Garrison Keillor

[Georgie]

Tonight I had the delight of hearing Garrison Keillor live in the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, NJ. That's the tiny Methodist Campmeeting town where I work during the summer. He was marvelous. He told stories, as only he can do, did skits a la Praire Home Companion, had us all singing old hymns and other sentimental songs like "Down in the Valley" and "Tell Me Why." What a WONDERFUL three-hour performance. It was quite hot in the Auditorium, so he finally had all the spotlights turned off, and we sat in the dark while he wandered through the audience telling us stories..just as though we were listening to him on the radio or on tape. Incredible. My personal highlight came right at the beginning of the show, when suddenly a voice at my left shoulder said, "Please join me in singing the national anthem." And there I stood, shoulder to shoulder with Garrison Keillor, singing the Star Bangled Banner! Wow!

[Bucko]

My wife LUVS Prairie Home Companion. Never got into it myself.

[winoweenie]

Takes a modicum of humor, a motivational inquiring psyche, and a ton of intelligence to understand Garrisons' deft artistry.WW (snort,giggle,wink) [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

[wondersofwine]

I dig his show too. And his books. He kind of reminds me of Bill Bryson in his sense of humor and Midwestern roots.

[Tyrrell]

I went to the live broadcast of his radio show last fall (He's a local). It was most enjoyable.

[Kcwhippet]

I've listened to him a few times. It just isn't my cup of tea (or glass of wine).

[dananne]

I love him, though my family (all are Wisconsin and Minnesota Norwegian immigrants) couldn't get past their feelings of Wobegon victimization [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

Oh, and Wonders, I just LOVE Bryson.

[zenda2]

Another fan. He tapes a show here in KC every few years, I've managed to attend a couple of 'em.

I enjoy the band that backs up their all-singing-no-dancing radio entourage. One of the players, Andy Stein, was a favorite of mine in 'Commander Cody's Lost Planet Airmen' lo, these 30 years ago.

[Botafogo]

I loved a skit he did about a dating service stocked with English Majors ("we're unemployed but we're well read")....

[Innkeeper]

Look forward to the annual "Joke Show."

[Kcwhippet]

Maybe I just happened to listen to the wrong programs.

[Georgie]

If you really want to laugh, get ahold of some of Garrison's taped monologues. I put them on in the car and laughed all the way down the road. They are the best.