Sorry, a post-script.

Garrison Keillor has always acknowleded his debt to the Grand Ole Opry for the idea for the show. Rip-off does not apply. Several sources give this sort of summary: It was writing an article about the Grand Ole Opry in 1974 that inspired him to create a live variety show for radio. Thus "A Prairie Home Companion" was born on July 6, 1974 in a St. Paul college theatre in front of an audience of 12 people.