It was best of times, it was the worst of times. A sweet little lady from Rush County became the first guest chosen to have her antique go on air, with her beautiful late 1700s tilt top table. She was so overwhelmed by the news she planted a big kiss on Leslie Keno’s cheek. On the other side of the room disappointment struck, prompting the man with the “reproduction” chair to rip up his ticket and throw it at John Hayes. It was the Antiques Roadshow 2001 tour filming from Indianapolis and this summer they are back for a second go-round.
On July 9th, dozens of the nation’s top appraisers will once again take on the task of setting a value to the family heirlooms and garage sale finds of the 6,000 Hoosiers fortunate to hold a ticket to the 2016 Antique Roadshow Tour. So how do you get a ticket?
One person may apply, per household, for up to two tickets. Ticket requests must be submitted by April 18, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. (PST). There are two ways to apply. Submissions are accepted by filling out the online form available at www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/tickets or by postcard mailed to Indianapolis Roadshow, P.O. Box 249, Canton. MA 02021. Each postcard application must include the applicant’s name, address where applicant resides, city, state, and postal code. Winners will be selected by a random drawing on May 3, 2016 and tickets will be mailed out three weeks prior to the show.
Wondering what to take to garner you one of the 50-some “on air” spots?
At the 2001 Roadshow many brought their favorite doll or toy from childhood, their grandmother’s portrait or their great uncle’s WWII uniform. While these family heirlooms may carry great sentimental value to their owner, they will most likely not be considered “air worthy.” The show’s producers are looking for rare items in good condition, with age a consideration dependent on the item.
I noticed that a number of people brought Hoosier memorabilia. If you have James Whitcomb Riley, Indy 500, Eli Lilly or other Indiana related collections, they might be considered. The show watches for items and collections that are of historic significance, in good condition and that you have the provenance (postcard, letter, photos, bill of sale, etc.) to help establish them as authentic.
Collectibles are a popular choice. But again, don’t go with items that you commonly see at local antique malls. One way to get a good overview is to watch a few episodes of the show to see what has made the cut in past episodes. Many people bring furniture to the show, and while I did see one couple roll in a waterfall buffet on a dolly, I would recommend that you stay with smaller pieces. Dependent on the time slot you are assigned, you may have a wait of several hours between the time you arrive and your turn to speak with an appraiser.
In each city that the show visits they look for a few special pieces of furniture to appraise and display on the set. To see if your furniture would qualify, check the appropriate box and fill in the information requested on your ticket submission form. If your piece is selected it will be picked up and returned at the Roadshow’s expense. Only ticket applicants who live within a 50-mile radius of the event venue are eligible to submit furniture in advance.
As all good things do, my day at the Roadshow came to an end and those us who worked as production staff assistants lined up to have our items appraised. So what were the results of my time with the appraisers? Antique doll $350, Indian pottery $150, sharing a brownie with Leslie Keno — priceless! Until next time…Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional estate liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com
