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).
Please note: Most content related to this topic that is contemporary can be found on our main content pages of MPR News, YourClassical MPR, The Current, APM Reports, and Marketplace.
October 2, 1992 - Morning Edition broadcasts a BBC Outlook interview with writer and performer Garrison Keillor, who comments on writing, the Midwest, politics, and New York City. Segment opens with Keillor reading.
October 1, 1993 - MPR’s Bob Potter interviews Garrison Keillor on bringing back the original A Prairie Home Companion name.
September 23, 1994 - Garrison Keillor reads an excerpt from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
September 23, 1994 - All Things Considered’s John Rabe asks Garrison Keillor for his opinion on Minnesota native F. Scott Fitzgerald. Keillor shares kind words of the writer’s style and discusses Fitzgerald’s feelings towards St. Paul (the famed author had some “not-so-kind’ words regarding his birthplace).
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.