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Kay Kyser and his Orchestra Trivia Quiz

Kay Kyser and his Orchestra were one of the most popular, best loved and most successful big bands in America in the 1940s. How much do you know about these zany but professionally accomplished musicians?

A multiple-choice quiz by FatherSteve. Estimated time: 5 mins.

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Author
FatherSteve

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
365,148

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
174

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Kay Kyser and his Orchestra released over 400 recordings, 35 of which made the Billboard Magazine Top Ten and 11 of which were the Billboard Number One record in America.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. In 1942, Kay Kyser and his Orchestra recorded a hit which drew upon the American experience of World War II. That song was called "Praise the Lord and Pass the ______________." Hint

Ammunition

Collection Plate

Mashed Potatoes

M-1 Rifle

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Kay and the band hosted a musical game show, first on the radio (1938-1949) and then on television (1949-1950). What was the name of the programme? Hint

Name that Tune

Face the Music

Your Hit Parade

The Kollege of Musical Knowledge

4. Merwyn Bogue was an excellent trumpet player, often featured in Kay Kyser's arrangements. With his bangs cut straight across the front like Moe Howard's, he played comedy parts in the band's movies. What was his stage name?
Hint

Ish Kabibble

Satchmo Armstrong

Dizzy Gillespie

Muggsy Spanier

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Kay and the band appeared in their second movie in 1940. It co-starred Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and Peter Lorre but it was more zany than scary. It featured songs such as "Like The Fella Once Said", "You've Got Me This Way", "I'd Know You Anywhere", "One Track Mind", and "Bad Humor Man." What was the name of the film? Hint

You'll Find Out

Around the World

That's Right; You're Wrong!

Swing Fever

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Kay Kyser himself sang a song which reached Billboard's number one in 1939. It was a nonsense song which included the repeated line "Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!" What was the name of this hit song? Hint

Woody Woodpecker

Three Little Fishes

Strip Polka

Managua Nicaragua

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Question 7 of 10

7. Ginny Simms, Georgia Carroll, Ann Miller and Jane Russell all sang with the Kay Kyser Orchestra on radio, on stage and/or in the movies. Which did Kay Kyser marry? Hint

Jane Russell

Ginny Simms

Georgia Carroll

Ann Miller

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. During World War II, many American big bands toured the world to entertain American troops. The Kay Kyser Orchestra was one of these. In a fictionalized film, Kay leads a troupe of singers, dancers and comics on such a tour. The movie features songs such as "He's Got a Secret Weapon" sung by Harry Babbitt, "Roodle-ee-doo" sung by the cast, and "Candlelight and Wine" sung by Georgia Carroll and Harry Babbitt. Name this film. Hint

Carolina Blues

Around the World

Playmates

My Favorite Spy

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. The Kay Kyser Orchestra's recording of a swing-time version of a country-western song reached number one on the Billboard chart in July of 1942. The title of the song was "I've Got Spurs that ___________________." Hint

Are Made of Purest Silver

Jingle Jangle Jingle

Make Me a Rag-time Cowboy

Tell the Girls I'm Coming

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Kay Kyser rather abruptly stopped performing in 1950, ostensibly due to his progressive and incurable arthritis. What did he do at the end his public career? Hint

He committed suicide

He became a Christian Science practitioner.

He became addicted to pain-killing drugs

He became a recluse, like Howard Hughes

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Kay Kyser and his Orchestra released over 400 recordings, 35 of which made the Billboard Magazine Top Ten and 11 of which were the Billboard Number One record in America.

Answer: True

Kay and the band recorded on the Brunswick, Columbia and Victor labels. In those days, big band recordings were made by recording the band and the vocals all at the same time rather than overlaying and blending tracks, as is done modernly.

2. In 1942, Kay Kyser and his Orchestra recorded a hit which drew upon the American experience of World War II. That song was called "Praise the Lord and Pass the ______________."

Answer: Ammunition

This song was written by Frank Loesser who constructed it around the story of a U.S. Navy chaplain, LTJG Howell Forgy, who was on duty aboard the U.S.S. New Orleans during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The term "sky pilot" in the lyrics refers to a military chaplain. He was reported to have repeated "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition" to a gang of sailors passing heavy naval artillery rounds hand to hand on board the ship during the attack.

3. Kay and the band hosted a musical game show, first on the radio (1938-1949) and then on television (1949-1950). What was the name of the programme?

Answer: The Kollege of Musical Knowledge

The show was a whacky melange of musical quiz, comedy and musical performances by the band and its soloists. Kyser would dress in academic gown and mortar board and address the audience as "Students!"

Answer: Ish Kabibble

Bogue's stage name was derived from a Yiddish expression meaning "I should worry!?" He performed with the Kay Kyser Orchestra from 1931 until it disbanded. On the radio and TV show, his shtick was to interrupt the programme with nonsense poetry.

Answer: You'll Find Out

Filmologists assert that "You'll Find Out" was the only movie in which Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and Peter Lorre appeared together. It also starred Helen Parrish and Dennis O'Keefe. It involved a haunted house and was shot in eerie black and white.

Answer: Three Little Fishes

This song relates the tender and deeply moving story of three little fishes who lived in a pool with their mother. Their mama told them not to swim over the dam or they would get lost but they ignored her parental advice. They swam all the way to the sea where they were frightened by a shark ... which caused them to return to their pool and their mother by swimming back over the dam to safety.

7. Ginny Simms, Georgia Carroll, Ann Miller and Jane Russell all sang with the Kay Kyser Orchestra on radio, on stage and/or in the movies. Which did Kay Kyser marry?

Answer: Georgia Carroll

After modeling, acting in movies and singing professionally, Georgia Carroll joined Kay Kyser's band in 1943 and married the band leader in 1945. The couple had three children and remained married until Kay's death in 1985. Ms. Carroll died in 2011.

Answer: Around the World

During the war, Hollywood produced a great many movies to encourage the troops deployed and their families back at home. Kay and his orchestra appeared in two of the most famous of these, both made in 1943: "Stage Door Canteen" and "Thousands Cheer" (the latter of which is the only movie in which Kay and the band appear in colour).

Answer: Jingle Jangle Jingle

This song was written by Joseph J. Lilley and Frank Loesser. Many recordings of it were made -- by Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, Burl Ives and the Glenn Miller Orchestra -- but it was Kyser's version which reached number one in popularity.

10. Kay Kyser rather abruptly stopped performing in 1950, ostensibly due to his progressive and incurable arthritis. What did he do at the end his public career?

Answer: He became a Christian Science practitioner.

Kyser converted to Christian Science in the mid-Forties and later became a Christian Science practitioner. The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, put him in charge of its national film and television programme. He was elected President of the national church (for a one-year term) in 1983.

Source: Author FatherSteve

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
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