Monday, August 7, 2017

Happy 75th Birthday, Garrison Keillor!



“Librarians, Dusty, possess a vast store of politeness. These are people who get asked regularly the dumbest questions on God's green earth. These people tolerate every kind of crank and eccentric and mouth-breather there is. "—Garrison Keillor, “Cowboy Librarians" skit on A Prairie Home Companion, December 13, 1997

Well, it wasn’t enough that Garrison Keillor—born 75 years ago today in Anoka, Minn.— is a radio legend. No, I also see, from the above quote, that he has a very healthy appreciation of librarians. And, judging by the number of his books on shelves in my neck of the woods, I’d say that the admiration is mutual.

Oh, and one other thing: Keillor had the smarts to lead the movement to rename the World Theater in St. Paul, Minn., after my favorite author, hometown boy F. Scott Fitzgerald—and he broadcast his radio show A Prairie Home Companion for nearly 40 years in this performance venue before retiring a year ago.

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