Garrison Keillor, born in Anoka Minnesota, is an author, humorist, and radio personality known by many for his creation, A Prairie Home Companion. The program ran much of time between 1974 to 2016 and was hosted by Keillor. He developed the fictional Minnesota town Lake Wobegon, which was utilized in the show and many of the books he wrote over the decades.
Keillor began his radio career in 1969 as an on-air host for Minnesota Educational Radio (MER), which would later become Minnesota Public Radio (MPR).
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June 20, 1986 - An MPR broadcast of Loft event celebrating the writing accomplishments of A Prairie Home Companion’s Garrison Keillor. During event, Keillor reads from his work and performs music with accompaniment from Bill Hinkley and Judy Larson.
January 14, 1987 - Peter Fuhrken, a local junior high school student, interviews a Prairie Home Companion’s Garrison Keillor. As conversation progresses, Keillor attempts to flip the script and interview Peter.
April 10, 1987 - MPR’s Loren Omoto reports on Radio Best Awards event held in St. Paul. Segment includes a recipient speech clip by Garrison Keillor, one of the honorees.
May 18, 1989 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten chats with with Garrison Keillor about his new program in New York, which will include monologue, music, and sketches. Keillor explains the difference of new endeavor to his well-known A Prairie Home Companion program.
May 19, 1989 - MPR’s Tom Meersman does a profile on new production by performer Garrison Keillor. The production, called “Garrison Keillor’s American Radio Company of the Air,” will include monologue, music, and comic sketches. The new two hour show will follow in the footsteps of A Prairie Home Companion.
March 23, 1990 - On this Midday program, Garrison Keillor talks about his show "The Monthly Meeting of the Moon Club of New York" and answers listener questions. The event is being staged at the World Theater.
March 23, 1991 - MPR’s Susan Orandi reports on Garrison Keillor’s return to A Prairie Home Companion. Keillor stopped doing his A Prairie Home Companion show in 1987, but says he has searched for some happy way of rediscovering and operating the roots of the show.
March 30, 1992 - MPR’s Bill Wareham interviews Garrison Keillor on coming back home to Minnesota and A Prairie Home Companion.
October 1, 1993 - MPR’s Bob Potter interviews Garrison Keillor on bringing back the original A Prairie Home Companion name.
August 23, 1996 - Garrison Keillor hosts his annual “Minnesota Quiz” in MPR booth at the Minnesota State Fair. Audience members try to answer various questions about for prizes. Topics of quiz include state history, sports, weather and arts. Gary Eichten briefly closes out program.