>>NARRATOR:ANTIQUES ROADSHOW IS WATCHED BY NEARLY 10 MILLION VIEWERS EACH WEEK AND TRAVELS ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES LOOKING FOR UNIQUE AND INTERESTING ITEMS TO SHARE WITH VIEWERS.

SO WHEN THE SHOW CAME TO GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN, WE MADE SURE WE WERE THERE.

JOIN US AS WE TAKE YOU FOR A BEHIND THE SCENES EXPERIENCE OF ANTIQUES ROADSHOW IN GRAND RAPIDS.

>>ANNOUNCER: THIS BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT ANTIQUES ROADSHOW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>SHELLEY: OVER 6,000 PEOPLE HAVE GATHERED AT DEVOS PLACE.

WHY, THE ANTIQUES ROADSHOW COMES TO GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN.

I BROUGHT MY ITEM TO BE APPRAISED.

LETS GO INSIDE.

NARRATOR: YOU'VE SEEN THE SHOW BUT HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

I'LL GIVE YOU A HINT.

ITS LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION FROM SUN UP TO SUN DOWN.

BUT THE PROCESS REALLY STARTS LONG BEFORE A SINGLE FRAME OF VIDEO GETS SHOT.

WE TALKED WITH THE SHOW EXECUTIVE PRODUCER MARSHA BEMKO WHO EXPLAINS THEY ARE ACTUALLY PRODUCING MORE THAN THE TELEVISION SHOW.

>>MARSHA BEMKO: WE'RE PRODUCING TWO THINGS, THE EVENT AND THE SHOW.

SO WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME, JUST COMING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME AT THE EVENT.

WE PRODUCE AN EVENT LIKE WE'RE DOING HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS ON SATURDAY, BECAUSE IF WE KNOCK ON EVERYBODY'S DOORS WE WOULD NOT FIND THE VOLUME OF THINGS THAT WE FIND JUST BY HAVING EVERYBODY COME TO US.

>>GUEST: IT'S FROM THE WIZARD OF OZ MOVIE.

THE GUARDS TO THE CASTLE CARRIED THESE.

>>GUEST: I BOUGHT THIS IN A YARD SALE, OH, 50 YEARS AGO.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

IT'S GOING HOME WITH ME.

[LAUGHS] YEAH I'M KEEPING IT; SHE'S MY GIRLFRIEND.

>>GUEST: THIS DOLL RIGHT HERE WAS GIVEN TO ME BY MY GRANDMOTHER AND I RESTORED IT.

WE LOST MY GRANDMOTHER LAST JULY.

WHEN IT WAS GIVEN TO HER BY HER STEPBROTHER THE DOLL WAS THE SAME SIZE SHE WAS.

>>GUEST: THIS IS A BRASS LAMP.

IT'S ELECTRIC.

THE STORY IS, JOHN PHILLIP SOUSA, THE BAND LEADER, GAVE IT TO HIS MISTRESS.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROOF, BUT THAT'S THE STORY WE WERE TOLD.

>>MARSHA BEMKO: THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WATCH THE SHOW BECAUSE THEY'RE INTERESTED IN ANTIQUES.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO WATCH THE SHOW BECAUSE THEY ENJOY WATCHING OTHER PEOPLE'S PLEASURE AND OTHER PEOPLE'S DISAPPOINTMENTS.

>>GUEST: YOU KNOW, I GOT THIS FROM A THRIFT STORE.

I'M A THRIFT STORE QUEEN LATELY.

I SAW AN EPISODE OF ANTIQUES ROADSHOW AND I SAW AN ARTIST WHO SORT OF LOOKED OF LIKE THIS PAINTER SO I GRABBED IT AND I BROUGHT IT TO SEE IF IT MIGHT BE WORTH SOMETHING.

>>GUEST: WELL, ANTIQUES, REALLY A GREAT PART OF HISTORY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE HAVE FAMILY THINGS, THIS IS WHAT THIS IS.

MAKES IT IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE IT'S A FAMILY ITEM.

>>MARSHA BEMKO: IT'S SMART REALITY TELEVISION.

IF YOU WATCH A WHOLE SEASON OF ANTIQUES ROADSHOW AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THE CIVIL WAR HAPPENED, YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE AUDIO ON.

>>GUEST: MY FATHER, WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 12, BACK IN THE EARLY 30S, WAS RIDING HIS BICYCLE DOWN A DIRT ROAD, AND HE SAW THIS BUNDLE OF LETTERS AND A MAP TIED UP IN A RED RIBBON.

I JUST WANT TO FIND THE HISTORY OF, YOU KNOW, THE MANUFACTURER.

