Horace Heidt

Birthday

May 21, 1901

Bio: American band leader Horace Heidt is best known for his radio work on "Pot O' Gold" the first game show to give away money. He later appeared in the 1941 film of the same name. Heidt had originally wanted to be a football player, but was permanently injured and unable to make a career of it. He started his show-business career after attending the Culver Military… More Bio: American band leader Horace Heidt is best known for his radio work on "Pot O' Gold" the first game show to give away money. He later appeared in the 1941 film of the same name. Heidt had originally wanted to be a football player, but was permanently injured and unable to make a career of it. He started his show-business career after attending the Culver Military Academy and the University of California, Berkeley. It was the music of Guy Lombardo that inspired Heidt to follow a similar path. Eventually he played at radio stations from New York to San Francisco. He also toured Europe and led the house band at Chicago's Drake Hotel for a number of years. It was there he started the show "Answers by the Dancers." He tried several similar shows before striking it rich with "Pot O' Gold ". ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi