Horace Heidt

Horace Heidt

Source: Horace Heidt

Born on 21 May 1901 in Alameda, California, Horace Heidt was a popular bandleader who delivered schmaltz, his now better known rival in that being Guy Lombardo of 'Auld Lang Syne' fame. Heidt put together his first band, the Californians, in 1923 while in college. Heidt is said to have been the first to put a band on a vaudeville stage, give away money on radio ('Pot o' Gold'), host a television talent show and perform with a big band on television.

Heidt's first recordings are thought to have been a couple tracks for Victor in April of 1927: 'Mine' and 'Hello cutie' [DAHR]. Heidt would also direct the Brigadiers with which he first appeared on radio station WJZ in New York City in 1931 [OldTimeRadio]. Radio being one of Heidt's major avenues to stardom, he hosted numerous programs including 'Pot o' Gold' (1939-41 / 1946-47), 'Tums Treasure Chest' (1940-44) and 'The Horace Heidt Youth Opportunity Program' in 1947, the last to become a television show from 1950 to 1953 hosted by Philip Morris (1951) cigarettes.

'Hello Cutie'   Horace Heidt Orchestra

2nd track of Heidt's first recording session

22 April 1927   San Francisco   Matrix PBVE-276-2    Victor 20608

Clarinet / various sax: Harold Plummer / Harold Moore / Lee Lykins

Piano: Charles Midgley   Violin: / Harold Moore / Lee Lykins

Banjo: Charles Bradshaw   Tuba / bass: Art Thorsen

Cello Leroy Shield:   Drums: Lee Fleming   Vocal: Lee Lykins

Composition: Cliff Friend

'Golden Gate'   Horace Heidt Orchestra

24 Feb 1928   Oakland CA   Matrix 42001-6    Victor 21310

Vocal trio consisting of:

Warren Lewis / Charley Bradshaw / Jerry Bowne

Composition: Dave Dreyer / Joseph Meyer / Al Jolson / Billy Rose

'What a Wonderful Wedding That Will Be'   Horace Heidt Orchestra

9 March 1928   Oakland CA   Matrix 42072-3    Victor 21335

Vocal trio consisting of:

Warren Lewis / Charley Bradshaw / Jerry Bowne

Composition: Irving Kahal / Francis Wheeler / Sammy Fain

'Turn On the Heat'   Horace Heidt and His Californians

24 Oct 1929   NYC   Matrix 57503-4    Victor 22195

Vocal trio consisting of:

Charley Bradshaw / Harold Moore / Jerry Bowne

Composition: Nacio Brown

Heidt scored nearly thirty Top Ten releases from 1937 to 1945. 'Gone with the Wind' reached Billboard's #1 top spot in 1937. 'Ti-Pi-Tin' followed in 1938. Heidt and his Musical Knights first issued for Columbia in 1939 per 'Good Morning' and 'Are You Havin' Any Fun?'. In 1941 he starred alongside Jimmy Stewart in the film, 'Pot of Gold', based on the radio program. TsorT lists Heidt's most popular title overall with his Musical Knights per 'I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire', topping Billboard at #1 in 1941 to hang around for 13 weeks.

'Gone with the Wind'   Horace Heidt and His Brigadiers

3 July 1937   NYC   Matrix 57503-4    Victor 22195

Vocal: Larry Cotton   #1 on Billboard 1937

Music: Allie Wrubel   Lyrics: Herb Magidson   1937

'G´Bye Now'   Horace Heidt and His Musical Knights

8 March 1941   NYC   Matrix CO29901=A    Columbia 36026

Vocal: Ronnie Kemper   #2 on Billboard 1941

Composition: Ole Olsen / Chic Johnson / Jay Levison (Livingston) / Ray Evans

'I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire'   Horace Heidt and His Musical Knights

24 July 1941   Columbia DO-2432   #1 on Billboard 1941

Vocal: Larry Cotton w Donna and Her Don Juans:

Donna Woods / Gordon McCrae / Charlie Goodman / George Jackson

Composition: Bennie Benjamin / Eddie Durham / Sol Marcus / Eddie Seiler

In 1945 Heidt largely traded the music business for real estate. One of those projects was the building of the Horace Heidt Estates at 14155 Magnolia Blvd in Sherman Oaks, a resort apartment complex of 180 units with a golf course on ten acres of land in the San Fernando Valley (CA). In 1948 Heidt resumed his 'Youth Opportunity Program'. Beginning to host for television in 1950, the 'Horace Heidt Show' and 'Family Night with Horace Heidt' aired into 1951. Come 'The American Way' in 1953 sponsored by Lucky Strike cigarettes. It was circa 1963 that he was awarded Honorary Mayor of Van Nuys (CA). Per 'Hot Lips' below, that would have to have been recorded before the death of Red Nichols on 28 June of 1965. See dtenner in comments on the curator's page at YouTube who has this going down on 16 December 1964 to be aired on Thanksgiving of 1965 according to page 568 of 'The Red Nichols Story: After Intermission 1942-1965' by Philip R. Evans, Stanley Hester and Stephen Hester [Wakefield Books].

'Building a Band'   ('The Bells of St. Mary')   Horace Heidt and His Musical Knights

1950   'Family Night with Horace Heidt' television show

Personnel including:

Alto sax: Tony Johnson   Piano: Jimmy Sheldon

Guitar: Stan Black   Drums: Bill Dolney

'The Bells of St. Mary': A. Emmett Adams / Douglas Furber   1917

'The History of Music'   Horace Heidt and His Musical Knights

1951   'The Original Youth Opportunity Program'   CBS television show

Personnel including:

Alto sax: Tony Johnson   Piano: Conley Graves   Drums: Bill Dolney

'Hot Lips'   Horace Heidt and His Musical Knights

'Family Night With Horace Heidt' television show

Recorded 16 Dec 1964 at KTTV in Los Angeles   Aired 25 Nov 1965

Trumpet: Red Nichols / Pete Candoli / Al Hirt

Composition: Henry Busse / Henry Lange / Lou Davis   1922

Heidt passed away in Los Angeles on 1 December 1986 [obit].