“Will it Play in Peoria?”

Though the origin date of this famous phrase has been debated, it was Groucho Marx who made it famous. It refers to the Vaudeville Era (1880s – 1930s) whenPeoria was a main stop for these acts and performances. Once it became big in the area, theatrical companies knew it would blossom throughout the nation. If it failed, scripts and casts were often changed.

Peoria’s location and demographics has allowed it to be the perfect test market for many products and ideas that soon would be come big worldwide.