VIDEO RETROSPECTIVE
"C'mon chillen, Yess' dance!" Kay Kyser admonishes his swing 'students' just before kicking his excellent band into yet another smash hit song. There were many- THREE LITTLE FISHIES, ON A SLOW BOAT TO CHINA, WHO WOULDNT LOVE YOU, PRAISE THE LORD AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, WOODY WOODPECKER, TWO SLEEPY PEOPLE, THERE GOES THAT SONG AGAIN, PLAYMATES. The list goes on, as Kay Kyser (born James Kern Kyser in 1905) racked up 11 number one hits and 35 top tens during the 30s and 40s.
This page is here to let everyone know there is a new video celebrating the life and many accomplishments of this fine bandleader, radio & film star, statesman, and spiritual leader. The one hour made-for-TV retrospective is titled, KAY KYSER-THE OL' PROFESSOR OF SWING! There is SO much to know about Kyser that I'll happily redirect you to the most informative KK site, www.kaykyser.net for all the fun details, because if this guy was about anything, it was FUN!
KAY KYSER'S COLLEGE OF MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE was a very popular radio music/quiz show that ran nationally from 1938 (first NBC show on March 30th) to 1949. Kay's radio persona was that of 'the Ol' Professor' of the 'College' (sometimes spelled 'Kollege') due not only to his outstanding leadership qualities, but because even as a young man, Kay Kyser looked old. He donned a professor's cap and gown and commanded the stage with his silliness and contagious sense of fun- swing dancing w/ contestants and mugging behind his singers while the band offered up one hit after another. As the Kyser band's popularity grew in the late 30s, Hollywood came knocking, and Kay and the band made 7 feature films and appeared in 2 others.
During WW2 Kyser was tops in appearing at military installations, playing more shows than Bob Hope. The National Archive lists Kyser as being the first to broadcast from a military facility, again before Bob Hope. He was the entertainment chairman for the HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN, and played their Saturday night dances when they werent playing for soldiers elsewhere.
Writer/producer on this project is longtime Kyser Archivist Steven Beasley conducting onscreen interviews w/ Kyser bandmembers Harry Babbitt, Georgia Kyser, Roc Hillman, Noni Bernardi, Rosy McHargue, and Kyser's daughter, Amanda.
In addition to the interviews (shot by Chris Babbitt) there are some great home movies, film clips and some fun 30s and 40s swing and novelty numbers by the KK band. Speaking of the Kyser band , they were one of the finest around, and their sax section was so tight they were described as playing 'with one breath'. Many of the players were there for decades. The excellent arranger/composer, George Duning gave the band its sound for the first 20 years before striking out on his own and establishing a distinguished career scoring films and TV shows. The featured performers were also responsible for the band's success, and their 'come along with us' approachability served them very well in concert, film and record sales. As KK guitarist Roc Hillman says, 'We were like a functional family, and it was happy times all the time." The best remembered featured performers were-
Harry Babbitt, vocals
Sully Mason, sax, vocals
Georgia Carroll Kyser, vocals
Ginny Simms, vocals
Ish Kabibble (Merwyn Bogue), cornet, vocals
Jack Martin, sax and vocals
Michael Douglas (real name Dowd, later TV's Mike Douglas), vocals
Trudy Erwin, vocals
Dorothy Dunn, vocals
Julie Conway, vocals
Lucy Ann Polk, vocals
We're shopping the teaser DVD now in hope of finding a home and completion funds. Check the blog here for Kyser facts, stories and legends!
Go to www.kaykyser.net for more info on Kay Kyser-the Ol' Professor of Swing!
Contact writer/producer Steven Beasley here on myspace.
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