Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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==Background==

In the latter half of the 1930s, leaders of [[Big band|big bands]] sought ways to differentiate their groups from others who played similar music. Successful variations on the standard format of just playing one song after another could quickly move bands from "being merely late-hour fillers" without sponsors to having sponsored broadcasts in better time slots. [[Tommy Dorsey]] began featuring amateur musicians, [[Benny Goodman]] moved his trio and quartet into the spotlight, and Kay Kyser added a quiz component. Some of the changes were less innovation than adaptation. An article in the trade publication ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' noted that Dorsey's airing of amateurs followed the example of [[Major Bowes]], and Kyser's contest was a variation on the ''[[Professor Quiz]]'' program.<ref>{{cite newsmagazine |title=Evening Dance Hours Improved By Orks' Showmanship Measures |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Billboard-IDX/IDX/30s/1938/BB-1938-02-19-OCR-Page-0008.pdf#search=%22kollege%22 |workmagazine=Billboard |date=February 19, 1938 |page=8}}</ref>

In October 1937,<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Wolters |first1=Larry |title=Our Listening to Radio Cost Billion in '37 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25163742/chicago_tribune/ |work=Chicago Tribune |date=January 13, 1938 |location=Illinois, Chicago |page=15|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = November 6, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref> Kyser began including the ''Kollege'' as a segment in his Monday night broadcasts from the [[Blackhawk (restaurant)|Blackhawk]] restaurant in Chicago, Illinois, via radio station [[WGN (AM)|WGN]].<ref name=rmt/>

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Besides Kyser, the show's personnel included singers Trudy Erwin, Julie Conway, [[Gloria Wood]], [[Lucy Ann Polk]], [[Mike Douglas]], Sully Mason, the [[The King Sisters|King Sisters]],<ref name="dunningota" /> [[Georgia Carroll]] (Kyser's wife),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Reinehr |first1=Robert C. |last2=Swartz |first2=Jon D. |title=The A to Z of Old Time Radio |date=2010 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=9781461672074 |page=148 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5uzfQjhlUXoC&q=%22Kollege+of+Musical+Knowledge%22&pg=PA148 |accessdate=9 November 2018 |language=en}}</ref> [[Harry Babbitt]] and [[Ginny Simms]]. Other regulars were pianist Lyman Gandee, trumpeter Bobby Guy, and Merwyn Bogue (better known as [[Ish Kabibble]]).<ref name=":1" /> Fran Coughlin was the writer.<ref name=":2" /> Announcers were [[Ken Niles]], Bud Hiestand, Vern Smith, Bill Forman, and Jack McCoy. Rex Koury was the organist, and Frank O'Connor was the producer. Directors included Ed Cashman, John Cleary, William Warwick, and Harry Sax.<ref name=dunningota/>

A review in ''Billboard'' in 1947 attributed the program's success more to Kyser than to its format. Paul Ackerman wrote: "In fact, the Old Professor's most noteworthy characteristic is ebullience. He's got it to a degree that makes other facets of the program secondary."<ref>{{cite newsmagazine |last1=Ackerman |first1=Paul |title=Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Billboard-IDX/IDX/40s/1947/BB-1947-11-15-OCR-Page-0014.pdf |accessdate=8 November 2018 |workmagazine=Billboard |date=November 15, 1947 |page=14}}</ref>

==Networks and sponsors==

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===NBC===

The program moved to New York on March 30, 1938, replacing ''Your Hollywood Parade'' on NBC. It resumed using the title ''Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge'' as it began broadcasting from NBC's [[NBC Studios (New York City)|Radio City]] headquarters.<ref name=":2">{{cite news |last1=Wolters |first1=Larry |title=Kyser Will Take Glamor Show's Place on the Air |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25166495/chicago_tribune/ |work=Chicago Tribune |date=February 26, 1938 |location=Illinois, Chicago |page=18|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = November 6, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref> Kyser reinforced the theme by wearing a cap and gown during broadcasts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kyser to Feature 'Musical Kollege' at Casino Sunday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25189294/kay_kysers_kollege_of_musical_knowledge/ |work=The Daily Standard |date=May 25, 1938 |location=New Jersey, Red Bank |page=20|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = November 7, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref> American Tobacco Company continued to sponsor the program until 1945, when a cigarette shortage caused it to cut back on advertising and [[Colgate-Palmolive]] became the sponsor.<ref>{{cite newsmagazine |title=Kyser Fate Awaits G.W. Hill; Colgate Offers 10-Yr. Deal |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Billboard-IDX/IDX/40s/1946/BB-1946-08-17-OCR-Page-0006.pdf |accessdate=8 November 2018 |workmagazine=Billboard |date=August 17, 1946 |page=6}}</ref> The show's run on NBC ended on June 26, 1948.<ref name=dunningota/>

===ABC===