The team from ‘American Pickers,’ the long-running show on the History Channel, is heading our way in August and you can apply for consideration.
The American Pickers are on a mission to recycle America, even if it means diving into countless piles of grimy junk or getting chased off a gun-wielding homeowner’s land. Hitting back roads from coast to coast, the Pickers earn a living by restoring forgotten relics to their former glory, transforming one person’s trash into another’s treasure. The show follows the team as they scour the country for hidden gems in junkyards, basements, garages and barns, meeting quirky characters and hearing their amazing stories. If you think the antique business is all about upscale boutiques and buttoned-up dealers, this show may change your mind – and teach you a thing or two about American history along the way.
I’m a big fan of this show. The crew is entertaining and you learn a lot about cool old stuff. I would love to visit their brick-and-mortar stores in Iowa and Nashville (Jack White shows up from time to time).
It is unclear which pickers we will be seeing. One of the two original pickers, Frank Fritz, dropped out last year. His picking partner, Mike Wolfe, now travels the back roads with a trio of equally likable and knowledgeable characters in rotation: Mike’s younger brother Robbie, manager Danielle Colby, and antiques expert “Jersey Jon” Szalay. Their combined body of knowledge is vast and often insanely granular.
How to participate. From the ProJo:
People with leads can reach out by calling (646) 493-2184 or email AmericanPickers@cineflix.com. When reaching out, include your full name, city, contact information and a brief description of the collection.
Be aware the show only picks private collections and will not consider stores, malls, flea markets, museums, auctions, businesses or anything open to the public.
(Image courtesy of Cineplex.)