I WAS TOLD IT WAS A RAILROAD MAP BUT I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

>>NARRATOR: PRODUCING THESE EVENTS THAT COVER ALL REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES AND PRODUCING 20 EPISODES OF ANTIQUES ROADSHOW THAT YOU SEE AT HOME, TAKES AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND PEOPLE.

>>MARSHA BEMKO: I HAVE THE GREATEST CREW, I REALLY DO.

I HAVE A STAFF, INCLUDING MYSELF, YEAR ROUND, 14 OF US.

>>NARRATOR:ONE OF THOSE FULL TIME STAFF MEMBERS IS ASSOCIATE PRODUCER, JILL GILES.

>>JILL GILES: I LINE UP THE CITIES.

I HIRE THE CREWS AND KIND OF OVERSEE THE LOGISTICS OF THE PRODUCTION SET UP.

AND THEN, ON SHOW DAY, I'M ONE OF THE THREE PRODUCERS THAT GETS TO PICK THE ITEMS THAT GO ON TV.

>>NARRATOR: JILL STARTS SCOUTING POTENTIAL CITIES FOR EVENTS, ONE TO TWO YEARS IN ADVANCE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL CONSIDERATIONS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR SELECTING CITIES ITS GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, HAVE THEY BEEN TO THAT CITY BEFORE, ARE PEOPLE ASKING THEM TO COME THERE,BUT THERE IS ONE REQUIREMENT THAT HAS TO BE MET BEFORE ANY OTHERS ARE CONSIDERED.

>>JILL GILES: WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIT.

LOGISTICALLY, IT HAS TO WORK OUT.

SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONVENTION CENTER THAT HAS 100,000 SQUARE FEET.

THE SET GOES UP REMARKABLY FAST, SO WE START THE UNLOAD AT 7AM AND THE SET IS UP AND FUNCTIONING BY LUNCH TIME.

WE HAVE 45 CREW MEMBERS THAT WE TRAVEL WITH, WE PICK UP 13 MEMBERS LOCALLY, SO SOME CAMERA OPS, SOME STAGE HANDS, AND GRIPS TO HELP US GET THE LIGHTING UP.

EVERYBODY'S IN THEIR OWN LITTLE RACE AROUND DOING THEIR THINGS AND LUCKILY AFTER 13 YEARS IT HAS BECOME A WELL-OILED MACHINE.

>>AMY SANTAMARIA: I WORK AS THE EVENT PRODUCER.

I BASICALLY MANAGE ANYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE THE SET.

WHEN AN ATTENDEE ARRIVES, THEY HAVE THEIR TICKET CHECKED AT THE DOOR, THEY MAKE THEIR WAY TO, SORT OF WHAT WE CALL, THE 'DISNEYLAND LINE,' THESE LONG SNAKING LINES, THOSE ARE ARRANGED BY THE TIMES ON THEIR TICKET.

EACH TICKET HAS A TIME SLOT ON IT AND WE HAVE TEN TIME SLOTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY; ONE ON EVERY HOUR FROM ABOUT 8 TO 5.

WE HAVE ABOUT 20,000 TO 25,000 PEOPLE FROM GRAND RAPIDS ONLINE OR VIA POSTCARD,AND THEN WE TAKE THOSE NAMES AND BASICALLY, WE PULL THEM OUT OF A HAT.

THERE'S A COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM THAT RANDOMIZES THEM AND WE JUST LITERALLY, IT'S DRAWN AT RANDOM.

WE PICK 3400 HUNDRED NAMES AND EACH OF THOSE 3400 PEOPLE GET A PAIR OF TICKETS.

SO WE ASK EACH TICKET HOLDER TO BRING TWO ITEMS, SO WE SEE BETWEEN 10 TO 12,000 ITEMS ON THE DAY.

THEY GO TO AN AREA CALLED TRIAGE AND TRIAGE IS WHERE THEY'VE UNWRAPPED THEIR ITEMS AND SEE A GENERALIST APPRAISER.

THAT APPRAISER DETERMINES WHERE THEY NEED TO GO ON THE SET.

DO THEY NEED TO SEE A PAINTINGS EXPERT.

DO THEY NEED TO SEE A POTTERY EXPERT.

IS IT A PAINTING OR IS IT A PRINT, YOU KNOW.

THE GUEST MIGHT NOT BE SURE.

>>SHELLEY IRWIN: WHERE DO I GO?

>WORKER: HI, OH LOOK AT THAT.

VERY NICE.

I THINK ASIAN.

>>SHELLY IRWIN: OFF TO ASIAN ART WITH MY ITEM.

>>NARRATOR: WHERE I ANTICIPATE AN UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL DISCUSSION WITH MY ASSIGNED APPRAISER, TO LEARN ITS HISTORY AND VALUE.

SOME 70-80 ON-SITE APPRAISERS WILL EVALUATE OVER 10,000 ITEMS.

