CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Many residents showed up to view a preview screening held Wednesday night at Charleston’s Culture Center of the three upcoming Charleston episodes of PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow”, which was filmed in the capital city last August.
The premise of the PBS show is for people to bring antiques and have them appraised to find out how much they’re worth. Marsha Bemko, the show’s executive producer, said the Charleston trip was the show’s first visit to West Virginia.
“We like to go to new places, and the country isn’t big enough to go to new places anymore,” Bemko said. “So we hadn’t been here. That was a major force in bringing us to Charleston.”
One of the most expensive items that was brought to the Charleston Civic Center for the filming was a painting of Charleston and the Kanawha River before West Virginia was a state, which was valued at $250,000. Director of video production for WV Public Broadcasting Chuck Roberts said the items with the best tale behind them decide which will be chosen to air.
“It’s all about the story behind the items and what the items are worth,” he said. “They have a legion of appraisers who have been doing this for many years, and they decide what the real gems are, and those are the items that make for great TV.”
Bemko said that the vast majority of people choose to keep their items for the sentimental value of them, even if they turn out to be worth a large sum. She felt the show is so popular because of the reality aspect of it.
“I think what is so engaging about the show is that no one on our show is an actor or a professional, other than Mark Walberg,” she said. “These are everyday people, and we are interested in what we’re going to learn. Whether it’s a pot, a photo or a painting, the items are very present and they have a story to tell.”
Resident Kathie Howard was thrilled upon learning her antique table would be featured on Monday night’s premiere episode.
“I didn’t expect to actually be chosen,” she said. “I’m really shocked that I am just because I’m very shy around cameras.”
The three episodes of “Antiques Roadshow” featuring Charleston will air the next three Monday nights, May 11, May 18 and May 25 at 8 p.m.