Lana Turner was not discovered at Mickey's Diner, Elvis Presley never shook up the Mall of America and Marlon Brando didn't flex his muscles on the Guthrie stage. But Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, has had at least as many pop-culture moments that shaped our lives -- and the world around us. The Star Tribune's arts and entertainment staff waded deep into nostalgia to select the 50 most memorable entertainment events from the past half-century that happened on our soil. Enjoy the journey.

1 Garrison Keillor becomes our companion. The ambitious but relatively unknown broadcaster debuts a weekend variety show at Macalester College in front of about a dozen people, mostly kids. Thirty years later, the Library of Congress adds the first edition of "Prairie Home Companion" to its archive of historic recordings, alongside the likes of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds." July 6, 1974

2 Prince paints the town purple. During a benefit for Minnesota Dance Theatre at First Avenue, Prince introduces both the Revolution and the ballad "Purple Rain." The film of the same name, shot at various locations in the Twin Cities, would take both the artist and the area to a new level. Aug. 3, 1983

3 Mary Richards finds love is all around. A Minneapolis police officer stops traffic on the Nicollet Mall so a film crew can shoot actress Mary Tyler Moore tossing her tam in the air for the opening credits of a new sitcom. That scene, now immortalized by a bronze statue, would later be named by Entertainment Weekly as the second greatest moment in TV history. March 1970

4 The play proves to be the thing. The Guthrie Theater opens with "Hamlet," starring George Grizzard, Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, turning Minneapolis into a major theater town overnight. May 7, 1963

5 Wrestling fans pin their hopes on a new hero. National Wrestling Alliance champ Pat O'Connor refuses to fight in the newly formed American Wrestling Association, making co-owner Verne Gagne the AWA's first titleholder. The Minneapolis-based group would later launch the careers of Hulk Hogan and Jesse Ventura before being eclipsed by Vince McMahon's flashier World Wrestling Foundation in the 1980s. Aug. 16, 1960

6 Bob Dylan brings it all back home. In town for the holidays, Dylan re-records several songs for his "Blood on the Tracks" with Twin Cities musicians. His "divorce album" becomes one of his most acclaimed, but fails to credit the local players because the cover is already printed. Dec. 27 & 30, 1974

7 Simba roars. "The Lion King" makes its world premiere at the Orpheum in Minneapolis before moving to Broadway and becoming one of the most successful musicals ever. July 31, 1997

8 The Playwrights' Center knocks down fences for August Wilson. A Jerome Foundation fellowship from the Minneapolis institution allows Wilson to focus on playwriting. The results include "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," "Jitney," "Fences" -- and two Pulitzer Prizes. July 1980

9 The Replacements commit a sin. The soon-to-be legendary band plays its first gig in a Minneapolis church basement, but without bassist Tommy Stinson, who has injured himself falling out of a tree. Someone smells alcohol on their breath, kicks them out and tells them they'll never work in this town again. June 1980

10Mall of America opens for business. Peter Graves and Ray Charles help open up the shoppers' version of Disney World with a party attended by more than 9,000 people. Aug. 10, 1992

11 Paisley Park starts the celebration. A Kool & the Gang rehearsal marks the unofficial opening of Prince's Paisley Park Studios, a 65,000-square-foot operation that eventually would play host to "Grumpy Old Men," Stevie Wonder, George Clinton and Carmen Electra. April 22, 1987

12 The Depot gets by with a little help from some friends. Joe Cocker, backed by 40 people, including a 12-member band, is the first artist to headline the old bus station now known as First Avenue. April 3, 1970

13 Janet Jackson grows up. Producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis persuade the up-and-coming 19-year-old to come to the Twin Cities to focus on her next project. The result, "Control," gave her five Top 5 singles and superstar status. July 1985

14 Joel Hodgson builds a mystery. From a TV studio in Hopkins, the comedian and his robot sidekicks poke fun at the horrible 1981 film "Invaders From the Deep," setting the template for "Mystery Science Theater 3000," the most popular TV series ever made in the Twin Cities. Nov. 24, 1988

15 Sculpture Garden opens -- with a cherry on top. Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen's "Spoonbridge and Cherry" is unveiled at a star-studded party, instantly becoming a postcard favorite. Sept. 10, 1988

16 Gays get a place of their own. Hair stylist and host-with-the-most Gordon Locksley opens Sutton Place, Minneapolis' first openly gay bar, paving the way for the Gay 90s and the Saloon. Dec. 31, 1965

