Garrison spoke, sang and paced without stopping for two-and-a-half hours April 1, no fooling. As he did when we saw him at Fort Wayne's Embassy Theatre, he began by singing a Cappella, his deep tenor voice ringing out, sounding stronger and more melodious than it does on his radio show. He chooses a song that most people know, such as a patriotic song, folk song or hymn, and persuades the audience to sing along, which they do willingly.
Garrison orates without notes: telling stories about his beginnings in radio, growing up in Minnesota, and how he started his radio show that continues to this day - begun in 1974. He was born in small Anoka, and in his weekly radio show he bases a fictional town, Lake Wobegon, upon his real experiences as a young man. If you aren't familiar with it, tune in to WBOI 89.1 FM on Saturdays, 6 p.m. His show also features musical guests, skits and ficticious commercials. Story themes are often about Midwesterners, Lutherans, Minnesotans, English majors, cowboys, and the Chatterbox cafe, to name a few.
But that's the radio show - at IPFW Garrison was alone on the stage. He talked about clashing with management in radio over the years: when he would misspeak politically, tell off-color jokes, or otherwise mess up. He talked about writing radio news in college and having it broadcast to no one because the signal was turned off by mistake. He is eloquent and hypnotic, a spellbinding storyteller. I think he is a national treasure. Who knows how long any of us will continue to be around - so check out Garrison Keillor if you get a chance, while you still can. There will be a live taping of A Prairie Home Companion in Goshen, IN on May 2, so that might be a chance to get tickets and see him out on the road.
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