Antiques Road Show

PBS’ spectacularly popular television program Antiques Road Show visits towns throughout the United States, allowing participants to bring in items for appraisal. Hopefuls arrive with every type of object, from family heirlooms and antiques hidden away in the attic to garage sale finds and flea market bargains, for experts to evaluate and perhaps proclaim priceless.

Antiques Road Show History

The American television program is based on Great Britain’s long-running BBC show of the same name, while other countries, including Canada and Sweden, have their own versions. In the United States, the series began production in the summer of 1996. Back then, as the crew traveled from town to town, the producers had trouble finding guests, but over 1,000 people lined up in the last city to have their antiques appraised, a foreshadow of things to come. The program appeared on television early the following year and became a big hit.

The Roadshow Today

On the East Coast, Antiques Road Show airs Mondays at 8 pm on PBS. It is produced by WGBH Boston and has been nominated for four Emmy Awards. The program is currently hosted by Mark Walberg, while its executive producer is Marsha Bemko. The current 2007 season has 18 episodes that were videotaped in, among other places, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Attending the Antiques Road Show

The PBS website lists the upcoming towns on the tour. Here are a few things to know if you should decide to go:

• Tickets are available free of charge by mailing a postcard or through an online application.
• Guests are allowed to bring two items for appraisal, as long as they can be carried and fit through the door.
• Furniture is a different matter, with a photograph of the piece required beforehand for selection.
• The show has become so large that there are long waits in lines, so care must be taken to properly pack antiques for transportation. According to their website, 70 to 80 appraisers in 20 categories see 500 people each hour.

What Goes On

In the auditorium where the program is videotaped, appraisers confer with the executive producer about objects they feel will be of interest. Only a small percentage of the many guests are selected to go in front of the camera, but not all of these make the final cut for broadcast.

For the videotaping, a specialist discusses the antique with the owner, then talks about the item and its worth. Chris Jussell, a previous host, wrote in one of the books from the television series that he is surprised how most guests are more interested in finding out their antique’s history and how to take care of the item than its monetary worth. Likewise, the appraisers on the road get caught up in the excitement of what jaw-dropping treasure might be brought in next. Finally, no selling goes on at the show, but business cards are available as well as other information about the appraisers who participate.