17 Frank's place draws oohs and huhs. Architect Frank Gehry's shiny, curvy and quite peculiar Weisman Art Museum opens on the University of Minnesota campus -- a career breakthrough that leads to his Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, recently voted the most important piece of architecture since 1980. Nov. 21, 1993

18 Jesse celebrates his title belt. Jesse Ventura revives his "Body" character for his inauguration as Minnesota governor. His "People's Celebration" at Target Center includes: the band America playing "Ventura Highway" and Warren Zevon's rendition of "Werewolves of London." Jan. 16, 1999

19 Ron Athey lets it bleed. The HIV-positive performance artist dabs blood from wounds on another man's body and sends the stained paper towels out on pulleys over the audience at Patrick's Cabaret. Because Walker Art Center, which sponsored the performance, used some federal funds, the incident creates a national furor. March 5, 1994

20 Nirvana finds Cannon Falls. Kurt Cobain's band spends a couple weeks in southern Minnesota recording the classic album "In Utero" at Pachyderm Studio. Bassist Krist Novoselic would compare the experience to living in a gulag, because the snow outside kept them from doing anything but work. Feb. 13-26, 1993

21 Bruce Springsteen gets down with a future "Friend." The Boss kicks off his megastar-making "Born in the USA" tour at St. Paul's Civic Center with a blistering 3 1/2-hour set. One song gets played twice: "Dancing in the Dark," filmed for a Brian De Palma-directed video that features a tomboyish Courteney Cox. June 29, 1984

22 Republicans attract rockers. Rage Against the Machine play Target Center as the Republican National Convention plays in the background. Police surround the arena as the band encourages fans to "disrupt the destruction this party has brought to the world." Sept. 3, 2008

23 The bird becomes the word. More than 2,000 youngsters pile into the St. Louis Park Roller Rink, shattering the building's glass front wall to see local sensations the Trashmen perform "Surfin' Bird," a soon-to-be garage-rock classic covered by everyone from the Ramones to Peter Griffin from "Family Guy." Oct. 31, 1963

24 An Indian tribe hits the jackpot. Mdewakanton Sioux chairman Norman Crooks builds the Little Six Bingo Palace on the tribe's 250-acre reservation in Prior Lake. One of the first bingo halls on Indian land, it grows into Mystic Lake Casino -- and the seed for a billion-dollar industry. Oct. 16, 1982

25 They finally said "We don't." Susan Goeppinger and David Anders take their final bows as the stars of "I Do! I Do!" after 22 straight years at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, making it the nation's longest-ever theatrical run with the original cast. June 20, 1993

26 Cupid plays a prank at a Minneapolis comedy club. Bartender Tom Arnold meets headliner Roseanne Barr at the Comedy Gallery in Minneapolis. Ten years of creativity and chaos follow. 1983

27 Ernie Hudson takes a stand. The future "Ghostbuster" refuses to continue playing the lead role in "The Great White Hope" at Theatre in the Round unless he gets paid. The resulting media coverage leads to an in-depth discussion about the lack of diversity in Twin Cities theaters and the birth of Mixed Blood and Penumbra theaters. Dec. 12, 1975

28 Nye's opens up the mike. Lou Snider starts playing piano at Nye's Polonaise Room and becomes one of the big reasons Esquire would later call Nye's the greatest bar in America. 1965

29 The country begs to go to Funkytown. Calling themselves Lipps Inc., musician Steven Greenberg and singer Cynthia Johnson record "Funkytown," which quickly becomes one of the biggest hits of the disco era, even though local radio virtually ignores it. January 1980

30 Scrooge makes his entrance. Barbara Field's adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" debuts at the Guthrie, the start of an annual tradition that ranks right up there with caroling and out-of-control office parties. Dec. 10, 1975

31 A visionary adjusts the dial. Bill Kling begins operating public radio station KSJN at St. John's University near St. Cloud. It grows into the 38-station Minnesota Public Radio -- and a national player thanks to "Prairie Home Companion" and other shows it syndicates through American Public Media. January 1967

32 Osmo Vänskä takes the baton. The Finnish conductor makes his debut as the Minnesota Orchestra's 10th musical director with a dramatic rendition of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, marking the start of one of the richest chapters in the orchestra's history. Sept. 11, 2003