APPRAISERS ARE ASSIGNED ACCORDING TO THEIR SPECIALIZATION, OVER 20 CATEGORIES, FROM POTTERY TO PAINTING TO ASIAN ART.

ROADSHOW AVOIDS APPRAISING COINS, STAMPS, OR VEHICLES BUT BRING ON THE DOLLS, THE ANTIQUE WEATHERVANE AND FOR SURE THAT FAMILY HEIRLOOMS.

>>NICHOLAS DAWES: THE TABLE I SIT AT IS THE POTTERY AND PORCELAIN TABLE; WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR TABLES, IN TERMS OF PEOPLE VISITING.

THROUGH THE COURSE OF THAT DAY, WE MIGHT SEE THOUSAND OF OBJECTS, LITERALLY, AT OUR TABLE.

>>COLLEENE FESKO: I AM ADDICTED TO LEARNING AND I ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING NEW AT EVERY ROADSHOW THAT WE'VE EVER DONE.

>>NARRATOR:AS THE LINE MOVES UP AND I NEAR MY TURN TO TALK TO AN APPRAISER ABOUT MY ITEMS, MY EXCITEMENT LEVEL RISES ONCE I SEE THE SET AREA WHERE ANTIQUES ROADSHOW PROGRAMS I'LL SEE AT HOME ARE BEING MADE RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES.

IN FACT, MY ITEM APPRAISAL, AS WELL AS EVERYONE ELSE'S, IS REALLY PART OF THE SET; MAKING UP THE BACKGROUND OF WHAT YOU SEE AT HOME.

I'LL HAVE TO BE SURE TO WATCH THE GRAND RAPID EPISODES OF ANTIQUES ROADSHOW AND SEE IF I'M IN THE BACKGROUND WHEN MY APPRAISALS WERE HAPPENING.

>>APPRAISER: YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT IT.

THIS IS ACTUALLY MADE IN CERAMIC BUT IT'S IMITATING WORK DONE IN IRON WITH GOLD INLAY THAT WAS DONE IN JAPAN IN THE 20 CENTURY AND BEFORE.

>>NICHOLAS DAWES: MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT COMING IN, IN MY EXPERIENCE, TO GET A VALUE OF THEIR ITEM, AT LEAST NOT EXCLUSIVELY.

THEY ALL GET THAT AND MANY PEOPLE DO WANT THAT, BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE ITEM IS, THEY WANT AN IDENTIFICATION.

THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW OLD IT IS, OR THEY WANT TO PROVE A FAMILY STORY; YOU KNOW, COULD IT HAVE COME WITH AUNT MARY FROM IRELAND IN 1860.

WE SEE OUR MAIN JOB AS IDENTIFYING THINGS AND HELPING PEOPLE PUT IT IN TO PERSPECTIVE, WHAT THEY'VE GOT.

>>NARRATOR: THE APPRAISERS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE, SPECIALISTS FROM THE COUNTRY'S LEADING AUCTION HOUSES PLUS INDEPENDENT DEALERS OFFER FREE APPRAISALS OF ANTIQUES, HEIRLOOMS AND COLLECTIBLES.

>>SHELLEY IRWIN: I HAD FUN TODAY.

>>APPRAISER: THANK YOU, SHELLEY, I APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS FOR COMING.

>>COLLEENE FESKO: WHAT'S INTERESTING IS YOU SEE REGIONAL PIECES, AND THEN YOU SEE THE LAST THING IN THE WORLD YOU WOULD EXPECT TO SEE AT WHATEVER VENUE YOU'RE AT.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE VARIETY.

THERE'S SOME PEOPLE WHO'VE DONE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH ON WHAT THEY HAVE AND AREN'T PLEASE WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY.

>>APPRAISER: SOME TIME YOU GET PEOPLE WHO SAY SENTIMENTAL VALUE AND THEN YOU TELL THEM IT'S WORTH A LOT OF MONEY AND IT'S NOT SO SENTIMENTAL ANYMORE.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

LITERALLY, IF THIS CAME UP AT AUCTION, I WOULD EXPECT IT TO PROBABLY SELL IN THE $10 TO $15 RANGE.

>>SHELLEY IRWIN: ACCORDING TO THIS ESTIMATE, I WILL NOT QUIT MY DAY JOB.

>>NARRATOR: WHILE MANY, IF NOT MOST, OF THE ITEMS BROUGHT IN WILL HOLD MORE SENTIMENTAL VALUE AS OPPOSED TO MONETARY VALUE, SOME OF THE ITEMS PEOPLE HAVE KNOCKED AROUND FOR DECADES PASSES DOWN FROM GREAT UNCLE AL OR GRANDMA TROJECKA, WELL YOU NEVER KNOW.

