The Lake Wobegon Virus PRE-ORDER Yes, you've probably seen some press and now is the time for the official newsletter announcement of The Lake Wobegon Virus by Garrison Keillor! The book will be released 2 months from today on September 8, 2020. Shop.GarrisonKeillor.com is proud to offer our exclusive pre-order option of a signed book for those that order via our website for the first 750 copies. We are looking forward to returning to the little town that time forgot and decades could not improve. BOOK TEASER: A mysterious virus has infiltrated the good people of Lake Wobegon, transmitted via unpasteurized cheese made by a Norwegian bachelor farmer, the effect of which is episodic loss of social inhibition. Mayor Alice, Father Wilmer, Pastor Liz, the Bunsens and Krebsbachs, formerly taciturn elders, burst into political rants, inappropriate confessions, and rhapsodic proclamations, while their teenagers watch in amazement. Meanwhile, a wealthy outsider is buying up farmland for a Keep America Truckin’ Motorway and Amusement Park, estimated to draw 2.2 million visitors a year. Clint Bunsen and Elena the hometown epidemiologist to the rescue, with a Fourth of July Living Flag and sweet corn feast for a finale. Additional information will follow as well as previews, excerpts, and words from Garrison as we prepare to welcome you home to Lake Wobegon. PRE-ORDER the book >>> |
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Now and then some statues need replacing When I heard that the statue of Stonewall Jackson had been pulled down in Richmond, I wondered why it was in Richmond when Stonewall was from North Carolina and made his career in Nashville, then I remembered that in addition to the country singer, there had been a Confederate general. In fact, the singer had been named for the general, which was no problem in country music in the Fifties. I used to sing a song of his, “Don’t be angry with me, darling, if I fail to understand all your little whims and wishes all the time. Just remember that I’m dumb, I guess, like any foolish man, and my head stays sorta foggy cause you’re mine,” which, in the annals of love poetry, doesn’t rank with “My love is like a red, red rose that’s newly sprung in June” or “Give me my Romeo, and when I shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars, and he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night” nor even “Be-bop-a-lula, she’s my baby,” but still I sang it, I admit, not considering its Confederate connections. Not enough people are aggrieved over Thomas (“Stonewall”) Jackson’s statue falling to reelect the president, which he will find out in due course, and my only question is: whom can we replace Jackson with, and Beauregard, Davis, Nathan Bedford Forrest, and the other heroes of the Lost Cause? It’s good to have statues that give old people like me a chance to stop and rest, while out for a walk with a young person, and tell about who that bronze figure on the pedestal is. Nobody in Richmond knew enough about General Jackson to say much about him, and that’s why he and his horse were dismantled. He said, “Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees,” which, as dying words go, is very elegant. Too bad Lincoln never had the chance to utter dying words, he was watching a fourth-rate comedy and Booth waited for the laugh line, “Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal — you sockdologizing old man-trap” and fired the gun on the laugh and that was Lincoln’s last line. Continue reading >>> |
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This week's Prairie Home episode: Our 35th Anniversary Show (audio only) Every Saturday night at 5pm, we post a classic Prairie Home program from the vast online archives for your enjoyment. Especially during these unprecedented times, we like to take some time to listen to something soothing and familiar each week. This week is a very special show––a recording of our 35th anniversary, which happened to fall on July 4th! This show was performed & recorded in Avon, MN in Stearns County. Featuring special guests: Rich Dworsky & the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, Sound effects man Tom Keith, The Lake Wobegon Brass Band, The St. John's Boys' Choir, Vern Sutton, Andra Suchy & a bunch of surprise guests, including Father Steve Binsfeld, Clarence Fischbach, Concertina player Jerry Bierschbach, and a whole lot more. Here is what Garrison had to say at the time: Stearns County is about as close to Lake Wobegon as you can get so it's where we plan to observe the 35th anniversary of A Prairie Home Companion — in the town of Avon, which is on the Lake Wobegon Bike Trail, broadcasting live coast to coast and overseas via Armed Forces Radio — a brass band, speeches, acoustic blues and rock ’n’ roll, some reminiscences by old-timers, and the whole big crowd singing the national anthem, and our sound-effects man will make rockets go up in the air. I've biked the Bike Trail a couple of times and love the ordinary beauty of farmland and meadow and the towns along it. And since the radio show had its origins there, in the stories I heard when I lived near Freeport and hung around St. John's, it's only right to return and say hello. Check the archive link for full bios, rundowns, scripts and fan memories. Listen the show >>> See the rundown and more >>> Follow our Facebook page >>> |
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We hope you had a wonderful July 4th holiday! Here and on our website and social channels, we have been revisiting 4th of July highlights: from the 3-day 40th Anniversary festival to Garrison's final show as host. Thus, we felt inspired to present them in the store section of our newsletter. Thanks for joining us online for some fireworks from years past! |
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A collection of highlights from America's favorite live radio show, with over 85 tracks (five hours) of the finest performances from the vast archives of A Prairie Home Companion, including material from the 40th Anniversary celebration itself. Buy the 40th Anniversary CDs >>> |
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Garrison Keillor's final show in July of 2016 at the Hollywood Bowl was a magical evening. Over 18,000 people attended this duet extravaganza! Garrison recently posted what he called his swan song: a collaboration on the hymn "Only Remembered" with a group of heavenly singers including Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, Christine DiGiallonardo, Heather Masse, and Aoife O'Donovan. Watch the video >>> Buy the Hollywood Bowl CD >>> |
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