on the cover of the rotogravure magazine Pictorial California, has long since been razed and the property subdivided.

Horace Heidt died in 1986 and was interred at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Chicago Connection

In 1936 Horace Heidt conducted an ensemble of eight musicians all of whom played harmonica on Saturday evenings at the Drake Hotel in Chicago.[2]

Legacy

For his contribution to radio, Heidt has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1631 Vine Street; and a second star for his contribution to television at 6628 Hollywood Boulevard. In 2001, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.[3]

His 1941 song, "The Hut-Sut Song", is heard in the movie A Christmas Story.

After his retirement, Heidt built a 160 unit, 10 acre retirement resort community in the heart of Sherman Oaks, California. It is called "Horace Heidt Estates". Managed by his son, Horace Heidt, Jr. the resort maintains 14 swimming pools, ten of which belong to luxury homes leased year round, an eighteen hole par 3 executive golf course, a theatre, the Aloha Room where shows and parties are produced monthly, and a full service health spa. His son Horace Heidt, Jr, has added 45 luxury apartment Homes, Haleakala Apartments, to the complex for a total of 220 Apartments, including 15 houses for lease. Through the years many great Hollywood Celebrities have lived at the Resort: Bob Cummings, Dick Arlen, Roberta Sherwood, Helen Forrest, Dick Van Patton, Barbara McNair, Joey Heatherton, Ed Bagley, Dorothy Chandler, Sy Zentner, Jack Leonard, Art Carney, Dick Contino, Dick Kerr, Bob Flannagan of the Four Freshman, and Neil Diamond, just to name a few.

Horace Heidt, Jr. wrote a book of the life and times of Horace Heidt. Titled, "Horace Heidt: Big Band Starmaker", the book can be purchased on DVD or hardcover at www.bigbands.com.

Discography

Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights with Conley Graves at piano

  • 195? : Horace Heidt presents Conley Graves and his piano magic (coffret 4 microssillons EP 78™)[4] ∫ microssillons EP 78™ Magnolia records - Magnolia MA 504-1 à MA 504-8[5].
  • 195? : A1. Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart / B1. From The Broadway Show Thumbs Up ∫ microssillons EP 78™ Magnolia records - Magnolia MA 504-A; mx MM-119-1C.
  • 195? : A1. You Took Advantage Of Me. (From The Broadway Show Present Arms) / B1. ? ∫ microssillons EP 78™ Magnolia records - Magnolia MA 504-A; mx MM-119-1C.
  • 195? : Dark Eyes/ (fox trot) Columbia 78rpm 35918(H139) "with his musical Knights".

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Dunning, John. On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press, 1998. ISBN 0-19-507678-8
  2. ↑ Photograph of Horace Heidt and eight harmonica musicians performing at the Drake Hotel Chicago in 1936 ---Brian G. Bardy
  3. ↑ Palm Springs Walk of Stars by date dedicated
  4. ↑ See Worlcat note Horace Heidt presents Conley Graves and his piano magic. See 29 may 2013.
  5. ↑ Matrices de gravure MM-113-1C--MM-114-1C (matrix), MM-116-1C--MM-119-1C (matrix)

External links

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