>>COLLEENE FESKO: THE STORIES THAT YOU HEAR ARE TRUE, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN IN THE ATTIC, IN THE BASEMENT, MOTHER GAVE IT TO THEM, DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM AND ITS INCREDIBLY VALUABLE.

>>APPRAISER: IT'S MISSING ITS LEATHER HANDLES, BUT ASIDE FROM THAT AND A FEW SCUFF MARKS, ASIDE FROM THAT IT'S ALMOST PRISTINE.

AND FOR THAT REASON, IT'S GOING TO HAVE A WONDERFUL VALUE.

AN AUCTION VALUE OF ABOUT $10,000; A RETAIL VALUE OF MAYBE DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THAT AMOUNT.

>>GUEST: WOW.

WOW.

WOW.

>>COLLEENE FESKO: THE SHOW HAS BEEN ON FOR A LONG TIME NOW BUT I'M STILL SURPRISED THAT PEOPLE WILL GIVE THINGS AWAY TO YARD SALES AND, WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THEY HAVE.

>>NARRATOR: SO HOW DOES YOUR PERSONAL HEIRLOOM GET THE THUMBS UP FOR A TV APPRAISAL TAPING?

>>SHELLEY IRWIN: THE PRODUCERS ACTUALLY CHOOSE WHO'S GOING TO BE ON TELEVISION.

THAT'S WHO YOU'LL SEE ON ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.

THE ITEMS, SUCH AS THE JEWELRY, THE SILVER, THE POTTERY,THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING NOW.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW THIS ACTUALLY COMES TO BE.

>>JILL GILES: THE COORDINATING PRODUCER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND I GET TO SELECT THE ITEMS.

SO BASICALLY, WE RUN AROUND ALL DAY LONG, WITH A RUNNER, AND WHEN AN APPRAISER HAS SOMETHING THAT THEY THINK IS INTERESTING THEY'LL PUT THEIR HAND UP AND THEY'LL GET ONLINE TO SPEAK WITH A PRODUCER AND THEY'LL PITCH IT.

SO WE'LL INTERVIEW THE GUEST AND THE APPRAISER SEPARATELY AND FIND OUT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY HAVE AND IF WE THINK IT'LL MAKE GOOD TV.

>>NARRATOR: HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS THEY WILL RECORD CHOSEN ITEMS ALMOST NON-STOP FOR 11 HOURS STRAIGHT IN ORDER TO HAVE ENOUGH MATERIAL TO MAKE THE THREE ANTIQUES ROADSHOW EPISODES DONE HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

>>JILL GILES: IT'S A MULTI-CAMERA SET UP.

WE HAVE FOUR STUDIO CAMERAS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY RECORDING FROM 7:30 UNTIL WE STOP TAPE, SOMEWHERE AROUND 6:30.

SO WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT STAGING AREAS, ONE'S CALLED INTERVIEW, ONE'S CALLED FURNITURE AND ONE'S CALLED ART.

WHERE WE'RE SHOOTING AN INTERVIEW, WE'RE ALREADY PREPPING AND MIC-ING OVER IN ARTS AND THEN WE'RE SETTING OVER IN FURNITURE.

SO WE'LL STOP IN ONE TAPE PLACE AND WE'LL ROLL TO THE NEXT PLACE.

AND BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE CENTER SHOOTING OUT INTO THIS CIRCLE, IT'S EASY FOR US TO MANEUVER BACK AND FORTH AND GET, YOU KNOW, T HE 55 OR SO APPRAISALS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF A DAY.

>>MARSHA BEMKO: AND AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE RECORDING AT INTERVIEW AREA IN FURNITURE, WE'RE GOING TO SWING THE CAMERAS AROUND NEXT AND GO TO THE NEXT INTERVIEW AREA.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE AROUND SO THAT THE CAMERAS, BASICALLY BARELY STOP.

SO THAT WHILE THE NEXT INTERVIEW AREA IS GETTING SET UP, WHILE THE OTHER ONE'S BEING RECORDED AND IT JUST MOVES ALL DAY SO THAT WE DO NOT WASTE TIME ANY TIME WITH CAMERAS SITTING IDLE.

AND I NEED EVERY FRAME, LIKE EVERY CRAZY PRODUCER, I NEED EVERY FRAME.

I WANT THEM ALL, I WANT ALL THAT FOOTAGE.

>>NARRATOR:THE CONTROL ROOM FOR THE PRODUCTION IS A HIGH DEFINITION MOBILE TRUCK.

MANY WIRES BRING ALL THE VIDEO AND AUDIO ELEMENTS FROM THE SET TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE.

EACH MICROPHONE HAS A SET IF FADERS AND KNOBS ON THE AUDIO BOARD TO CONTROL THE SOUND AND MIX IT WITH OTHER AUDIO ELEMENTS.

