Kyser, Kay

James Kern Kay Kyser was born 18 June 1905 in Rocky Mount, N.C., to Paul Kyser and Emily Royster Kyser, both pharmacists. His mother was the first registered female pharmacist in North Carolina. His uncle, Edward Vernon Howell, opened the pharmacy school at the University of North Carolina in 1897 and served as the dean until his death in 1931. His cousin, Vermont Connecticut Royster, was the editor of the Wall Street Journal from 1958 to 1971. Another member of the Royster family, Julianna Royster Busby, established Jugtown Pottery in Moore County, N.C., in 1920.

Following his family's lead, Kyser entered the University of North Carolina in 1923. At school, he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity and was active in the Playmakers Theatre. He was also the school's head cheerleader, establishing the cheering section known as the Carolina Cheerios. Kyser's bandleader career began in 1926, when he took over as the leader of the school orchestra. He graduated with high honors in 1927. In 1937, Kyser wrote Tar Heels on Hand, which became the school's fight song.

After graduation, Kyser and his band hit the road in pursuit of a musical career. The band had little success for several years and was barely able to make ends meet. In 1934, the band received its big break when they became regular performers at the Blackhawk Restaurant in Chicago. In 1937, the band began to get the audience involved by asking questions about music. Originally known as Kay's Klass, the performance went nationwide on NBC in 1938 as the Kollege of Musical Knowledge, when the American Tobacco Company bought the show for Lucky Strike. The Kollege of Musical Knowledge ran on NBC from 1938 to 1950, first on radio and then briefly on television. The show performed weekly to nearly 20 million listeners, with Kay, the Ol' Professor, questioning contestants who won money and a diploma. The Kollege of Musical Knowledge had many members during its run, including Harry Babbitt, Mike Douglas, George Duning, Ish Kabibble (whose real name was Merwyn Bogue), Georgia Carroll Kyser, Sully Mason, and Ginny Simms. The act was the first to perform for troops during World War II. Kyser and the orchestra also appeared in several movies, including That's Right, You're Wrong and Carolina Blues.

In 1944, Kyser married singer Georgia Carroll, who had joined the Kollege of Musical Knowledge the year before. The couple had three children: Kimberly, Amanda, and Carroll. In 1951, Kyser quietly retired from show business, moving his family to Chapel Hill, N.C. No longer in the Hollywood spotlight, he became active in the Chapel Hill community. Through the Kyser Foundation, he gave scholarships to students of music and dramatic art at the University of North Carolina. He was also instrumental in improving health care in North Carolina, starting the state's public television station, and establishing a highway safety program. He was also active in the Christian Science Church, directing the church's radio and television broadcasting division at the Boston headquarters in the 1970s, being a guest lecturer, and becoming the national honorary president in 1983.

Kyser died in Chapel Hill on 24 July 1985 and is buried in Old Chapel Hill Cemetery.

Georgia Carroll Kyser was born 18 November 1919 in Blooming Grove, Tex. A fashion model, actress, and singer, she is perhaps best known as Gorgeous Georgia Carroll as part of Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge. She appeared in three films: Around the World, Carolina Blues, and Thousands Cheer. She retired from performing in the 1940s and died in Chapel Hill, N.C., in 2011.

From the guide to the Kay Kyser and Georgia Carroll Kyser Collection of Photographs, circa 1906-1985, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives.)

James Kern Kay Kyser was born 18 June 1905 in Rocky Mount, N.C., to Paul Kyser and Emily Royster Kyser, both pharmacists. His mother was the first registered female pharmacist in North Carolina. His uncle, Edward Vernon Howell, opened the pharmacy school at the University of North Carolina in 1897 and served as the dean until his death in 1931. His cousin, Vermont Connecticut Royster, was the editor of the Wall Street Journal from 1958 to 1971. Another member of the Royster family, Julianna Royster Busby, established Jugtown Pottery in Moore County, N.C., in 1920.

Following his family's lead, Kyser entered the University of North Carolina in 1923. At school, he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity and was active in the Playmakers Theatre. He was also the school's head cheerleader, establishing the cheering section known as the Carolina Cheerios. Kyser's bandleader career began in 1926, when he took over as the leader of the school orchestra. He graduated with high honors in 1927. In 1937, Kyser wrote Tar Heels on Hand, which became the school's fight song.

After graduation, Kyser and his band hit the road in pursuit of a musical career. The band had little success for several years, barely able to make ends meet. In 1934, the band received its big break when they became regular performers at the Blackhawk Restaurant in Chicago. In 1937, the band began to get the audience involved by asking questions about music. Originally known as Kay's Klass, the performance went nationwide on NBC in 1938 as the College of Musical Knowledge (often written as the Kollege of Musical Knowledge ) when the American Tobacco Company bought the show for Lucky Strike. The College of Musical Knowledge ran on NBC from 1938 to 1950, first on radio and then briefly on television. The show performed weekly to nearly 20 million listeners, with Kay, the Ol' Professor, questioning contestants who won money and a diploma. The College of Musical Knowledge had many members during its run, including Harry Babbitt, Mike Douglas, George Duning, Ish Kabibble (whose real name was Merwyn Bogue), Georgia Carroll Kyser, Sully Mason, and Ginny Simms. The act was the first to perform for troops during World War II. Kyser and the orchestra also appeared in several movies, including That's Right, You're Wrong and Carolina Blues .

In 1944, Kyser married singer Georgia Carroll, who had joined the College of Musical Knowledge the year before. The couple had three children: Kimberly, Amanda, and Carroll. In 1951, Kyser quietly retired from show business, moving his family to Chapel Hill, N.C. No longer in the Hollywood spotlight, he became active in the Chapel Hill community. Through the Kyser Foundation, he gave scholarships to students of music and dramatic art at the University of North Carolina. He was also instrumental in improving health care in North Carolina, starting the state's public television station, and establishing a highway safety program. He was also active in the Christian Science Church, directing the church's radio and television broadcasting division at the Boston headquarters in the 1970s, being a guest lecturer, and becoming the national honorary president in 1983.

Kyser died in Chapel Hill on 24 July 1985 and is buried in Old Chapel Hill Cemetery.

Georgia Carroll Kyser was born 18 November 1919 in Blooming Grove, Tex. A fashion model, actress, and singer, she is perhaps best known as Gorgeous Georgia Carroll as part of Kay Kyser's College of Musical Knowledge . She appeared in three films: Around the World, Carolina Blues, and Thousands Cheer .

From the guide to the Kay Kyser and Georgia Carroll Kyser Papers, 1906-2004, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)