Antiques Roadshow Detours
by GBH
Ever wondered what happens to the treasures featured on America’s beloved ANTIQUES ROADSHOW after the cameras leave town? ANTIQUES ROADSHOW DETOURS tracks down the juicy afterlives of your favorite finds from PBS’s hit series. Hosted by longtime Roadshow producer Adam Monahan, this podcast dives deep into mysteries, secrets, and surprises as each episode takes a thrilling “detour” into a single ROADSHOW object, astonishing and amusing listeners with every turn. A production of GBH and distributed by PRX.Antiques Roadshow is a trademark of the BBC and Detours is a trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation.
Episodes
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Encore: That Time the FBI Called
Photographs of Edgar Allan Poe are incredibly rare. The famed writer sat for portraits only a few times, resulting in eight unique images, known as daguerreotypes. When one appeared on the TV show in Omaha, NE it seemed too good to be true. Then the FBI called. It’s a tale never shared before on...
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Encore: Is This a Let Down?
News that a famous Galileo manuscript at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor was revealed to be a fake raises questions about a similar letter that appeared on GBH’s Antiques Roadshow in 2014. Did the show get it wrong? And how can a fake be so convincing it fools multiple experts? Host Adam...
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Encore: Skippy the Hero Dog
Calling all dog lovers and true-crime aficionados! In 2022 Linda brought a chipped, cracked, and stained ceramic plate featuring the portrait of a long-ago dog to GBH’s Antiques Roadshow in Santa Fe, NM. But why would the story around this unassuming item soon ignite controversy among appraisers…
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Encore: Theresa's Choice
It is the dream scenario on GBH’s Antiques Roadshow: your object is appraised for more than you ever imagined. But when that object is a beloved family treasure, do you keep or sell? This hypothetical becomes a reality for Theresa after she learns that her inherited New Orleans Art Pottery...
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Encore: Byrd Flies South
Photos from Admiral Byrd’s famed Antarctic expedition brought in 2021 to GBH’s Antiques Roadshow in Sands Point, NY reveal rare glimpses into life at the South Pole almost 100 years ago. Join host Adam Monahan as he discovers how science and PR collide in this tale of one man’s quest for fame and…
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Encore: If it’s Brown it’s Down
An early-American desk and bookcase set was appraised in 2006 at GBH’s Antiques Roadshow for a whopping $250,000. But was this coveted circa 1775 two-piece secretary a match made in heaven? Join host Adam Monahan as he discovers how a shocking secret revealed after the show making the piece even...
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A Lasting Impression
In the early 1800s securing a letter with a hot wax seal was akin to sending an encrypted email today – it protected the contents from prying eyes and created a mysterious and important air around the sender. So when the purported personal seal of President James Madison was discovered at…
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The Tiffany Gamble
Known to ANTIQUES ROADSHOW fans for her expertise in Tiffany Studios glass, Arlie Sulka is also known to ROADSHOW appraisers and crew as “The Black Widow” for her killer instincts during friendly yet competitive post-production poker games. But will gambler’s luck hold when she bets big on the...
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The Sucker and the Punch
When a shocking and dramatic illustration depicting a fist-clenched cowboy punching a woman in the face appeared at ROADSHOW in 2014, the artwork created a controversy around whether to film such a startling image. Originally created as a 1938 magazine cover, this provocative, boundary-pushing...
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Jaws vs. the Jinx
In the summer of 1975 one cinematic masterpiece took a giant bite at the box office. The classic tale that drove people screaming from the water, Jaws became the first summer blockbuster and lives on in the minds of movie goers today. As the film celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025, a wave of...
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Encore: To Utah Beach and Back
A World War II Navy helmet brought to GBH’s Antiques Roadshow, and used for years as a decorative planter, was revealed to be that of the US Naval officer in charge at Utah Beach during the allied landing in Normandy. Appraiser Jeff Shrader carefully inspected the helmet. What did his analysis...
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Encore: All that Glitters
Gold ingots, retrieved from the ocean floor and appraised on America’s favorite antiques show back in 1999 are now the subject of an international investigation. Apparently, which part of the ocean floor is a pretty big deal… Join host Adam Monahan to find out where these gold bars reside today!