SIMILARLY, THE VIDEO SWITCHER MIXES ALL VIDEO ELEMENTS TOGETHER SUCH AS THE DIFFERENT CAMERA ANGLES.

THE PRODUCERS AND DIRECTORS CHOOSE WHICH CAMERA ANGLES TO GET AND USE WHILE LOOKING AT EACH VIDEO SIGNAL THAT IS FEED INTO THE LARGE NUMBER OF MONITORS IN THE TRUCK.

DURING THE TAPING OF ANTIQUES ROADSHOW THE TRUCK CONTROL ROOM IS ALIVE WITH ACTIVITY AND STRICTLY OFF LIMITS TO BEING RECORDED AS EACH MEMBER OF THE PRODUCTION AND ENGINEERING STAFF NEEDS TO STAY IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION.

ALL THE FOOTAGE OF THE DAY FROM TAKE ONE TO TAKE 901 GETS CAPTURED ON A LONG ROW OF HIGH DEFINITION TAPES.

>>NARRATOR:MARK WALBERG HAS HOSTED THE 6 TIME EMMY AWARD NOMINATED ANTIQUES ROADSHOW FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS AND HAS SEEN FIRST HAND THE AMOUNT OF WORK IT TAKES TO PRODUCE.

MARK WALBERG: IT TAKES AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PREP ON THE PART OF THE STAFF TO GET TO SELECT THE CITIES.

I MEAN IT'S, YOU KNOW,IT'S MORE THAN A YEAR TO GET TO A DATE LIKE THIS.

SO IT'S A IT'S A MAMMOTH PRODUCTION TO GET OFF THE GROUND, BUT I THINK I HAVE THE EASIEST JOB.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY ASKED ME TO DO THE SHOW, YOU KNOW, AND ASKED ME WHY I THOUGHT I'D BE A GOOD HOST, I SAID I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY EXCEPT TO SAY THAT I'M CURIOUS AND I'M A STUDENT.

I LOVE MEETING ALL THE PEOPLE.

THEY'RE THERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

PEOPLE ARE THERE FOR FUN.

IF YOU DO THE MATH, IF YOU FIGURE FIVE TO SIX THOUSAND PEOPLE CAN COME, EACH OF THEM CAN BRING TWO ITEMS,SO TEN TO TWELVE THOUSAND ITEMS, AND ONLY EIGHTY OF THEM GET ON TAPE, SO YOU BETTER COME TO HAVE FUN, NOT HAVE YOUR HOPES TOO HIGH.

>>NARRATOR: HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS THE CROWD DEFINITELY CAME TO HAVE FUN.

THESE TREASURE HUNTERS CAME WITH THEIR WARES IN TOW BY HAND, CART, DOLLY AND WAGON AND THEY ALSO CAME IN DROVES.

>>NARRATOR:VOLUNTEERS ARE CRITICAL TO MAKING THE EVENT HAPPEN.

THESE 110 QUICK STUDIES BECOME PART OF THE CREW AND GET A VARIETY OF ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDING GREETING,CHECK-IN,SET MANAGEMENT,AND GUEST ESCORT.

>>AMY SANTAMARIA: AND THOSE VOLUNTEERS REALLY BECOME LIKE, PART OF THE CREW.

THEY MAKE THE EVENT HAPPEN.

WE ASSIGN THEM TO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT AREAS.

THEY HELP ON THE SET.

THEY HELP IN THE GREEN ROOM.

THEY CHECK PEOPLE IN.

THEY GREET PEOPLE.

WITHOUT THEM THE SHOW COULDN'T RUN.

SO THEY'RE REALLY KIND OF THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THE WHOLE THING TOGETHER.

WE TRAIN THEM ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE EVENT FOR ONLY AN HOUR, AND THEN THEY PULL OFF THE SHOW.

SO, MOST OF IT,WE TRY TO WARN THEM THAT IT'S A LONG DAY AND THAT IT'S TOUGH ON YOUR FEET, AND MOST OF THEM ARE PRETTY TIRED BY THE END.

>>MARSHA BEMKO: WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT THEM.

YOU WILL SEE AS A -- WHEN YOU WITNESS THE SHOW THEY HAVE REAL JOBS TO DO, THEY ARE ESCORTING OUR GUESTS AROUND THE SET.

I HAVE TWO VOLUNTEERS WITH ME ALL DAY LONG.

>>NARRATOR: AFTER THE APPRAISAL, GUESTS STOP BY THE FEEDBACK BOOTH TO RECORD THE MEMORIES OF THIS ROADSHOW EXPERIENCE.

A HIGHLIGHT TO THE END OF WHAT WAS CERTAINLY AN EXCITING DAY.

>>MARSHA BEMKO: ANYBODY CAN GET ON TAPE THERE.

