I posted a photo of the LA basin a few days ago, so this time I thought I should post a photo of Peoria, Illinois. Boy, what a difference a few million people make. I grew up in a small town just a few miles from Peoria, so it always seemed like the big city, and it’s about 100 times larger than my current hometown of Delavan, Illinois.
It’s funny how communities have their own personalities. As the home of the entertainment industry, Los Angeles is usually thought of as shallow and self-absorbed with a focus on glitter and glamour instead of substance. Peoria, on the other hand, has a strong agricultural and manufacturing history, and is known for its strong work ethic and family values. For years, people have asked the question, “Will it play in Peoria?” The saying originated in the days of Vaudeville, observing that if the act could play well in Peoria, it would be well received everywhere. Even today, many people look to the Midwest in general, and Peoria in particular, as a testing ground for new products and ideas.
