Live from the Antiques Roadshow!

(This is a previously published article. I am reposting it as the broadcast of the Mobile show begins Monday, March 26^th at 8:00 pm EDT for most PBS stations, and continues on April 2^nd and April 9th.)

     Like millions of public television fans, I have been watching The Antiques Roadshow program since its earliest days. The variety and quality of items that the appraisers see on each program and the information provided certainly inspires us to think we all have that perfect treasure in the attic.

     When I heard, in late March, that Mobile, Alabama was one of the scheduled stops for this upcoming season, I was elated! I bookmarked the signup page and alerted friends that we had a chance to score tickets to see it up close and live. The sign up date was May 9 and at a few strokes after 8am I put in my email request. My antiques loving co-workers did the same. The rules stated that only two tickets per household and email address were allowed. We hoped that by everyone entering this lottery, one of us had a shot at it. Friday, June 2 I received the magic email! I had been selected to receive two of the 3,400 free tickets for the July 8 roadshow presentation in Mobile. One of my co-workers also won tickets, for her and her mother. My buddy Linda and I had our chance at showing these expert appraisers our treasures.

     I began digging around, thinking of things to take. The requirement was at least one but no more than two items per person for appraisal. I had some items that were good but not great, some great things that were in not so great condition after being dragged around the world and a few items that I really wanted to take but were too darn heavy or big to drag around for hours. By the time I was set to leave I had narrowed it down to two lovely old books. This was going to be all about portability.

     Linda and I appeared at the Mobile Convention Center on the river at 3pm, our appointed time. They break out the admittance times to 8am, 9:30am, 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm and 3:30pm. We had the 3:30pm slot. The lines just at the admit room were long but moved forward in an encouraging pace. The staff and volunteers were cheerful and helpful, and the crowds were in good spirits. After all, we were all Roadshow junkies bringing in what we were sure were valuable and special family heirlooms. We exchanged information and shared glimpses of what we had brought, commenting on the quality of this or that picture or lamp. There were the stories of distances traveled to be at this show. With only six widely scattered venues this year, there were folks here from Tennessee, Texas, Georgia and Florida. I felt very lucky to only have a 20 minute drive to see this fantastic show.

     At the "Triage" stop, we were told which line to join for our particular items. The books and manuscript line was minuscule, and we headed there first, to find that my atlas was at least 30 years too new to be of much value. It was printed in 1889, darn! And my very nice mint condition book by Margaret MacDonald Pullman entitled "Summerland" was good but, not worth more than 35 dollars. Oh well, I was busy craning my neck trying to spot my favorite appraisers, the Keno twins, Leigh and Leslie. Linda had a glass teacup set and a Balleek vase, so we joined the very long line for those items, and got some real sightseeing done. There were the Kenos! Those blond haired darlings of the furniture set were under the lights, running here and there, looking at some beautiful pieces. And Chris Mitchell, who is a home boy from Point Clear, with his civil war expertise in weaponry was evaluating a very old flag. Other familiar faces from the show were busy evaluating and sharing their knowledge with the fans. We saw a beautiful silver service, some incredible vases and one incredible necklace. We heard from the staff that one of the more unusual items brought in was a six foot Barbie doll! The most expensive item(s) appear to be eight chairs that once belonged to Matthew Brady of civil war photography fame, and that may have been used in the Lincoln White House.

     Linda’s items were appraised by one of those familiar faces. Unfortunately the Balleek vase had been damaged and repaired , which she had not realized. The teacup set was not marked so a real value could not be placed.

     All in all, it was fun, informative and an experience to be remembered. Just don’t look for us in the Feedback booth, we were too tired to stand in one more line!

(From the promotional email Fanfare from PBS for March, 2007:)

Tune in March 26 as ANTIQUES ROADSHOW continues its 11th
season with the first of three brand new episodes from Mobile,
Alabama. Host Mark Walberg and appraiser David Rago visit the
Mobile Museum of Art, temporary home and safe haven to a
collection of George Ohr pottery rescued from the Ohr-O'Keefe
Museum of Art in Biloxi, Mississippi, in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina.

At the Mobile Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center, there’s a
whirlwind of great finds, including a lap desk given to Martha
Washington’s granddaughter by the Marquis de Lafayette; a watch
once belonging to baseball great Leroy "Satchel" Paige, bought
at a pawnshop for $25; and a strikingly beautiful vase --
created by legendary ceramicist George Ohr himself and brought
to ROADSHOW by one of his great grandchildren -- valued at
$10,000 to $15,000