ANYBODY CAN BRING -- TO DO THEIR OBJECT AND BE TAPED IN THAT.

>>SHELLEY: AND HERE WE ARE AT THE FEEDBACK BOOTH.

BEHIND THAT BLUE CURTAIN, THAT'S WHERE THE STORIES ARE BEING TOLD, AND THAT'S WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS AT ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.

THE STORIES THAT YOU'VE HEARD TODAY,THE PEOPLE WE'VE TALKED TO RIGHT HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>>NANCY & BARBARA: HI, I'M NANCY AND THIS IS MY MOTHER BARBARA, AND WE CAME TODAY, I HAVE MY TWO DOLLS, ONE WAS WORTH FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS AND ONE WAS WORTH FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.

THIS ONE I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY WITH.

IT WAS GIVEN TO ME AND SHE, MY MOTHER SAID, DON'T TOUCH HER, SHE HAS REAL HAIR.

SO, IT WAS A GOOD THING, MOM.

THIS IS A SAMPLER MY GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GRANDMOTHER DID WHEN SHE WAS THIRTEEN YEARS OLD.

1813 WAS THE DATE OF IT, AND IT'S WORTH, QUITE VALUABLE, I WAS SURPRISED THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS, SO I'M PLEASED WE CAME.

I WON'T SELL IT, BUT I LOVE IT.

IT WAS FUN.

>>FRAN: HI, I'M FRAN FROM KALAMAZOO.

I'M A MEMBER OF WGVU AND I CAME TO ANTIQUES ROADSHOW WITH A COUPLE OF THINGS.

THIS WAS ONE OF THEM.

IT'S A PRINT I GOT AT A FLEA MARKET FOR SEVEN DOLLARS AND IT'S WORTH FOUR TO FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.

SO, NOT TOO BAD, AND I'M JUST GLAD I CAME AND GOT TO SEE ALL THE ROCK STARS.

>>CAROL: I FOUND OUT IF I WAS WILLING TO PUT EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS INTO GRANDPA'S VIOLIN TO MAKE PLAYABLE, IT WOULD THEN BE WORTH FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS.

>> AND I'M HER SISTER CAROL FROM SPRING LAKE AND I BROUGHT A COOKBOOK FROM 1884,MRS.

OWEN COOKBOOK, AND HELPFUL HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

IT'S WORTH FIFTY DOLLARS.

SO WE'LL PUT IT BACK ON THE SHELF FOR ANOTHER FIFTY OR SIXTY YEARS.

>>ANGEL: AND WE'RE HERE AT THE ANTIQUE ROADSHOW.

WE'RE HAVING A GREAT TIME, BUT WE'VE ALSO LEARNED A LOT.

THESE ARE MY COUSIN ANGEL'S SKOOKUM DOLLS AND WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE THEM HERE BECAUSE WE FOUND OUT WE'RE RICH.

WE CAN GO ON A CRUISE NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OF THIS.

AND WE HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH.

YOU NEED TO COME TO THE ANTIQUE ROADSHOW.

IF YOU CAN'T GET A TICKET THIS TIME, GET ONE NEXT TIME, 'CAUSE YOU'LL HAVE A BALL.

YOU'LL SEE SO MANY WONDERFUL PIECES, SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND GO TO THE NEXT ONE WHEREVER IT IS, SO THERE.

AND WE'LL BRING MORE THINGS.

OK, THANK YOU.

WE LOVE YOU.

>>GUEST: AND THIS IS MY GRANDMA'S WEDDING PITCHER.

IT'S WORTH ABOUT TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS.

IT HAS SIX, IT HAD SIX GLASSES WITH IT.

MY SISTER BROKE ONE, SO IT'S NOT WORTH AS MUCH AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF SHE HADN'T BROKEN IT.

>>JEANNIE: I BROUGHT MY KANGAROO.

IT'S NOT WORTH A WHOLE LOT.

HE'S WORTH ABOUT SEVENTY FIVE TO A HUNDRED DOLLARS, BUT I LIKE HIM, AND JEANNIE, I'VE GOT A PRINT THAT I ONLY PAID TWO TO TEN DOLLARS FOR AND IT'S WORTH BETWEEN SEVEN HUNDRED AND EIGHT HUNDRED AND A THOUSAND DOLLARS,AND I'M THRILLED.

AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FUN HERE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HOP ON OUT, AND GO HOME.

>>GUEST: I'M HERE ON THE ANTIQUES ROADSHOW WITH MY MOTHER AND A FRIEND.

THIS IS A PIECE THAT SHE BOUGHT FOR FORTY DOLLARS.

DEPENDING ON WHO THE ARTIST IS, WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE ARTIST IS, SO WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND RESEARCH THE ARTIST AND IT COULD BE WORTH UP TO FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS, SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY WITH THAT.