33 New Guthrie puts on the Fitz. After a few parties and musical performances, Jean Nouvel's new Guthrie Theater on the downtown Minneapolis riverfront finally focuses on theater with the world premiere of "The Great Gatsby." July 21, 2006

34 Diablo Cody discovers the first time is a charm. The former stripper and City Pages writer turns in her maiden attempt at a screenplay, written in her Robbinsdale home and nearby coffee shops. Two years later, "Juno" earns the Oscar for original screenplay. Feb. 14, 2005

35 Casey Jones pulls out of the station. Twins star Harmon Killebrew and Minneapolis Mayor Charles Stenvig are among the guests who stop by to greet Roger (Casey) Awsumb for the last episode of "Lunch With Casey," a local children's TV staple for nearly 20 years. Dec. 29, 1972

36 St. Paul serves as a garden of "Eden." Lou Bellamy opens the Penumbra Theatre with Steve Carter's "Eden." Penumbra becomes one of the nation's leading African-American playhouses and a second home to August Wilson, who debuts his first professional production ("Black Bart and the Sacred Hills") there. Nov. 10, 1977

37 Tony Kushner conducts an experiment. The award-winning playwright debuts his ambitious, complex play "The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism With a Key to the Scriptures" at the Guthrie. It's scheduled to be performed at New York's Public Theater next summer. May 22, 2009

38 A local label starts a hootenanny. Record-store manager Peter Jesperson, producer/engineer Paul Stark and sportswriter Charley Hallman launch Twin/Tone Records, which would introduce the Suburbs, the Replacements, the Jayhawks and others to the public. Jan. 1978

39 Downtown gets a French kiss. The New French Cafe introduces latte to the Twin Cities and helps make the Minneapolis Warehouse District a nightlife and arts destination. 1977

40 We love them (yeah, yeah, yeah). The Beatles play 11 numbers, including "She's a Woman" and "A Hard Day's Night," to 30,000 screaming fans at Met Stadium. It would be the band's only Minnesota appearance. Aug. 21, 1965

41 Children's Theatre Company finds the glass slipper. "Cinderella," performed in the spirit of an English festival play, opens to rave reviews and establishes CTC as a nationally respected player that would go on to win a Tony. Nov. 26, 1966

42 Marge solves a crime. From car dealerships in St. Louis Park to cabins north of Stillwater, the Coen brothers use the state as their playground for the Oscar-winning "Fargo." It's the reason every out-of-stater greets us with "you betcha." Winter 1995

43 Hüsker Dü offers a real eye-opener. Millions of Americans wake up to the punk rockers as the "Today" show broadcasts live from downtown Minneapolis. May 20, 1987

44 St. Paul's night of 100 stars. Meryl Streep, Lindsay Lohan, Lily Tomlin and Kevin Kline are among the big names in St. Paul for the world premiere of "A Prairie Home Companion," Robert Altman's final film. May 3, 2006

45 Neil Young goes rockin' in the free world. Bruce Springsteen, REM, John Fogerty and Bright Eyes urge fans at Xcel Center to "Vote for Change," a concert that climaxes with a blistering version of "All Along the Watchtower," led by surprise guest Young. Oct. 5, 2004

46 Billy Corgan smashes a record. A free concert by Smashing Pumpkins attracts more than 100,000 fans to the Aquatennial Block Party -- the largest such crowd in Minnesota history. July 17, 1998

47 Babes in Toyland decide they can't live through this. Minnesota transplant Courtney Love is kicked out of the all-girl band, but she steals frontwoman Kat Bjelland's baby-doll-dress look for her new group, Hole. 1987

48 New Wave washes over Twin Cities. The U of M plays host to "Marathon 80: No-New-Now Wave Festival," featuring Devo (disguised as "Dove"), the Fleshtones and the Suburbs. A later documentary declares M-80 a landmark in punk-rock history. Sept. 22-23, 1979

49 Dave Moore goes live on Saturday night. WCCO anchor Moore shows off his silly side with "Bedtime Nooz," a Saturday-night spoof of the headlines that launched when Chevy Chase was still in grade school. November 1962

50 Morgan Freeman serves as a breezy reader. "Gospel at Colonus," a gospel-music version of the Oedipus tragedy developed at Walker Art Center, opens at the Guthrie with the future Oscar winner in the role of the Messenger. Feb. 21, 1987