Bill Riley Talent Search History
Through his work in radio and TV, Bill Riley eventually earned the unofficial title, Mr. State Fair. He was fascinated by talented people, especially young people, and started the Bill Riley Talent Search. Performers taking the stage have already won a local or county competition, and are hoping to be named to the talent search champion on the last day of the fair.
Transcript
[Narrator] Through his work in radio and TV, Bill Riley eventually earned the unofficial title, Mr. State Fair.
[Bill Riley Sr., Bill Riley Talent Search] Ah, what a day! What a day! What a crowd! What a show! This is going to be the most wonderful experience we've had in a long time.
[Narrator] He was fascinated by talented people, especially young people, and started the Bill Riley Talent Search.
[Talent Search Contestant] (Singing) ♪ You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille, with four hungry children and a crop in the field. ♪ Thank you.
[Bill Riley Jr., Bill Riley Talent Search] The idea came to my father in the late '50s. The beauty of the show is it runs exactly like it did when it first started.
[Narrator] Performers taking the stage have already won a local or county competition and are hoping to be named the Talent Search Champion on the last day of the fair.
(Five teenage girls perform a clogging routine on the stage)
(Applause and cheering)
[Bill Riley Sr.] Hey, if you're not selected today, you're going to be disappointed, of course. But, let that just be there for a short time and then turn it around and don't be discouraged.
[Bill Riley Jr.] We humans love to watch each other perform, whether it's in a sporting event or at the theatre.
[Talent Search Contestant 2] (Singing) ♪I love you baby ♪
[Bill Riley Jr.] I think people love to watch children especially perform. It gives you new energy, it makes you feel young again, if you will.
[Chuck Offenburger, Former Des Moines Register Columnist] It's hard to understate what that contest has done for young people in Iowa because it has really inspired kids from the time they were 8 or 10 years old to enter these contests. And there's been bands, there's been dancers, it's a phenomenal contest. And I think when people go to that f air and they watch those Iowa kids do that and they, it's like oh my goodness, this kid is not performing like back home, this is like big time stuff and it really strikes them. What a training ground that has been.