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Where did the phrase "Does it play in Peoria" come from?
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Peoria is a town in Illinois that is considered to be so representative of Anytown, USA (at least any small to medium-sized town) and the phrase, “But how does it play in Peoria?” is a common way of asking whether something is representative of a broader American experience.
The saying was used, apparently, to be said of Vaudeville acts. It was a given that if it didn’t go down well in Peoria, Illinois, it wouldn’t go down in middle or main street America. It came to be used of any product or any political party or candidate, thus it became a politcal barometer.
In the early days of TV advertising the question was always, "How will it play in Peoria?" Today the question is "How will it play on YouTube?"
The saying was used, apparently, to be said of Vaudeville acts. It was a given that if it didn’t go down well in Peoria, Illinois, it wouldn’t go down in middle or main street America. It came to be used of any product or any political party or candidate, thus it became a politcal barometer.
In the early days of TV advertising the question was always, "How will it play in Peoria?" Today the question is "How will it play on YouTube?"
source(s):
http://blog.nickbourne.org.uk/2008/02/08/us-presidential-%E2%80%93-how-does...
http://cancergrace.org/lung/2008/06/17/peoria-experience-with-surgery/
http://blog.nickbourne.org.uk/2008/02/08/us-presidential-%E2%80%93-how-does...
http://cancergrace.org/lung/2008/06/17/peoria-experience-with-surgery/
The phrase "Does it play in Peoria" (or rather, "Will it play in Peoria?") originates from some time around when Groucho Marx was asking it in A Night at the Opera (this was during the Vaudeville era).
The question was asking if the product/service in question, would be popular in Peoria, Illinois. The belief was that if it was popular there, it'd be accepted by the people everywhere.
The question was asking if the product/service in question, would be popular in Peoria, Illinois. The belief was that if it was popular there, it'd be accepted by the people everywhere.
In the early days of Broadway, producers would sometimes put on a new show in the midwest before going to Broadway with it. Hence the phrase, "Will it play in Peoria?"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_it_play_in_Peoria%3F
"The phrase originated during the vaudeville era and was popularized in movies by Groucho Marx.[2] The belief was that if a new show was successful in Peoria, a main Midwestern stop for vaudeville acts, it would be successful anywhere.
Marine made a common mistake; he judged Peoria the way Peorians in the late 20th century usually seemed to judge themselves. That is, dull, banal, and provincial. But just ask older residents of Peoria, and they will tell about whiskey, gambling, prostitution, and whatever else goes into making a city "wide open." Only since the 1950s was the lid put on Peoria; but the reputation, and thus the gibes, has existed since vaudeville.[1]
Jack Mabley, writing in the Chicago Tribune, concluded that "if it plays in Peoria it has good taste," but a more apt meaning is, according to James C. Ballowe, former dean of Bradley University’s graduate school, that "Peoria is a tough audience." In other words, "it bombed in Peoria" or "it was great in Peoria" had recognizable meaning from one coast to the other.[1]"
"The phrase originated during the vaudeville era and was popularized in movies by Groucho Marx.[2] The belief was that if a new show was successful in Peoria, a main Midwestern stop for vaudeville acts, it would be successful anywhere.
Marine made a common mistake; he judged Peoria the way Peorians in the late 20th century usually seemed to judge themselves. That is, dull, banal, and provincial. But just ask older residents of Peoria, and they will tell about whiskey, gambling, prostitution, and whatever else goes into making a city "wide open." Only since the 1950s was the lid put on Peoria; but the reputation, and thus the gibes, has existed since vaudeville.[1]
Jack Mabley, writing in the Chicago Tribune, concluded that "if it plays in Peoria it has good taste," but a more apt meaning is, according to James C. Ballowe, former dean of Bradley University’s graduate school, that "Peoria is a tough audience." In other words, "it bombed in Peoria" or "it was great in Peoria" had recognizable meaning from one coast to the other.[1]"
This is cut and paste from wikipedia. That's not much of an answer.
Embedded in a story about Obama pitching the recovery act is a brief history of the origins of the phase. Slightly off topic, but they give a good explanation of the origins. The segment aired on NPR during Morning Edition, February 12, 2009 - can't seem to find the right link on their site though. The link below is to the original story.
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