The saying, Will it play in Peoria? is traditionally used to ask whether a given concept, product, person or event will appeal to mainstream America, or across a broad range of demographic/psychographic groups.

It's become a shorthand phrase in American business, with historical ties to Peoria, a diverse metropolitan mid-sized city located in central Illinois. Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County6, Illinois. ... State nickname: Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Other U.S. States Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich Official languages English Area 149,998 km² (25th)  - Land 143,968 km²  - Water 6,030 km² (4. ...

In the United States, Peoria, Illinois, has legendary status as a test market. The city of Peoria has long been seen as a representation of the average American city, because of its demographics and its perceived mainstream Midwestern culture. Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County6, Illinois. ... State nickname: Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Other U.S. States Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich Official languages English Area 149,998 km² (25th)  - Land 143,968 km²  - Water 6,030 km² (4. ... A test market, in the field of business and marketing, is a geographic region or demographic group used to gauge the viability of a product or service in the mass market prior to a wide scale roll-out. ... Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County6, Illinois. ...

The phrase initially came into fashion during the Vaudeville era, believed to have been first asked by Groucho Marx when putting together a new act. The belief was that if a new show was successful in Peoria, it would work anywhere in America. Vaudeville was a style of multi-act theater which flourished in North America from the 1880s through the 1920s. ... Groucho Marx poses for an NBC promotional photograph Julius Henry Marx, known as Groucho Marx (October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977), was an American comedian, working both with his siblings, the Marx Brothers, and on his own. ...

Years later in the 60s and 70s, Peoria was deemed an ideal test market by various consumer-focused companies, entertainment enterprises (films and concert tours), even politicans as a safe, reliable market to gauge interest and receptivity to new products, services and campaigns. Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County6, Illinois. ... A test market, in the field of business and marketing, is a geographic region or demographic group used to gauge the viability of a product or service in the mass market prior to a wide scale roll-out. ...

In the 80s, musicians such as Bob Dylan, Robert Plant and Phil Collins each perfected and launched various tours in Peoria. During Presidential campaigns, major TV networks would visit Peoria to 'take the pulse' (gauge the response) of everyday Americans on national issues and candidates. Portrait photograph of Bob Dylan taken by Daniel Kramer Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman May 24, 1941) is widely regarded as one of Americas greatest popular songwriters. ... Led Zeppelin, circa 1969 (clockwise from left: Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, John Paul Jones) Led Zeppelin was a British rock band, who were pivotal in the development of hard rock and heavy metal. ... Philip David Charles Collins (born January 30, 1951 in London), better known as Phil Collins, is a British rock/pop musician. ... Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County6, Illinois. ...

Peoria's historical test market status can be attributed to a number of factors. At one time Peoria was at the country's population center (a point which has since moved South and West, as more Americans move away from the Northeast to the Southwest). It's believed the term 'Heartland of America' initially referred to this region, though over the years the moniker has been embraced by other markets. A test market, in the field of business and marketing, is a geographic region or demographic group used to gauge the viability of a product or service in the mass market prior to a wide scale roll-out. ... A media market, broadcast market, or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same (or similar) television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers or Internet content. ...

Its also located approximately half-way between two major cities (Chicago and St. Louis). Perhaps most important, Peoria closely reflects the diversity of the United States population in terms of race, income, age, rural and business employment, educational background and other key criteria. Chicago (officially named the City of Chicago) is the third largest city in the United States (after New York City and Los Angeles), with an official population of 2,896,016, as of the 2000 census. ... The Gateway Arch, shown here behind the Old Courthouse, is the most recognizable part of the St. ...

Peoria is still considered the 'test market capital of the world,' even though other cities such as Albany, New York, Greensboro, North Carolina, or Santa Barbara, California, are more commonly selected as test markets today for greater testing precision. A test market, in the field of business and marketing, is a geographic region or demographic group used to gauge the viability of a product or service in the mass market prior to a wide scale roll-out. ... The World in plate carrée projection The World In English, world is rooted in a compound of the obsolete words were, man, and eld, age; thus, its oldest meaning is Age of Man. ... The name Albany is an ancient and literary name for Scotland, north of the Firth of Forth (east) and Firth of Clyde (west). ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki (R) Official languages None (English is de facto) Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... Greensboro is the name of some places in the United States of America: Greensboro, North Carolina This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... State nickname: Tar Heel State Other U.S. States Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Governor Michael Easley (D) Official languages English Area 139,509 km² (28th)  - Land 126,256 km²  - Water 13,227 km² (9. ... Santa Barbara is the county seat and principal city of Santa Barbara County, on the Pacific coast of California. ... State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ...