November 26, 1998 - On this Midday Thanksgiving Day call-in program, former Star Tribune columnist Jim Klobuchar visits the MPR studios to discuss his book, Pursued By Grace.
November 27, 1998 - INTRO Just as this time of year is vital for retailers, the holiday season is hugely important for arts organizations. The flurry of ticket buying to holiday shows like A Christmas Carol and the Nutcracker, brings in a significant part of the year's operating budget for Twin Cities arts organizations. Its also a time when may young people get their initial exposure to the arts. Yet Despite an almost-guaranteed holiday audience for some shows, nationwide, audience numbers for cultural events are stagnant. And so, like any business, arts organizations are dreaming up creative new strategies to pack 'em in. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Stucky has more.
November 27, 1998 - 85 years ago, 28 men sailed for Antarctica in a ship called Endurance. Their goal was to cross the frozen continent shore-to-shore. They never made it closer than a hundred miles from the coast, but the adventure they DID have could be considered even more amazing than crossing Antarctica. They got stuck in the ice and were given up for dead. But they all survived, in large part because they were led by the great explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. They spent months on ice floes and on a desolate island, and weeks at sea in tiny lifeboats. The story's been told and retold in many books, but now you can see the pictures the expedition photographer took during the journey. The photos by Frank Hurley are collected in a new book called "The Endurance" by Caroline Alexander, who spoke with Minnesota Public Radio's John Rabe. | D-CART ITEM: 1348 | TIME: 5:25 | OUTCUE: "...IT HAPPENED."
November 30, 1998 - GREEN FEATURE Like thousands of people, Moorhead resident Orval Hurner spends his fall raking leaves... but he doesn't just cram them all into garbage bags... Hurner has immortalized some of them in wood. Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports.
November 30, 1998 - The manager of the Minnesota World Trade Center at 7th and Cedar in downtown St. Paul says he thinks he and his building staff aren't much different from many of their building's corporate tenants. Harp music relaxes the workers in the morning after a tense drive to work.
December 1, 1998 - If the great symphonies and orchestras of the world are worried about where their future audience will come from, jazz musicians and aficionadoes are doubly concerned. Many people don't come in contact with jazz until adulthood, and by that time can easily be intimidated by its complexity and sophistication. Which is why Baby Boom Records in Minneapolis has released a jazz c.d. for kids called "Jazz-a-ma-tazz," featuring childrens' songs interpreted by jazz musicians. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts spoke with the producer of the album and has this report.
December 1, 1998 - MPR’s Karen Louise Boothe reports that Governor Arne Carlson has presented a plan to spend another $51 million on three "quality of life" initiatives. the proposal calls for aid for homeless children, more funding for the arts, and money to clean up and maintain Minnesota lakes.
December 2, 1998 - There is a slight sense of irony this year at the Walker Art Center's annual screening of the British Television Advertising Awards in that one of the most successful ads was done for the very non-commericial BBC. Awards co-ordinator Peter Bigg will introduce the show tonight (Wed) as it opens a run lasting through December 20th. He told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr the BBC ad attempted to persuade people to pay their annual license fees by showing the many different kinds of music available through BBC television and radio. The fee is close to 150 dollars, and must be paid by anyone who watches TV. The commercial also tried to raise millions for childrens charities.... British Television Advertising Awards Co-ordinator Peter Bigg will introduce the first screening of this years Awards a
December 4, 1998 - Every once in a while someone has an idea that is so crazy, it might just work. Take the case of Colin and Susan McAllister of St. Paul. This weekend they are mounting a small festival in St. Paul, gathering... what they hope will be hundreds if not thousands of people to celebrate LINCOLNSHIRE!!!! "Where? What?" you say... "Lincoln-who?" Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Stucky reports on the attempt to focus Minnesotan attention on what's known as England's "Forgotton County"..... Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Stucky reports.
December 4, 1998 - MPR’s Mary Stucky reports that the hottest toy this Christmas season reflects the old adage "we want what we can't have.” The toy in question is called a Furby, a furry electronic pet. In the business of toy marketing, scarcity drives consumer demand. The day after Thanksgiving people lined up at local toy stores at six in the morning. One store at the Mall of America sold out 300 Furbys in just ten minutes. It's another example of how advertising, a limited product supply and the demands of children can create a monster demand. But the Furby may be something new; in an age of global communications there is a worldwide demand...and an international shortage.