>>MIKE: HI, MY NAME'S MIKE AND I CAME TO THE ANTIQUES ROADSHOW TO SEE WHAT MY GRANDMOTHER'S PRICELESS ANTIQUES WERE WORTH AND THEY'RE WORTHLESS, SO I'M GOING TO GIVE THEM TO MY KIDS, AND -- BUT THESE ARE ALL RIGHT, THIRTY AND FORTY.

>>GUEST: MY WIFE AND I WERE INVITED TO THE ANTIQUE ROADSHOW.

WE -- PAINTING WASN'T WORTH VERY MUCH, BUT WE WAS OFFERED SOMETHING FOR THE JACOBSON'S STORE SACK,AND WE HAD A LOT OF FUN.

>>GUEST: THIS IS A RETAIL SPARE PARTS CABINET FOR DE LAVAL CREAM SEPARATORS.

IF YOU HAD TO BUY PARTS FOR YOUR CABINET, YOU WENT TO THE STORE AND GOT IT OUT OF HERE.

TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED TO THREE THOUSAND,HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA.

I THOUGHT LIKE EIGHT HUNDRED BUCKS, I THOUGHT MAYBE,AND THIS IS MY EXTREMELY CHEAP SHAKESPEARE COLLECTION,WORTH NOTHING.

BUT IT WAS AMAZING.

ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.

BEST SHOW ON EARTH.

IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

WOULD WAIT IN LINE AGAIN FOR SURE.

CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH IT, AND HOPEFULLY I'LL GET ON.

>>CHERYL & RANDY: WE'RE CHERYL AND RANDY MASS FROM LOWELL, AND WE JUST HAD A GREAT TIME AT THE ROADSHOW TODAY, AND I BROUGHT THIS DUTCH PAINTING.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A REAL TREASURE, AND MY HUSBAND ALWAYS SAID IT WAS MY BREAK DANCING COW AND IT WAS ONLY WORTH ABOUT TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS, BUT IT'S A REAL TREASURE TO ME.

I BROUGHT A PICTURE OF A LOCAL BOXER FROM 1910.

IT'S STANLEY KEICHEL.

HE WAS WELTER WEIGHT CHAMPION BACK THEN AND THEY WERE WORTH EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS.

HAD A GREAT TIME.

>>TODD: HI MY NAME IS TODD.

I BROUGHT IN TWO BASEBALLS TODAY, ONE BELONGS TO MY FATHER.

IT'S A BABE RUTH BASEBALL FROM 1927.

THIS BABE RUTH BASEBALL WAS APPRAISED FOR EIGHT TO TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE 1971 ALL-STAR TEAM BASEBALL.

>>SANDY: HI, I'M SANDY WOODCOCK FROM MCBRIDE, MICHIGAN AND THIS IS MY BROTHER PAT.

AND MY MOM'S CANDY DISH IS WORTH FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS.

THANK YOU ANTIQUE ROADSHOW.

>>KIM: HI, WE'RE KIM AND MICHELLE FROM TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN.

BROUGHT DOWN THIS GREAT LOOKING TUSK.

FOUND OUT IT'S A COMPOSITE, NOT EVEN REAL IVORY, BUT IT'S COOL, WE'RE KEEPING IT.

AND I BROUGHT DOWN THIS CZECHOSLOVAKIAN VASE AND IT'S WORTH ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT IN THE FAMILY ALSO.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME.

>>HARRIET: MY NAME IS HARRIET.

I'M FROM HUDSONVILLE, MICHIGAN.

I BROUGHT THIS LITTLE BEADED BAG THAT I HAD HANGING ON A WALL.

I PICKED IT UP IN AN ANTIQUES STORE BACK IN THE FIFTIES.

RIGHT NOW IT'S WORTH ABOUT A FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS.

IT'S IN METALLIC BEADS.

>>CAROLINE: HI, I'M CAROLINE, THIS IS MY FRIEND VALERIE.

I BROUGHT MY BUST TODAY.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE >>DAN: HI, I'M DAN.

THIS IS MY WIFE MELINDA.

WE BROUGHT OUR STUFFED REINDEER HERE WITH US TODAY.

AH, IT WAS A BLAST GOING THROUGH, SEEING WHAT EVERYTHING WAS WORTH, AND THIS WAS FUN CARRYING THIS GUY AROUND.

>>GUEST: THEN THE MAN ASKED MY DAD IF, AH, HE KNEW ANYBODY WOULD LIKE THIS POSTER, AND HE SAID, WELL, I HAVE A TEN YEAR OLD AT HOME WHO WOULD JUST LOVE TO HAVE IT AND I WAS THAT TEN YEAR OLD AND HE BROUGHT IT HOME TO ME, THEN FIFTY YEARS LATER, MY MOM WAS FINALLY SELLING THE HOUSE AND SHE FOUND IT AND SHE SAID WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR POSTER BACK,AND I SAID, YEAH, I SURE WOULD.

