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Behind The Scenes, And Sounds, Of 'A Prairie Home Companion'

Actor and sound effects artist Fred Newman (left) performs on stage with "A Prairie Home Companion" host Garrison Keillor. (Courtesy/A Prairie Home Companion via Facebook)
Actor and sound effects artist Fred Newman (left) performs on stage with "A Prairie Home Companion" host Garrison Keillor. (Courtesy/A Prairie Home Companion via Facebook)

As “A Prairie Home Companion” creator Garrison Keillor wraps up his decades-long run at the helm this year, Here & Now today begins a two-day goodbye to the show. Here & Now‘s Robin Young paid with a visit to “Prairie Home” backstage at Tanglewood, the last live broadcast before host Keillor leaves.

Today’s segment features a conversation with Fred Newman, the show’s sound effects artist, about the show, his skill set and how he comes up with all the wonderful, zany audio highlights of his act.

Guest

Fred Newman, actor and sound effects artist on “A Prarie Home Companion.” The show tweets at @prairie_home.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.