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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
June 18, 1905
Died
July 23, 1985
Place of Birth
Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA
Also Known As
- James King Kern Kyser
- The Ol' Perfessor
- James Kern Kyser
Kay Kyser
0.1 Popularity
Biography
James Kern Kyser (June 18, 1905 – July 23, 1985), known as Kay Kyser, was a popular radio personality and bandleader in the 1930's and 40's. Kyser's most popular show was Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge, which combined popular music with a quiz show format. It aired on Mutual Radio in 1938 and then moved to NBC Radio from 1939 to 1949. Kyser led the band as “The Ol’ Perfessor,” spouting signature catch phrases like, “That’s right—you’re wrong,” “Evenin’ folks, how y’all?” and “C'mon, chillun! Le's dance!” Kyser was also known for having his singers sing the song titles, a device copied by Sammy Kaye and Blue Barron. When the song began, one of the band's lead singers (usually Harry Babbitt) sang the title phrase, and then the first verse or two of the song was performed instrumentally before the lyrics resumed.
Known For
🎬
0.0
Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
1999
10.0
(archive footage)
Showbiz Goes to War
1982
6.3
Self (archive footage)
The Movie Orgy
1968
5.4
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
5.3
Himself
Carolina Blues
1944
🎬
0.0
Self
G.I. Journal
1944
5.0
Kay Kyser
Around the World
1943
5.0
Lowell Blackford
Swing Fever
1943
🎬
0.0
Himself
Screen Snapshots (Series 23, no. 3)
1943
6.4
Kay Kyser
Thousands Cheer
1943
Credits
🎬
Television: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
1999
0.0
Showbiz Goes to War
as (archive footage)
1982
10.0
The Movie Orgy
as Self (archive footage)
1968
6.3
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self
1961
5.4
Carolina Blues
as Himself
1944
5.3
🎬
G.I. Journal
as Self
1944
0.0
Around the World
as Kay Kyser
1943
5.0
Swing Fever
as Lowell Blackford
1943
5.0
🎬
Screen Snapshots (Series 23, no. 3)
as Himself
1943
0.0
Thousands Cheer
as Kay Kyser
1943
6.4
Stage Door Canteen
as Kay Kyser
1943
6.1
Show-Business at War
as Self
1943
7.0
My Favorite Spy
as Kay Kyser
1942
5.2
Playmates
as Kay Kyser
1941
5.2
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2
1941
6.0
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 1
as Self
1941
0.0
You'll Find Out
as Himself
1940
5.5
🎬
If I Forget You
as Orchestra
1940
5.3
Africa Squeaks
as Cake Icer (voice)
1940
4.8
That's Right – You're Wrong
as Kay Kyser
1939
5.7
🎬
Unsichtbare Gegner
as Sir Thomas
1933
6.0