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Not What You Hurd
In the world of rare silver, American Colonial silver is the stuff collectors dream of. So, when a pair of drinking vessels or "canns," complete with intricate engraving by a master Boston craftsman, were discovered during ROADSHOW’s visit to Akron in 2023, expert Nick Dawes examined the cups’...
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The Empire Strikes Cash
Some of the items seen on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW take you right back to your childhood, evoking fun memories of long-forgotten treasures. But for some, a lifelong collecting passion is born. When expert Travis Landry discovered a rare set of 18 Star Wars figures straight from the original movie's era,...
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Bunny Business
Thousands of guests have appeared on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, but only one holds the distinction of having also been on the cover of Playboy magazine. Former centerfold Candace Jordan stole the show in Chicago in 2014 with a rare archive of Playboy memorabilia including her 1976 “Bunny of the Year”...
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The Fake That Is or Isn’t
On ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, an appraisal is usually the final word—but what happens when a guest brings her own receipts? In 2011, an Atlanta guest presented a brilliant royal blue enamel egg she hoped was a Fabergé masterpiece. Appraiser Sebastian Clarke wasn’t convinced, labeling the treasure…
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Season 7 Trailer - New eps coming March 30th!
Ever wondered what happens after the Antiques Roadshow cameras stop rolling? Host Adam Monahan returns for Season 7 of Antiques Roadshow Detours to investigate the juicy, complicated, and often hilarious "afterlives" of America's favorite treasures. From Star Wars and Jaws movie history to...
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Encore: If it’s Brown it’s Down
An early-American desk and bookcase set was appraised in 2006 at GBH’s Antiques Roadshow for a whopping $250,000. But was this coveted circa 1775 two-piece secretary a match made in heaven? Join host Adam Monahan as he discovers how a shocking secret revealed after the show making the piece even...
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On Top of the World
Maps show us the world. These wayfinding wonders show us how people think about the world, and sometimes they make us think about the world differently. When a map from 1700 worth thousands of dollars and showing a very different world view came to ANTIQUES ROADSHOW’s 2023 event in Sturbridge…
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Standing the Test of Time
When a large equine statue first appeared at ANTIQUES ROADSHOW in 1997, Asian Arts expert Lark Mason was suspicious if it was truly an authentic relic from China’s Tang Dynasty or if he was dealing with a horse of a different color. There was only one way to know for sure if this U.S. Air Force...
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One of a Kind
Since ANTIQUES ROADSHOW debuted on PBS almost 30 years ago, toys and games expert Noel Barrett has brought joy and vast knowledge to countless guests, but there’s one appraisal—and mistake—he just can’t let go of: a 1930s Snow White painting that defied all initial expectations. Join host Adam...
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Elvis Tries to Leave the Building
Thirteen years ago, a life-sized Elvis Presley cutout rocked ANTIQUES ROADSHOW with a $10,000-$15,000 estimate but now it’s time for him to leave the building. Join ANTIQUES ROADSHOW DETOURS host Adam Monahan for a journey through pop culture history and a dramatic auction filled with twists and...
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Treasure from the Trash Heap
Is it true that one person’s junk could actually be a treasure? If you’re an ANTIQUES ROADSHOW fan you might know our Junk in the Trunk specials – loving tributes to the left-over appraisals from the cities we visit each year. But what happened when an odd-looking pen was discovered during...
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The Case of the Folk Art Forgers
For an appraiser, keeping a keen eye out for forgeries is part of the job. But just how complicated can that task become and to what lengths will forgers go to pass their work off as authentic? Join host Adam Monahan as he explores the story of famed 20th century Louisiana folk artist Clementine...
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The Most Dangerous Book
Are you in danger of being poisoned by an antique book? The Victorian era ushered in new bright vivid dye formulas that produced brilliant yellows, reds, blues, purples, and greens. Although an antidote to the pervasive soot and grime of the day, these new dyes were laced with poisonous heavy...
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A Fact Re-Checked
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW DETOURS kicks off Season 6 with a TV fact checker’s worst nightmare - an error pointed out by a keen ROADSHOW viewer. When the date of a painting depicting a quintessential Chicago scene of the activity on Michigan Avenue is called into question, host Adam Monahan begins a hunt...
