It’s been a while since we let our fingers do the walking and taken a trip via the Yellow Pages so I thought that’s what we’d do today. We’re up to the letter, “E” and as I perused through the pages that are yellow, this jumped out at me:

Expo Gardens! It’s just weeks from the Heart of Illinois Fair, so I thought this would be a good time to stop out and take a little tour of Expo Gardens and so it’s off we go!

Here we are at the entrance of Expo Gardens, as you can see, storm clouds are brewing, better get some photos before it starts raining.

There's the Opera House where bands such as The Yardbirds, The Who and The Strawberry Alarm Clock have played at in the past.

There's where the midway section of the fair will be. I've just realized there's not a lot of things to take pictures of out here without the fair going on. Plus, as you can see, it's going to be raining here pretty soon.

Let's go inside the offices here and see what's going on there. I should kind of plan this stuff out before I go, but what are you going to do?

Here's the office door, let's see what's cooking in here...

It's a little bit of a bustling den of activity in here...

Check out these photos, this is what I was hoping to find in here...

Wow, here's the first ad for the very first Heart of Illinois Fair. Very cool and check out the creepy clown in the ad.

This is Joann who's the office manager and she introduced me to...

Tim Tucker who's the Operations Manager here at Expo Gardens. Joann told me that they were extremely busy and didn't have a lot of time to spend with me...

But she did lead me to this corner of this room and said that these boxes were filled with photos and press clippings and if I wanted to look through them I was more than welcome to do so, and so let's check it out. It sure beats taking photos of nothing in the rain!

Here's some photos from the Peoria Journal Star announcing the opening of the Heart of Illinois Fair.

This headline cracks me up: "TV Star Dean, Chinese Tyke to Head Expo Fair." It brings back memories of the "Spinal Tap/Puppet Show" bill.

Does this ad creep anyone else out?

Wow, check out the Lennon Sister on the far right, she needs to take a trip to Goddess Boheme and get her shit together!

Insert your own caption here, this shit is too easy!

I don't know who this is, but I love the old Opera House art in the back drop, especially the "Ladies, please remove you hats!" That cracked me up, I don't know why.

Before there was Ed McMahon and the Clydesdale Horses there was this Meister Brau truck with horses who's next stop was the glue factory and a tuba and accordion players at the Heart of Illinois Fair.

Here's the all-star lineup from the 1969 Heart of Illinois Fair starring: Ferlin Husky, Lynn Anderson, John Davidson, Marty Robbins, Roy Clark and Pat Paulsen.

Sam the Candy Man, could he have been the influence for this song?

The "Girl Trio," The Supremes on the main stage at Expo Gardens.

The Young Folk in front of the Opera House. I think this group could be the basis of a new Christopher Guest "mockumentary."

Last year MBIP Contributing Writer wrote about being a Heart of Illinois Fair correspondent and check it out, here's one of his articles on former Peorian, Spanky McFarlane.

Here's the 1973 Illinois Pork Queen. If anyone knows what happened to this young woman I'd love to know. I'm just curious as to how you live life after achieving such a dubious title.

Here's a shot of The Cowsills on the main stage at Expo Gardens.

This is an ad slick from the 1983 Heart of Illinois Fair...

There's some big names on the bill, but I love that the "Tactor Pull" gets equal billing.

And I thought it would be only proper to fisnish this post with a "happy ending." We'll see you all tomorrow!

Expo Gardens
1601 W Northmoor Road
Peoria
309-691-6332
facecrack page

Related Posts: The Yellow Pages: “A”, “B,” “C.” and “D.”

I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends,
A chance to share old memories and play our songs again.
When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name,
No one recognized me, I didn't look the same.

Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!

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Bonus Clown Art From Jaws the Cabbie!

Jaws the Cabbie took that creepy Ronald McDonald Clown ad and made it even creepier. Thanks Jaws...I think!