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.
March 25, 1980 - Dr. Tom Norris of the Children's Health Center in Minneapolis discusses children's health issues on this call-in broadcast.
March 31, 1980 - Independent film maker Kenneth Anger describes his work, including his latest film "Lucifer Rising", and talks about his career, his relationship with Hollywood, and the influences on his films in this interview with MPR's Nancy Fushan.
April 3, 1980 - Rich Dietman talks with Bill Angell, the extension housing specialist at the University of Minnesota about buying a home in Minnesota and what to look for in shopping for an older home. Call-in show.
April 7, 1980 - Less than half of the railroad branch lines operating 10 years ago in southwest Minnesota remain. The 1970's was a decade of wholesale rail abandonment and the role branch lines will play in the 1980's is uncertain. This program examines efforts being made to preserve railroad branch lines.
April 9, 1980 - Twelve Moons Storytellers Gayle Ross and Liz Ollis, currently on a tour of the upper Midwest, join MPR's Rich Dietman in studio in St. Paul to tell several Appalachian, Native American, and other stories. They talk about different kinds of stories and how to tell them, and answer listener questions about stories.
April 10, 1980 - Guests Dr. Thomas Bligh of the Mechanical Engineering Department at MIT and Don Metz, an architect in Lyme, New Hampshire and founder of a design and consulting firm specializing in earth-sheltered and passive solar structures. They discuss earth-sheltered dwellings and answer listener questions.
April 12, 1980 - Marilyn Solberg, instructor of psychology at St. Mary's College in Winona, speaking at a symposium sponsored by Southeastern Libraries Cooperating and the Minnesota Humanities Commission at the Winona Historical Society. Soldberg shared her thoughts about the family, and the decline in “traditional” family.
April 19, 1980 - On this Weekend program, MPR’s Rich Dietman interviews Lyman Steil, Chairman of the Speech and Communications Division of the Rhetoric Department of the University of Minnesota, about listening and how to become better at it. Steil also is a consultant to several corporations that are trying both to teach their employees to listen better and project the image that they are responsive firms because they listen.
April 24, 1980 - MPR’s Dan Olson interviews Bonnie Watkins, staff member of the Minnesota Council on the Economic Status of Women; and Carol Flynn, an organizer for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Watkins and Flynn discuss problems faced by office workers and efforts to organize the predominately female clerical workers. Topics include pay inequality, sexual discrimination, and vague job descriptions. Both also answer listener questions.
April 26, 1980 - On this Weekend program, MPR’s Rich Dietman interviews Ruth Mattson Taylor about speaking with the dead. Through the help of British clairvoyant Margaret Flavell Tweddell, Ms. Taylor says she communicated with her deceased father, A.D. Mattson, who was a Lutheran minister, on numerous occasions during which time he told her some of what it is like "on the other side.” Ms. Taylor recently finished editing a book entitled, "Witness from Beyond."