The final curtain

Posted at 6:00 AM on December 11, 2008 by Bob Collins (15 Comments)
Filed under: Arts, Icons

From a news guy perspective, here's the thing about Dale and Jim Ed's (Tom's) show: The news stinks. Everyone knows the news stinks. Every morning we wake up and one of the first things we remember is times are tough and, oh yeah, the news stinks. Then you turn on the radio and someone is on stage singing "Getting to Know You," just as someone has been singing it since about 10,000 end-of-the-worlds ago. And suddenly you realize that just because the news stinks, life doesn't; it goes on and people sing and dance.

The cynics will call that denial -- that life is simply too crushing in its burden. I will deny that.

Long-time The Morning Show producer Mike Pengra signs "the wall" backstage at the Fitzgerald Theater. Performers and speakers at the Fitz sign their names to the bricks. "This is quite an honor," Mike said as he finished. "Don't worry, we'll paint over it," the theater manager joked.

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Comments (15)

*sniff*
Good bye guys... I don't know how I'll get my morning started without you.

Posted by Tom | December 11, 2008 8:02 AM

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Please offer a rebroadcast of this radio show. Many of us couldn't hear it in it's entirety this morning and it would be great to have the chance to hear it again!

Posted by Karen Listgarten | December 11, 2008 8:38 AM

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I'm going to miss them so much! My mornings are going to seem so empty now. They've done a great job for so many years. Thank you!

Posted by Alanna in MI | December 11, 2008 8:39 AM

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Life will go on...but how? Maybe a post morning show inspirational support group? I know of a "good enough, smart enough" aspiring MN Senator who may be willing to facilitate...should the recount not work out in his favor.

Posted by Jana | December 11, 2008 8:56 AM

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Excellent show! I giggled and wept my way through breakfast today. Thank you for adding that little extra something (trombone solos, yodeling, polkas, show tunes, throat singing, everything unexpected and many, many laughs) to my mornings. Since 1992 I've listened to your program from out of the way places in the world from the Boundary Waters to the South Pole It's been the way I've been able to bring a little bit of "home" with me wherever I go.

Best wishes to you in your new endeavors, fellas.

Posted by Carol in Colorado | December 11, 2008 9:24 AM

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I'm one of those NPR listeners who was "forced" to endure the Morning Show, Prairie Home Companion, Talk of the Nation, you name it, throughout my young life, and thought all of it was "sooo boring"...until I started asking questions about the "sound-effects guy" on PHC. My dad taught me about the concept of the foley artist, and from then on I'd perk up whenever I noted the name 'Tom Keith' as part of any kind of lineup.
Now I'm pushing 27 years old, and NPR is the only station I listen to.
The end of the Morning Show is bittersweet, but I'll hold on to my memories with a song and a smile. And, of course, I'll keep listening to NPR! Thanks to Dale and Jim Ed for giving me reason to laugh and songs to sing along to on my way to work.

Posted by gurgur | December 11, 2008 9:35 AM

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Please, Current, be gentle with me tomorrow morning.

Posted by carol | December 11, 2008 9:38 AM

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Such creativity, humor, humanity, and variety is so rare and precious. Those sound effects and characters have caused giggles all over the world. We used to listen all the years in MN, now listen from NC. Thank you for being originals. What a team!

Posted by Alice Ann Arrowood | December 11, 2008 9:57 AM

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I didn't realize 91.1-2 is now just Radio Heartland? I'm wondering how many people are going to purchase HD Radios for their car, now?

Posted by Christopher | December 11, 2008 10:27 AM

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I too would beg you to please make a recording of the final broadcast available somehow!

Posted by Joel Dueck | December 11, 2008 10:43 AM

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Kudos to you guys and your staff that made The Morning Show so successful! I literally bought hundreds of CDs from music that was offered throughout years on your show and was honored to support the many local artists that appeared. I'm sure many of your loyal listeners will continue to support these excellent artists as long as MPR continues to provide an alternative for us to listen.
We must all strive to keep the music going. It must not stop. Great music is necessary. It is the legacy that will be given to the next generation of loyal MPR listeners.

Posted by Scott in Chaska | December 11, 2008 11:13 AM

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It looks to me as though the final broadcast is already online.

Scroll down only a little way on that page to find links that say "listen to the final broadcast here". Hours 1, 2 and 3 are linked separately.

Thanks to MPR for making the broadcast available to us!

Posted by Nancy in Silver Bay | December 11, 2008 11:18 AM

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I was at the Fitzgerald today for the Dale and Jim Ed love fest. I am not a morning person (& don't own a tv) so am forever grateful to those two for coaxing me into the day all these years. I moved to Minnesota from Louisiana over 20 years ago, having listened to the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra on Tuesday nights while studying and after falling in love with a small town called Lake Wobegon. Upon moving here "The Morning Show" became a weekday early morning companion in the quiet of my kitchen; washing dishes, brewing coffee, getting the children off to school, contemplating. I've since added "Speaking of Faith" to my list of favorites. What a fabulous place to live for a radio junky!

One of my sad memories of "The Morning Show" was the day we all learned that Bob Feldman had passed away. He was an awesome individual...very knowledgeable, eclectic and open-hearted as guest host for the show. He (along with the hosts) introduced me to many new singers & songwriters. You could hear in their voices the depth of Dale and Jim Ed's sadness that early morning. In sharing their feelings for Bob they gave companionship to the rest of us grieving the loss of such a treasure.

I do not know what will fill the empty space left by the departure of Dale & Jim Ed. I guess I'll find out. Thank you guys and thank you Mike Pengra and all of the musicians I've grown to love. You are all treasures.

Posted by Blake | December 11, 2008 12:14 PM

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My daughter, Laura called me as she was at the front door of the Fitzgerad at 2am. See I was an adult listener but she grew up listening from childhood. The Morning Show was part of our lives. I held it together until I heard You Are My Sunshine . Thank you for giving so much of your life and humor to us. The Morning Show helped frame our day and enriched our lives.

Posted by Ione | December 11, 2008 2:51 PM

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I'm so sad. My wife and I have been part of this for decades. I was the 20ish NPR nerd back in the 80's, and she was the KQ-type who thought lyrics were for church hymns. Dale and J-E brought us together with new things like Spider John, Stoney Lonesome, Ladysmith Black Mombozo (sp?), and so many other groups we'd never be part of otherwise.

We went down early thinking we'd get right in. After an hour or so on the sidewalk, she got in. There were still about 50 people outside at 8:30, and we couldn't sit together anyway, so I gave up my spot and went to work. No offense to the commercial shows out there, but I don't think a thousand (probably quite a bit more) people would stand outside for hours in Dec. to see them off. What is says is the impression Dale and Jim Ed made, and how they put themselves into our lives.

I'm so sad, but enough sappy stuff. I'll go on whistling the Sons of the Pioneers (my Dad's favorite/only group - he saw them live at the 1938 Iowa State Fair) and smiling to myself when I do it, trying to find an HD radio under $100, and remember all those years of reaching for the snooze button before Kate Smith hit the chorus.

Posted by Jim in River Falls | December 11, 2008 6:34 PM

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