Midday, the longest running MPR news program, began as an extension of a daily half hour noon newscast called “Midday Report.” In September 1971 it expanded into various longer iterations, running weekdays, as well as encompassing some weekend programming. During this period, it was described as: “A program of news and information, a calendar of the day’s cultural events and the environmental report.” In January 1972 the name changed to Midday, and a month later it was described as: “A program of news, consumer and environmental information, discussion of public issues, and reports by the MPR and NPR news staffs."
Separate MPR public affairs programming were featured, such as Spectrum, Sportfolio, MPR Special, Insight, Weekend, Forum, and MPR’s Mainstreet Radio, among others. Local programming was also featured, including Westminster Town Hall Forum, Carlson Lecture Series, Minnesota Meeting, Minnesota Press Club, and Mondale Policy Forum. National outside programming included Options, Horizons, Communique, National Press Club, Chappaqua Lecture, Ford Hall Forum, Commonwealth Club, among others; and interview shows from the likes of Studs Terkel, William F. Buckley and Nancy Fushan.
As the years progressed, the “Interview” and “Call-in” would become a regular format for Midday. Beginning in the mid-1970’s until 1992, Midday was hosted by Bob Potter, after which, Gary Eichten became the permanent host. Many guest hosts also participated over the years. During the Eichten era, Midday became a daily two-hour program staple, running from 11AM-1PM. Midday ended its run in January 2012, when long-time host Eichten retired.
May 25, 2001 - A Memorial Day special Voices of Minnesota featuring the stories of two war survivors. Dan Olson interviews World War II war prisoner and bomber pilot Richard Carroll from Eagan, and Sabina Zimering, the Polish Jew now living in St. Louis Park who evaded the Nazis with a false identity.
May 28, 2001 - A Common Place Memorial Day special. The program is the story of four World War II chaplains who went down together with their torpedoed ship in 1943. Plus a conversation with Bruce Weigl, a Vietnam veteran who writes poetry.
May 29, 2001 - The final Pen Pals lecture series featuring Wisconsin author Jane Hamilton. Two of her books The Book of Ruth and A Map of the World were Oprah books.
June 7, 2001 - A look at lower cancer rates in Minnesota with Stephen Hecht, Wallin professor of cancer prevention at the University of Minnesota Cancer Center.
June 7, 2001 - Postcard from a Lynching, an MPR special report about an ugly chapter in Duluth's history. Then Michael Fedo, author of The Lynchings in Duluth, and Augsburg College History Professor Bill Green discuss the documentary and respond to listener comments and questions.
June 8, 2001 - Walter Mondale's tribute to his mentor Hubert Humphrey from the ongoing 50 Years: Mondale Lectures on Public Service, held at the University of Minnesota.
June 12, 2001 - Misti Snow writes Mindworks, the Star Tribune's monthly forum for young writers. She shares what she's been hearing from kids for the past 18 years on Midday.
July 6, 2001 - Garrison Keillor delivered a eulogy for guitar player Chet Atkins, who died earlier this week.
July 6, 2001 - Midday presents the American RadioWorks documentary “The Promise of Justice: Burning the Evidence,” which looks at war crimes in Kosovo. This is the story of a secret and grisly operation by Serbian security forces to destroy evidence of possible war crimes in an industrial furnace in northern Kosovo.
July 18, 2001 - Joe Dowling, Guthrie Theater artistic director, sits in the studio with Gary Eichten to talk about the future of the venue and answer questions from MPR listeners.