From the Archives: The. News from Lake Wobegon 1982

Everyone has a different Lake Wobegon story that they remember from the live A Prairie Home Companion broadcasts, and they call or write in to see if a specific story is available. Well, the stories haven’t been until now. From the Archives is a deep dive into the PHC archive, unearthing stories season by season — and here is the collection featuring the stories from 1982. Lake Wobegon experiences extreme cold and shuts people in their homes to feuds, frustrations, plumbing issues and other crazy antics. Memories told of romance with Donna Bunsen at the laundromat and the Diener boy’s first drag on a cigarette, landing his car in the pond. In fall, we hear about the demise of Irene Anderson’s 20 oz. tomato and the avalanche of squash from the attic. Christmas is nearly perfect, with the exception of Einer’s reading of the Gospel. Get “From the Archives,” our brand-new collection featuring the News from Lake Wobegon stories from 1982. Over 3 hours on 3 CDs. Below is a brief description of each story you will find on each of the CDs.

 Disc #1                                     Get the CDs >>>     Download Disc #1 >>>

January 2, 1982 — Lake Wobegon folks celebrate New Year’s Eve in different ways by going to bed, staying up all night, or heading out to the ice houses with a bottle of whiskey. Wally Kresbach figures out the mystery of the horrible smell.

January 16, 1982 — How the people of LW cope with being shut in their homes because of the extreme cold. They learn that all that matters in winter is plumbing.

February 13, 1982 — Household turmoil at both the Barleys and the Lundbergs; quite the chaos at night but the day brings back the quiet.

March 6, 1982 — The Lake Wobegon civic meeting heats up about needed improvement in town, but once again it’s to no avail. There are romantic memories of spending time at the laundry with Donna Bunsen, leading to a kiss.

April 17, 1982 — Father Emil misses Easter services due to chest pains. The parents worry that their high school seniors are not ready to leave the nest after graduation.

May 15, 1982 — Teachers let the seniors out early because they figure what they don’t know now, they will never know. Partying ensues. The Diener Boy takes a drag off his first cigarette and ends up in the pond.

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Mr. Keillor’s tales of the fictional Lake Wobegon, Minn., its people and the businesses that “sponsor” the show are the ties that bind the show together. Listeners share in the ups and (mostly) downs of the Lake Wobegon Whippets baseball team, study the menu of Dorothy’s Chatterbox Cafe, wonder how Lake Wobegon’s favorite daughter, Barbara Ann Bunsen, is doing at the University of Minnesota, cheer the attributes of Powdermilk Biscuits (made from whole wheat grown in the rich bottomlands of the Lake Wobegon valley by Norwegian bachelor farmers). — Country Life, 1980

 
Disc #2                                  GET THE CDs >>>  Download Disc #2 >>>
 
May 22, 1982 — The high school seniors wonder why parents make such a fuss about graduation, but it’s good to have the ceremony because we miss the big one (our funeral).
 
June 5, 1982 — There are hysterical memories of the Memorial Day celebration when Father Emil’s address went way too long and the Sons of Knute nearly shot the attendees by being startled when he shouted the word “fire” in his message.
 
August 21, 1982 — The kids are getting bored at the end of summer and secretly look forward to the start of school. Uncle Earl loses 40 pounds but faces criticism because in Lake Wobegon everyone grew up to be “big.”
 
August 28, 1982 — There is a lot of gossip going around Lake Wobegon — about the Heglunds’ bat, Mr. Anderson’s mysterious daily visits to the garage, and the care of Irene Anderson’s 20 oz. tomato and its demise.
 

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“The purpose of talking about Lake Wobegon and telling the stories and so on is not nostalgic, for me, so much as it is upholding and defending a certain style of humor, and also a way of life that I identify with in the Midwest. It’s a way of life and it’s a culture that is based in the family and to some extent based on rural or small-town values. … I see it as being under attack by the national media, who see it as irrelevant or passé or outdated.” — Garrison Keillor, circa 1980 
 
Disc #3                                   GET THE CDs >>>   Download Disc #3 >>>
 
September 4, 1982 — Gary and LeRoy help to save the life of Baby Oberg. Also, recollection of an early fascination with a girl in fifth grade and how it ended when they turned 17.

September 25, 1982 — The Tollefson boy heads off to college and the parents are happy he is gone. Janice Lilliquest proudly becomes Homecoming Queen.

October 30, 1982 — As elections approach, Dorothy puts up a sign that says “no politics,” even with Hubert Humphrey coming to town. There’s an avalanche of squash at the Berge household when the ceiling gives way just above their bed.

November 6, 1982 — It’s time to pull out the woolen long underwear and the men/boys try to figure out how to scratch that itch. In Lake Wobegon, there is a big difference between those with manners and those without.

December 25, 1982 — The lights finally were put up by the men of the Sidetrack Tap and all other Christmas events went off without a hitch except the reading of the Gospel. Einer was chosen to read and his nerves got the best of him.

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From the Archives: The Best of 1982 by Garrison Keillor (3CDs) Everyone has a different Lake Wobegon story that they remember from the live A Prairie Home Companion broadcasts. We get tons of calls, emails, and letters asking us if certain stories are available for listening. Well, now they are! “From the Archives” is a series that unearths never-before-released monologues from the website shop.garrisonkeillor.com