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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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, 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.
September 23, 1996 - MPR’s Bob Potter interviews Garrison Keillor about famed St. Paul author F. Scott Fitzgeald. Keillor discusses Fitzgerald’s work and connection to the Midwest.
September 23, 1996 - A Garrison Keillor documentary about F. Scott Fitzgerald entitled Fitzgerald in St. Paul, on the eve of his 100th birthday commemoration. Program includes interviews, music elements, and readings.
September 24, 1996 - A Garrison Keillor documentary about F. Scott Fitzgerald entitled Fitzgerald in St. Paul, on the eve of his 100th birthday commemoration. Program includes interviews, music elements, and readings.
February 5, 1999 - MPR’s John Rabe interviews Garrison Keillor on his new satirical book, Me, that seems to parody Jesse Ventura.
June 30, 1999 - Garrison Keillor gives a speech at the spring commencement for the Class of 1999 at the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts. Keillor talks about growing up, what’s next for the graduates, and doing good in the world.