American Bandleader, Pianist, Radio Personality, TV Personality. Horace Heidt is best known for his radio work on "Pot o' Gold", the first game show to give away money. During the broadcasts, Horace would thumb through telephone directories from major cities calling random numbers. A person answering would receive money or an impressive prize. While his band played background, his radio show "Horace Heidt's National Youth Opportunity Contest" propelled countless aspiring young artist on to fame and fortune including Al Hirt. 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, 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 Musical Knights". They played at radio stations from New York to San Francisco with a tour of Europe. He led the house band at Chicago's Drake Hotel for a number of years. Many members of his bands went on to become famous on their own. The King Sisters; Alyce, Donna, Louise and Yvonne, Bobby Hackett, Frank DeVol, Gordon MacRae and Art Carney are but a few. His band had many songs making the top ten in the nation: but a few; "I Don't Want to Set The World On Fire," "Don't Fence Me In" and his most successful record, a million-seller "Deep in The Heart Of Texas." 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 an Elysian Park, Los Angeles hospital, he died from pneumonia complications. Heidt has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for radio at 1631 Vine St. and one for TV at 6628 Hollywood Blvd.
American Bandleader, Pianist, Radio Personality, TV Personality. Horace Heidt is best known for his radio work on "Pot o' Gold", the first game show to give away money. During the broadcasts, Horace would thumb through telephone directories from major cities calling random numbers. A person answering would receive money or an impressive prize. While his band played background, his radio show "Horace Heidt's National Youth Opportunity Contest" propelled countless aspiring young artist on to fame and fortune including Al Hirt. 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, 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 Musical Knights". They played at radio stations from New York to San Francisco with a tour of Europe. He led the house band at Chicago's Drake Hotel for a number of years. Many members of his bands went on to become famous on their own. The King Sisters; Alyce, Donna, Louise and Yvonne, Bobby Hackett, Frank DeVol, Gordon MacRae and Art Carney are but a few. His band had many songs making the top ten in the nation: but a few; "I Don't Want to Set The World On Fire," "Don't Fence Me In" and his most successful record, a million-seller "Deep in The Heart Of Texas." 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 an Elysian Park, Los Angeles hospital, he died from pneumonia complications. Heidt has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for radio at 1631 Vine St. and one for TV at 6628 Hollywood Blvd.
Bio by: Donald Greyfield
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