AND MY WIFE LOOKED AT IT AND SHE KNEW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ANTIQUES AND SHE SAID, I THINK THIS IS VALUABLE.

SO WE CAME HERE TO THE ROADSHOW TODAY AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S WORTH TWO TO THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

SO I'M PRETTY HAPPY.

>>DEBBIE: HI, I'M DEBBIE, AND I'M FROM CONSTANTINE DOWN IN MICHIGAN AND I HAVE A LITTLE EYE MIRROR THAT'S BEEN HAND PAINTED AND ENAMELED FROM AUSTRIA, AND THIS WAS INITIALLY MY GRANDMOTHER -- MY GREAT AUNT'S, EXCUSE ME, AND THAT WAS GIVEN TO HER BY HER AUNT AND THEY DATED IT ABOUT 1900, BUT THEY'RE NOT SURE WHO MADE IT, AND THEY'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE,AND THEY FIGURE IT'S ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS CONSERVATIVE.

>>BETH: HI, THIS IS MY SON FOSTER.

I'M BETH, AND WE CAME TO THE ROADSHOW TODAY WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS OF BECOMING MULTI-MILLIONAIRES.

THIS PAINTING'S WELL OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.

IT CAME FROM ENGLAND.

THE MAN ALSO SAID THAT HE COULDN'T FIND THE PAINTER'S NAME WHICH WAS KIND OF NOT A GOOD THING.

THIS WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

IT WAS FUN TALKING TO THE OTHER PEOPLE WHILE WE WERE SNAKING THROUGH THE LINES.

WE TRIED NOT TO BLEAT LIKE SHEEP.

AND -- AND IT WAS JUST FUN SEEING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD BROUGHT TO THE ROADSHOW TOO.

>>GUEST: AND WE BROUGHT THIS STEER HORN CHAIR.

WE'VE LUGGED IT ALL AROUND, GONE THROUGH ABOUT FOUR, FIVE DIFFERENT LINES AND WE FOUND OUT THE CHAIR'S WORTH LIKE TWELVE TO EIGHTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS, AND HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE SELLING IT ON EBAY.

IT WAS MADE IN TEXAS AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, AND WE THINK THE SPRINGS IN IT ARE MADE OF LEAD BECAUSE IT HAD GONE FROM A HUNDRED POUNDS, A FEELING LIKE FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS TODAY.

>>NARRATOR: WATCHED WEEKLY BY NEARLY 10 MILLION VIEWERS.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ANTIQUES ROADSHOW THAT MAKES IT SO SUCCESSFUL?

>>MARSHA BEMKO: BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY INGREDIENTS THAT APPEAL TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE ON DIFFERENT LEVELS.

THEY'RE THREE LITTLE MINUTE DRAMAS, THAT IF YOU'RE NOT INTO GUNS, THEN MAYBE YOU'RE INTO THAT PIECE OF JEWELRY COMING UP NEXT,AND IT'S REALLY REWARDING AS TO HOW MANY PEOPLE LOVE AND GET SO MUCH FROM THE SHOW.

>>JILL GILES: YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO WALK THROUGH THE DOOR.

YOU CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T SCRIPT THIS, IT'S JUST, IT'S GREAT TV, DISCOVERING AMERICA'S HIDDEN TREASURES.

>>MARK WALBERG: OR ONE, IT REALLY TAPS IN, AT FIRST BLUSH, TO THAT AMERICAN DREAM THAT WE COULD ALL BE RICH TOMORROW.

SO, THE FIRST THING THAT PEOPLE TUNE INTO IS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE VALUE IS OF THE PIECE.

WHAT MAKES PEOPLE STAY, AND HAVE A SHOW SURVIVE SEASON AFTER SEASON, I THINK, IS THE LIVING HISTORY.

YOU'RE SEEING PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU OR I, WHO HAVE AN ITEM, AND THERE'S A STORY BEHIND THE ITEM, AND WHILE WE MAY BE BUYING IN TO SEE IF IT'S GOING TO MAKE THEM RICH OR NOT, WHAT WE REALLY STAY FOR IS TO HEAR THEM TELL THE STORY OF HOW IT'S COME TO THEIR FAMILY.

WHAT THAT STORY IS AND THE HISTORY.

IT'S LIVING HISTORY.

IT'S TANGIBLE, ARTIFACTUAL HISTORY.

>>SHELLEY: YOU'VE SEEN THE PEOPLE.

YOU'VE HEARD THEIR STORIES, AND NOW WE THANK YOU, AS WE'VE GONE BEHIND THE SCENES AT A TAPING OF ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, RIGHT HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.