One camera crew films about 80 appraisals at each event. (VT Photo)
REPORTING FROM ANAHEIM, CALIF. — What could cause excited guests to drive hours from as far as Paso Robles, Calif., to spend a day in line at Anaheim Convention Center? The possibility to discover that their dusty relics could actually be treasures.
Antiques Roadshow brought its beloved, top-rated primetime PBS show to the convention center June 22 to film three episodes, as well as a couple of webisodes and footage for the growing ‘Junk in the Trunk’ feature. The series, produced for PBS by WGBH Boston, rented Halls A & B for a total of nearly 300,000 square feet.
“The Southern California Volleyball Association was in Hall D. We held Hall C on our own to maximize the ‘quiet’ enjoyment of both events,” said Anaheim Convention Center Executive Director Tom Morton, who added that the convention center wanted to minimize noise on the Roadshow set since they were filming. Concessions areas in the halls were open.
The Antiques Roadshow never charges for tickets, instead giving them away online. They also give 250 pairs of tickets to the local public television affiliate, which sells them for pledges.
In Anaheim, 7,600 total tickets were given away, with total attendance hitting just shy of 5,000.
“Everybody can bring two items, and you can be sure everyone does,” said Antiques Roadshow Executive Producer Marsha Bemko.
Between 70 and 80 appraisers travel with the event to provide their services. None of these appraisers is employed by the roadshow, which has a year-round staff of 16. Not only do the appraisers donate their time, they also pay for their own airfare, hotel and food.
“It’s a chance for the appraisers to be exposed to potential brand new, targeted clients,” said Bonnie Winings of Shepley Winings Public Relations Group. “Plus, there’s some cache to be able to say you’ve been on the Roadshow.”
After checking in, attendees head to a 'triage' area where their items are classified by type. There is a line for each type of item that leads to final appraisals. (VT Photo)
About 80 appraisals are taped each tour stop using a three-point camera system that rotates around to three different appraisal areas so that two can set up while the other is being used. Usually around 50 of the on-camera appraisals are used in the three shows.
Antiques Roadshow is seen by nearly 10 million viewers each week and has earned 10 Emmy nominations. In addition to the appraisers who donate their time and the few full-time staff, the local public access television station in each town — in Anaheim’s case it’s PBS SoCal — recruits 120 volunteers. Each volunteer who helps with setup and during the event, receives a free appraisal and lunch.
“We do this show as cheaply as we can but it takes a village, and if we had to pay the volunteers or the appraisers, we simply wouldn’t exist,” said Bemko, who added that she thinks so many people are willing to give their time because the event is fun and everyone learns something. Liberty Mutual and Subaru also serve as cash sponsors for the tours and each has a booth.
For guests, the process can take a few hours from start to finish, depending on the length of the lines for appraisals. Many guests bring chairs or books to make the wait go by more quickly, and the production sets up digital screens that play multiple-choice questions about Antiques Roadshow.
Due to the potentially high-priced or dangerous items, security is a top priority at Roadshow events. Both uniformed and plainclothes police are hired to be on-site at all times. The Roadshow’s director of security is a retired detective who comes to each city early specifically to meet with the police department, hire officers for the event, and check out security at the venue.
The Roadshow group toured the facilities’ security operations center before the event.
“I’m proud of all we do for security, which is such an important aspect of the event and, really, I have to sleep at night,” said Bemko. All guests, many of whom are seniors, are advised not to reveal last names to press or on the air. All antique firearms have to be checked in with police, who make sure the guns are empty, trigger lock them and ensure there is no ammo on site.
Guests wait to have their items appraised. (VT Photo)
Antiques Roadshow tours from June to August each year to tape for the next season, which begins airing in January. This year, the tour has grown from a six-city outing to an eight-city event.
Though Roadshow has been in Los Angeles and Palm Springs in years past, this is the taping’s first time to Anaheim. The number of applications for tickets — 24,278 — was second only to Roadshow’s hometown of Detroit, which saw 28,922 applicants.
“Any time you can get a first-time event like Antiques Roadshow, it’s great for the building,” said Morton. “Getting Anaheim’s name out in front of millions of people is a great thing. The destination is so well known and well liked that it just further enhances the positive image we already have.”
“To get our name out in front of so many consumers is always positive,” he added. “Maybe next time that audience thinks of a vacation, now Anaheim will pop into their head.”
The tour began at Cobo Hall in Detroit on June 1, will stop at Knoxville (Tenn.) Convention Center July 13, and will wrap the eight-city run Aug. 17 at Greater Richmond (Va.) Convention Center.
Bemko said that the Antiques Roadshow receives requests from cities to visit specific towns
“It’s a great tour to be part of because we’re not controversial and when we come into town, we’re always good news,” said Bemko.
Interviewed for this story: Marsha Bemko and Bonnie Winings, (818) 760-7131 x229; Tom Morton, (714) 765-8950