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.
Born in Alameda, California. He obtained a good education,
studied piano as a boy, attended Culver Military Academy and while playing
football for the University of California at Berkeley, he sustained a back
injury ending his football career. Horace began entertaining playing the piano
culminating in the formation of his own band, Horace Heidt and His Californians
in 1922. By 1929 the band had achieved national recognition and in the mid
1930’s had its first radio broadcast.
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.
Singer Matt Dennis got his start with Heidt's band, and Art Carney as 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.
Singer Matt Dennis got his start with Heidt's band, and Art Carney as 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.
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.
From 1940–44 he did Tums Treasure Chest, followed by 1943–45
shows on the Blue Network. Lucky Strike sponsored The American Way on CBS in
1953.
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 and vocalist Ralph Sigwald.
Heidt was often considered a tyrant by his musicians. He
would dismiss almost any one of them in an instant if he felt like it. Alyce King
discovered this one night when she knocked over a microphone during a radio
program. Heidt's orchestra had been chosen for the show on the strength of
King's vocals, and Heidt felt upstaged. He used the opportunity of her
clumsiness to fire her. Heidt, however, also encouraged his staff to
fraternize. Though designed to promote togetherness the strategy backfired on
this occasion. When King left so did all her sisters and their musician
boyfriends, including Rey.
With fame, Heidt moved into the then-new Brentwood
neighbourhood of West Los Angeles at 1525 San Vicente Boulevard. He bought the mansion from the widow of a retired dentist, which 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.
neighbourhood of West Los Angeles at 1525 San Vicente Boulevard. He bought the mansion from the widow of a retired dentist, which 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.
Heidt was from his college days an astute show-business
entrepreneur making many shrewd investments. He purchased the West Coast
Trianon Ballroom booking many famous entertainers including Louis Armstrong and
Jack Teagarden. His financial base was involved, diverse and very successful.
He chose to retire from show business and devote his entire time to running his
ventures. He even started "The Horace Heidt School for Stammering",
very relative because he had suffered from this very speech affliction which he
corrected by sheer tenacity. Residing in Sherman Oaks, California, he continued
operating a real estate business in the San Fernando Valley until his death at
age eighty five. Admitted to a Los Angeles hospital, he died from pneumonia
complications December 1, 1986. (Info edited mainly from Wikipedia &
Solid!)
Hot Lips performed on Family Night Hosted By Horace Heidt Featuring Al Hirt, Red Nichols, and Pete Candoli.
6 comments:
For “Horace Heidt – Musical Nights (2CD) ” go here:
DISC 1 - https://www.mediafire.com/?yl4n94f1sx7rgn5
1. I'LL LOVE YOU IN MY DREAMS
2. HEIGH HO (The Dwarfs' March)
3. TI-PI-TIN
4. THIS CAN'T BE LOVE
5. BEGIN THE BEGUINE
6. CLARINET POLKA
7. DANCE OF THE BLUE DANUBE
8. GOTTA GET SOME SHUT-EYE
9. CARNIVAL OF VENICE
10. THE MASQUERADE IS OVER
11. I'LL GET BY
12. FANTASY IMPROMPTU
13. OVER THE RAINBOW
14. THE MAN WITH THE MANDOLIN
15. SOUTH OF THE BORDER
16. LISTEN TO THE MOCKING BIRD
17. GOOD MORNING
18. BABY WHAT ELSE CAN I DO
19. PIGGY WIGGY WOO
20. TWO HEARTS ARE BETTER THAN ONE
21. IT’S A BLUE WORLD
22. I’M JUST WILD ABOUT HARRY
23. WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR
24. OH! WHAT A LOVELY DREAM
25. THE GIRL WITH THE PIGTAILS IN HER HAIR
DISC 2 - https://www.mediafire.com/?42dclb6syssyyrf
1. THE SINGING HILLS
2. THE MISSOURI WALTZ
3. ON THE OLD PARK BENCH
4. CLEAR OUT OF THIS WORLD
5. I WON’T GO HOME TILL YOU KISS ME
6. CAN’T GET INDIANA OFF MY MIND
7. AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL
8. COLUMBIA, GEM OF THE OCEAN
9. A PRETTY GIRL MILKING HER COW
10. BECAUSE OF YOU
11. G’BYE NOW
12. TOY PIANO JUMP
13. THE HUT SUT SONG
14. I DON'T WANT TO SET THE WORLD ON FIRE
15. B-I-BI
16. DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS
17. THE LAMPLIGHTER'S SERENADE
18. POUND YOUR TABLE POLKA
19. THE PENNSYLVANIA POLKA
20. THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC
21. BY THE WATERS OF MINNETONKA
22. WHERE OR WHEN
23. THE HOUR OF PARTING
24. CECILIA
25. I'LL LOVE YOU IN MY DREAMS
With many recordings available on CD for the first time this 2 CD set covers the neglected 1940’s period of the band with some fantastic swing arrangements. Kicking off with the original 1937 recording of "I’ll Love You In My Dreams" which was Heidt’s signature tune.
Hi Bob,
Can't download cd 1.
Regards Theo
Another great post. Thanks Bob.
Hi Theo,
Download link is working fine. Try again ....If you are still having problems Iwill re-up on Sendspace.
Regards, Bob
Bob, it works today and cd 1 also has been downloaded.
Thanks again.
Regards Theo
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