Listeners who miss the whimsy of “A Prairie Home Companion,” a weekly radio variety show that aired live from 1974 to 2016, may find a new home in the Tranquil Valley Radio Hour, a one-night-only variety show debuting Nov. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Post 119.
“I’ve always been a fan of Garrison Keillor, ‘A Prairie Home Companion,’ and that kind of sense of humor,” said organizer Nelson Burke. “I’ve always wanted to do things like this. I’ve had a few opportunities to just be up on stage and do stuff. I haven’t been in a play in forever, but the idea of getting up there and just enjoying yourself in front of the audience — I’ve never been in a place where I would be turned loose to put something like this together.”
Billed as Estes Park’s first venture into old-time radio entertainment, the evening blends stories, music, local humor, and a hefty dose of community spirit. Touring singer-songwriter Martin Gilmore, local musicians Brad Fitch and Mark Rashid, Random & True, The Kings of Swing, Share the Road, and several other familiar faces from around town round out the roster.
“About 17 people are involved in this show,” Burke said. “It’s huge! And, virtually every one of them is just another person from town. It’s a collaborative effort. Everybody who’s involved in this thing has been super supportive. They love the idea. They’re willing to poke fun and, in some cases, be the object of a joke, and everybody’s just doing it with a big smile on their face.”
For Burke, who is spearheading the project, the show is a chance to bring a playful, nostalgic format to a town that seems ready-made for it. Burke and his spouse moved to Estes Park in 2022 after retiring from a long career running an Atlanta-based company, The Engineer Guy, that supplied materials and training to film and TV productions.
“We sold the materials, and we offered some training to people who wanted to produce things like ‘The Walking Dead’ and stuff like that,” Burke said. “You want to fake blood? We had that.”
After settling in Estes Park, the couple discovered a thriving music community and quickly immersed themselves in it. “As far as music is concerned, I don’t think we could have landed in a better place to enjoy ourselves and participate and do things,” he said.
Burke’s love of Garrison Keillor’s signature blend of satire and storytelling helped spark the idea for the Tranquil Valley Radio Hour about nine months ago. When he floated the idea to others in town, the response was immediate and enthusiastic.
“They were all just so encouraging and supportive,” Burke said. “They came up with some ideas that led me to realize that what we really have here: an opportunity to tell stories about this town. We can call it Tranquil Valley, but we’re just hiding the fact that it’s Estes Park. It’s just a little more fun to call it Tranquil Valley, you know?”
Not all of those stories shared will sound unfamiliar. Burke recalled one anecdote shared by Fitch about the heir to the McGregor ranch who was seen driving through downtown with a calf in the back seat of her convertible.
“I can’t make this stuff up,” he said with a laugh. “The more I heard about the town’s history, the more I’d say, ‘We could have some serious fun with this,’ so we started building this thing.”
Those local legends will be folded into scripted sketches, musical interludes, and fictional “commercials” designed to make the audience smile. Though not every idea will fit into the first show, Burke hinted there is room for the concept to grow.
“It is entirely possible that this is the sort of thing that could do very well in Estes Park,” he said. “Just an opportunity to see a whole bunch of people, do some skits, and tell stories about the past, and some of them might even be true. I don’t know where it’s going to lead, but all I’m really concerned about right now is we’ve got a really good show planned.”
One of the biggest hurdles for the event, Burke admits, is its timing. Nov. 22 is also the day of both the town’s Christmas tree lighting and the Oratorio Society concert.
“But the lighting is over by 6 p.m. and the concerts are at 2 p.m.,” Burke said. “Of the roughly 17 people involved, about half of them are also doing that concert. I picked my date first, but apparently that didn’t matter, so it’s gonna be a very busy day.” Even so, he encourages people to make their way to the legion once the early festivities wrap up.
In addition to the entertainment, the event will also feature the long-awaited drawing for a custom-built “American Legion Post 119” guitar, handcrafted by Rashid. Valued at nearly $5,000, the instrument is the top prize in a raffle that includes nine additional giveaways.
As preparations for the event on Saturday continue, Burke’s focus is on polishing the final details and trusting the collaborative energy that has carried the project this far. “All the pieces have fit together very nicely,” he said. “It’s all about having a good time. Making people smile.”
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