Keillor to exit downtown St. Paul

St. Paul Pioneer Press | 8-9-02 | BRIAN LAMBERT

[Temple Owl]

------------Posted on Fri, Aug. 09, 2002

Keillor to exit downtown St. Paul

BY BRIAN LAMBERT

St. Paul Pioneer Press

What we can report for certain is that Garrison Keillor and the staff of "A Prairie Home Companion" are moving out of downtown St. Paul, and that Keillor has created a new corporate marquee for himself, Grand Prairie LLP.

Beyond that, one is clearly meddling in the inner sanctums of Minnesota Public Radio, a regal, insulated place where Keillor and MPR president Bill Kling interact like co-doges of medieval Venice at the height of its empire.

Sometime between the 15th and 30th of August, Keillor will physically consolidate all his various activities in the former KLBB-AM studios on Frontenac Avenue near Interstate 94 and Highway 280 in St. Paul. The building, which we're told has been or is being extensively renovated, also was once the home of KFAN-AM and K102.

The official story is that this consolidation simplifies Keillor's life — and for that reason alone is a good thing for everyone. From the Frontenac studios he can produce "A Prairie Home Companion," write operas, magazine pieces, whatever.

Interestingly, though, we're told there will be no actual on-air studio in the new facility. Production work on things like "A Writer's Almanac" will continue to be done at MPR's downtown St. Paul building, which as most listeners know is too small to hold all of MPR's enterprises.

What is less clear, given MPR's historic affinity for secrecy, is Keillor's new contractual arrangement with Kling and MPR. The rumor around town is that Keillor not only wanted to consolidate his activities in one place, he also wanted a more lucrative slice of the proceeds from the same, "A Prairie Home Companion" in particular.

Asked about this in an e-mail, Keillor skirted the issue. Deep off-record, several sources believe this is what has been going on, but insist there was never any significant conflict between doge Gary and doge Bill. Money is money, however, and the negotiations apparently took some time.

Marcia Appel, vice president for marketing, takes great pains to emphasize that there will be no audible change for Keillor's audience.

Referring to the consolidation, she says, "In many respects this will be better for everyone involved. Garrison gets the consolidation he's wanted and we get a little breathing room until the new building is built."

No one has suggested that Keillor's new arrangement, whatever it really is, poses any significant danger to MPR's vaunted financial stability. MPR remains the gold standard for regional public radio networks in this country.

Nor does anyone we spoke with about this little intrigue believe Keillor's move to new office space or the consolidation of his activities under the umbrella of the new company, Grand Prairie LLP, will mean anything of significance to listeners. No one is talking about the possible products or purposes of Grand Prairie LLP.

What's always interesting about MPR's intra-familial machinations is the care taken to veil such relatively normal business dealings as a new contract from prying, uh, public eyes.

The Bush White House gets regular praise for controlling its message and snuffing leaks. MPR has them beat.

[Temple Owl]

Garrison Keillor and the staff of "A Prairie Home Companion" are moving out of downtown St. Paul...

I think Garrison Keillor would be much appreciated in France. He should take Alec Baldwin with him.

[camle]

has he ever admitted to getting stuff from Marshall Dodge? Mr. Prairee Home plagerizer owes Mr. Downeasterner an apology. but I'm afraid that we can't get there from here.

[Paul Atreides]

I remember hearing a lot about Keillor, and thought I would like to hear what he had to say, up to the point I heard what he had to say. I can't remember what it was, but it was leftist drivel. I've never been interested since.

[Temple Owl]

He's a real Clymer