{
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  "@id": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/1024198/kay-kyser",
  "name": "Kay Kyser",
  "url": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/1024198/kay-kyser",
  "knownForDepartment": "Acting",
  "description": "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!”\n\nKyser 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.",
  "birthDate": "1905-06-18",
  "deathDate": "1985-07-23",
  "birthPlace": "Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA",
  "alternateName": [
    "James King Kern Kyser",
    "The Ol' Perfessor",
    "James Kern Kyser"
  ],
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  "lastVerified": "7 May 2026",
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      "tmdbId": 10536,
      "title": "The Mike Douglas Show",
      "year": "1961",
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      "tmdbId": 125960,
      "title": "The Movie Orgy",
      "year": "1968",
      "role": "as Self (archive footage)",
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      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/7KB2YqOPVnwMkQIjHCAr9PBlseS.jpg",
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      "tmdbId": 38726,
      "title": "Stage Door Canteen",
      "year": "1943",
      "role": "as Kay Kyser",
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      "tmdbId": 276214,
      "title": "Television: The First Fifty Years",
      "year": "1999",
      "role": "as Self (archive footage)",
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      "tmdbId": 186702,
      "title": "Show-Business at War",
      "year": "1943",
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      "tmdbId": 43518,
      "title": "Thousands Cheer",
      "year": "1943",
      "role": "as Kay Kyser",
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      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/7YFjle5GLmpU7xajOVH25TH8ljU.jpg",
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      "title": "Swing Fever",
      "year": "1943",
      "role": "as Lowell Blackford",
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      "title": "My Favorite Spy",
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      "title": "Showbiz Goes to War",
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      "tmdbId": 80720,
      "title": "You'll Find Out",
      "year": "1940",
      "role": "as Himself",
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      "title": "Around the World",
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      "title": "That's Right – You're Wrong",
      "year": "1939",
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      "title": "Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2",
      "year": "1941",
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      "title": "Invisible Opponent",
      "year": "1933",
      "role": "as Sir Thomas",
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    {
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      "tmdbId": 250134,
      "title": "Playmates",
      "year": "1941",
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      "title": "Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 1",
      "year": "1941",
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    {
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      "title": "Carolina Blues",
      "year": "1944",
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      "title": "G.I. Journal",
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      "title": "If I Forget You",
      "year": "1940",
      "role": "as Orchestra",
      "roleKind": "cast",
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      "title": "Africa Squeaks",
      "year": "1940",
      "role": "as Cake Icer (voice)",
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      "title": "Screen Snapshots (Series 23, no. 3)",
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}