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Antiques Roadshow Detours Season 6 Trailer
Ever wondered what happens to the treasures featured on America’s beloved ANTIQUES ROADSHOW after the cameras leave town? A new season of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW DETOURS tracks down the juicy afterlives of your favorite finds from PBS’s hit series. Hosted by longtime ROADSHOW producer Adam Monahan…
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Take Me Out to the Ballgame - How the Boston Red Sox, Babe Ruth and the long-forgotten Bunker Hill Brewery combined to make one homerun of a calendar!
Boston Red Sox fans are a committed bunch – to the game, the team, the players, and the belief that a curse from 1918 kept the team away from a World Series win until broken in 2004. So, when a guest brought a Red Sox calendar, discovered behind a barn door after almost 100 years, to GBH’s…
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The Poster Boy Takes a Dive – How an 1890s waterpark, the power of Victorian-era advertising and one man’s unlimited dreams culminated in drama at the auction block in 2023
Ask fans of GBH’s Antiques Roadshow if they have a favorite appraiser and you’ll hear many names, including one known for his big character, creative mustache styles and bold plaid suits. Nicholas Lowry is a poster expert and master auctioneer – two qualities that were integral to the story of a...
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Skippy the Hero Dog – How the story of a kidnapped baby, a spunky hero dog and today’s TikTok fans came together to determine the true value of a tattered Dog of the Year award.
Calling all dog lovers and true-crime aficionados! In 2022 Linda brought a chipped, cracked, and stained ceramic plate featuring the portrait of a long-ago dog to GBH’s Antiques Roadshow in Santa Fe, NM. But why would the story around this unassuming item soon ignite controversy among appraisers…
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The First Japanese American -- How a story involving sailors lost at sea, 1850s San Francisco, and a Japanese teenager’s quest to build a new life connected two strangers more than a century later.
When GBH’s Antiques Roadshow visited Sacramento, CA in 2019 a red-covered two-volume book set was brought to the show by a guest eager to learn about a selection from her grandfather’s book collection. “The Narrative of a Japanese” by Joseph Heco was recognized immediately by appraiser Martin...
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The Unsinkable Titanic Biscuit – An epic shipwreck continues to fascinate a century later creating a collector’s market for Titanic memorabilia that thrives today.
In 1999 a box of artifacts from the sinking of the Titanic made its way to GBH’s Antiques Roadshow, including blurry photos of the eerie ice-filled wreck site, a handwritten diary, and -- a biscuit. But how could something so simple and fragile have survived the ship’s sinking? And could the...
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The Bob Ross Appreciation Society – How the US Air Force, fluffy clouds and the power of PBS combined to create a pop culture icon and paintings worth mountains of money.
Until 2023, zero paintings created by the beloved PBS artist Bob Ross had ever been brought to GBH’s Antiques Roadshow. That all changed at the show’s recent stop in Anchorage, Alaska when a whopping six made their way in front of the lights and cameras. Paintings by Ross almost never show up in...
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To Bean or Not to Bean—How an unexplored mention of personal turmoil spurs a look into the short but impactful life of Keith Haring: famous pop artist, trailblazing activist, friend to Andy Warhol and Madonna, and beloved brother.
In 1977, while preparing a move to New York to make it big as an artist, a young Keith Haring gifted a lithograph titled “Bean Salad” as a goodbye present to his friend Mike. Mike couldn’t bear to display the gift, but also couldn’t part with it, and after 45 years he took the lithograph to the...
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Spilling the Secret Sauce – How a chatty event volunteer discovered an uncanny connection involving the U.S military, World War II airborne warfare and an elite military unit so secret that it was kept classified until the 1980s.
At each appraisal event for GBH’s Antiques Roadshow, along with staff and crew, it takes over 100 volunteers to ensure the event runs smoothly. Each is trained in the specifics of their role for the day, including the most important training point -- never talk to guests about their items prior…
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Yacht What it Looks Like – An unsigned maritime masterpiece of a yacht race, a 19th-century pastime of the idle rich, takes DETOURS to visit appraisers, auction experts and the Peabody Essex Museum as the mystery of the painter’s identity is revealed.
An astonishing maritime painting depicting a 19th century yacht race was brought to GBH’s Antiques Roadshow in Tampa, FL in 2005. Although unsigned, the extraordinary depiction of billowing sails and light-reflected sea spray clearly pointed to the work of artist James Buttersworth and was valued...
