A major city in Illinois, USA, located on the Illinois River; also used in the phrase 'will it play in Peoria' to mean will something appeal to ordinary middle-American people.
Named after the Peoria Native American people, an Illini confederacy group. The city became a significant river port in the 19th century, and its position as a mid-sized Midwestern city made it a cultural barometer for mainstream American taste.
During vaudeville and early entertainment eras, 'Will it play in Peoria?' became showbiz shorthand for whether something would succeed with regular Americans—the city represented the average middle-class audience, making it a benchmark for mass appeal that lasted well into the 20th century.
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