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'''''Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge''''' is an American [[old-time radio]] musical quiz program. It was broadcast on [[Mutual Broadcasting System|Mutual]], [[NBC]], and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] at different times beginning on February 1, 1938, and ending on July 29, 1949.<ref name="dunningota">{{cite book|last1=Dunning|first1=John|title=On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio|date=1998|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-19-507678-3|page=384-385|edition=Revised}}</ref>
==Background==
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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&pg=PA148&dq=%22Kollege+of+Musical+Knowledge%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiTrsLfn8DeAhXHlFQKHUa3Cu8Q6AEIMDAB#v=onepage&q=%22Kollege%20of%20Musical%20Knowledge%22&f=false |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 gogot titit to a degree that make another facets of the program secondary."<ref>{{cite news |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 |work=Billboard |date=November 15, 1947 |page=14}}</ref>
==Networks and sponsors==
===Mutual===
On February 1, 1938, Kyser's program gained a sponsor, a network, a new location, and (at least temporarily) a new title. The [[American Tobacco Company]] began sponsoring ''Kollege'',<ref name=dunningota/> which until then had been a [[sustaining program]].<ref name=":1">{{cite news |title=Kyser Kampus Klass Starts on MBS Tuesday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25164464/chicago_tribune/ |work=Chicago Tribune |date=January 30, 1938 |location=Illinois, Chicago |page=36|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = November 6, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref> While the program remained on WGN, it was also carried on the Mutual networkBroadcasting System. At the same time, its site was moved from the Blackhawk to WGN's 600-seat studio.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wolters |first1=Larry |title=W-G-N Program Monday to Aid Paralysis Fund |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25164150/chicago_tribune/ |work=Chicago Tribune |date=January 22, 1938 |location=Illinois, Chicago |page=20|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = November 6, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref> The ''[[Chicago Tribune|Chicago Sunday Tribune]]'' reported in its January 30, 1938, issue that the show's title would become ''Kay Kyser's Kampus Klass''.<ref name=":1" />
Eight members of the studio audience were selected by random drawing to participate in the quizzes in each broadcast. The grand prize was $50, with another $50 going to other contestants.<ref name=":1" />
===NBC===
The program moved to NBC and 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 titletheme 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 news |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 |work=Billboard |date=August 17, 1946 |page=6}}</ref> ItsThe show's timerun on NBC ended on June 26, 1948.<ref name=dunningota/>
===ABC===
On July 29, 1949, ''Kollege'' moved to ABCdaytime andon to daytimeABC. It ran until July 19, 1949, with [[Pillsbury Company|Pillsbury]] sponsoring.<ref name=dunningota/>
==Television==
Kyser took the program to television on December 1, 1949, on NBC, where it ran weekly until December 28, 1950. The format was essentially the same as that of the radio program, including Kyser's wearing a cap and gown.<ref name=tt>{{cite book|last1=McNeil|first1=Alex|title=Total Television|date=1996|publisher=Penguin Books USA, Inc.|location=New York, New York|isbn=0-14-02-4916-8|page= 172|edition=4th}}</ref> Kyser and KabbibleKabibble were the only entertainers carried over from the radio version. Other regulars were Liza Palmer, [[Sue Bennett]], [[Mike Douglas]], [[Diane Sinclair]], and Ken Spaulding. [[Ben Grauer]] and Roy Marshall were the announcers.<ref name="brooks">{{cite book|last1=Books|first1=Tim|last2=Marsh|first2=Earle|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows : 1946 - Present|date=1979|publisher=Ballantine Books|location=New York|isbn=0-345-25525-9|page=321}}</ref>
The program returned to TV on July 4, 1954, again on NBC, and ran until September 12, 1954. [[Tennessee Ernie Ford]] was the host, and the title used the traditional spelling, '''''College of Musical Knowledge'''''.<ref name=tt/> [[Frank De Vol]]'s orchestra provided instrumental music, and the Cheerleaders Quintet sang. [[Jack Narz]] was the announcer.<ref name=brooks/>
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