MPR News editor-at-large and retired host Gary Eichten has worn many hats during his 40-plus-year career at Minnesota Public Radio, including news director, special events producer and station manager. He has served as host for Minnesota Public Radio's live, special events news coverage, and has hosted all of the major news programs on Minnesota Public Radio, including Midday, which he hosted for more than 20 years.
A graduate of St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, Eichten began his career at Minnesota Public Radio as a student announcer at KSJR (Minnesota Public Radio's first station). Among the honors Eichten has received during his career is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting award for best local news program. He also assisted in the development of two Peabody award-winning documentaries. In 2007, he was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting's Hall of Fame. Eichten has also been awarded the prestigious 2011 Graven Award by the Premack Public Affairs Journalism Awards Board for his contribution to excellence in the journalism profession.
February 12, 2007 - Ever thought about writing a memoir? Accomplished memoirists Patricia Hampl and Katherine Lanpher offered some advice in a forum at the Loft Literary Center.
January 31, 2007 - Norman Mailer tells Hitler's story and his own.Even at 84, Norman Mailer hopes he still has one more book in him. This year Mailer released his first major work of fiction in a decade: "The Castle in the Forest," which is about the boyhood of Adolph Hitler. In a Jan. 23 discussion in New York City, Mailer said he'd like to write one more book before he dies.
January 2, 2007 - Gov. Tim Pawlenty begins his second term in office Tuesday with an inauguration ceremony at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. Minnesota Public Radio has live coverage of the event.
December 25, 2006 - "A Christmas Memory" and other stories. To keep you company this Christmas, Midday presents stories of the season from a host of top-flight story tellers, including Truman Capote, Garrison Keillor and David Sedaris. Hour 1: "A Christmas Memory," by Truman Capote. Read by the author at the University of North Dakota's 1976 Writer's Conference. "Mr. Bergy's Christmas," by Garrison Keillor. Performed in 1991 on Keillor's radio show "A Prairie Home Companion." "Is There a Santa Claus?" This letter first appeared on the editorial page of the New York Sun newspaper in 1897. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reads the letter in only slightly altered form.
December 25, 2006 - "A Christmas Memory" and other stories. To keep you company this Christmas, Midday presents stories of the season from a host of top-flight story tellers, including Truman Capote, Garrison Keillor and David Sedaris.Hour 2: "Six to Eight Black Men," by David Sedaris. Read by the author in 2002 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This story is included in Sedaris' latest book "Dress your Family in Corduroy and Denim." "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," by Dr. Seuss. Read by former Minnesota Public Radio host Bob Potter. "A View From the Card Table," by Kevin Kling. Read by the author on his CD, "Stories off the Shallow End." "The Polar Express," by Chris Van Allsburg. Read by Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson at the Fitzgerald Theater in 2004. Sound effects provided by Tom Keith.
December 7, 2006 - Memories of Pearl Harbor. It was 65 years ago that the bombs fell. Japanese war planes attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, killing 2,400 people and drawing the United States into World War II. A special two-hour Midday features Minnesotans' memories.
November 24, 2006 - Oscar Wilde. Mark Twain. Antonin Dvorak. Gertrude Stein. Those are just a few of the artists who have made their way through St. Paul over the years. The University of Minnesota's Patricia Hampl explored the Capitol City through their eyes in a perfromance Nov. 10 at the Fitzgerald Theater.
November 23, 2006 - As Thanksgiving brings family together to share food and gratitude, "Giving Thanks" brings together music, stories and writers that contemplate the meaning of the holiday.
October 31, 2006 - Midday presents a broadcast of KSMQ 1st District debate between incumbent Republican candidate Gil Gutknecht and DFL candidate Tim Walz. Gutknecht and Walz sparred over issues ranging from the Iraq war to the controversial DM&E railroad extension that would run through Rochester.
October 19, 2006 - Continued discussion with Katherine Lanpher, former MPR "Midmorning" host. Lanpher left Minnesota for New York City, and returns to the MPR airwaves to discuss book about her move to the big city. Lanpher also answers listener questions. This is part 2 of 2. Lanpher is also former co-host of "The Al Franken Show" on Air America Radio. Lanpher's book is titled "Leap Days: Chronicles of a Midlife Move." Program contains pledge-drive segments.