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The Barbie Boost? – How a pioneering Mattel designer created a superstar sensation and how a recent No. 1 Barbie’s sale defined the doll’s new moment.
A coveted 1959 No. 1 Barbie was appraised for GBH’s Antiques Roadshow in 2016 with a value of $3,500-$4,500. But with today’s Barbie mania following the release of the mega-hit movie, has a nice pink glow washed over the market for the stylishly superstar doll? Join host Adam Monahan as he toys...
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Billy the Kid? – How the notorious Wild West outlaw is still a “wanted” man, and why everyone—even National Geographic—is interested in getting to the bottom of the authenticity of his image
A family photograph, long rumored to feature the wild western outlaw, Billy the Kid, is brought to the set of GBH’s Antiques Roadshow in 2017 where it is quickly and roundly declared as inauthentic. In fact, there is still only one truly authenticated image of “the Kid” known, although countless...
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Breaking the Ice – the story of how Whirlpool’s Miracle Kitchen traveled to Russia and ignited a frosty debate between two superpowers
In 2018 GBH’s Antiques Roadshow visited one of the coolest locations the show has filmed at to-date, the Hotel del Coronado, right on the beach in southern CA. So it was surprising when a guest brought a well-used kitchen table to be appraised and even more surprising when it was revealed to be...
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Seeing the Bigger Picture
Controversial items are nothing new to GBH’s Antiques Roadshow, but when an artist’s study sketch was brought to the show’s 2007 event in Baltimore, MD it seemed unlikely to be one. However, it was because of the bigger picture – literally –a mural created for the state of Indiana by Thomas Hart...
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Byrd Flies South – how The New York Times, Wrigley’s, Paramount Pictures, and other early 20th century icons helped to usher in the age of the personal brand
Photos from Admiral Byrd’s famed Antarctic expedition brought in 2021 to GBH’s Antiques Roadshow in Sands Point, NY reveal rare glimpses into life at the South Pole almost 100 years ago. Join host Adam Monahan as he discovers how science and PR collide in this tale of one man’s quest for fame and…
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All that Glitters - Gold ingots, retrieved from the ocean floor and appraised on America’s favorite antiques show back in 1999 are now the subject of an international investigation.
Gold ingots, retrieved from the ocean floor and appraised on America’s favorite antiques show back in 1999 are now the subject of an international investigation. Apparently, which part of the ocean floor is a pretty big deal… Join host Adam Monahan to find out where these gold bars reside today!
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To Utah Beach and Back – How a World War II helmet revealed a Naval hero in Normandy and the memorial efforts across two countries to document this veteran’s story.
A World War II Navy helmet brought to GBH’s Antiques Roadshow, and used for years as a decorative planter, was revealed to be that of the US Naval officer in charge at Utah Beach during the allied landing in Normandy. Appraiser Jeff Shrader carefully inspected the helmet. What did his analysis...
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Good Grief – A Charles Schulz comic strip collection (and its owner) gets a Hallmark-moment
GBH’s Antiques Roadshow is known for mind-blowing valuations, but often the owners and their stories are the true treasures–like Arnold Shapiro, the guest who was responsible for putting Peanuts cartoons on Hallmark greeting cards. Hear more about Arnold’s 12-year relationship with the iconic...
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Theresa's Choice – When an inherited piece of New Orleans Art Pottery is appraised for thousands, does it still pay to keep it in the family?
It is the dream scenario on GBH’s Antiques Roadshow: your object is appraised for more than you ever imagined. But when that object is a beloved family treasure, do you keep or sell? This hypothetical becomes a reality for Theresa after she learns that her inherited New Orleans Art Pottery...
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Do you Believe in Magic? - 1990's trading cards worth the price of a car
A collection of 1993 "Magic: The Gathering" Beta cards are appraised on GBH’s Antiques Roadshow for up to $100,000 leaving producers wondering when–and why–did these modern collectibles get so valuable? Host Adam Monahan heads straight to the source for answers: with a trip to a Magic tournament,...
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Is This a Letdown? - How a Galileo forgery found at the University of Michigan led to a historical hunt for answers
News that a famous Galileo manuscript at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor was revealed to be a fake raises questions about a similar letter that appeared on GBH’s Antiques Roadshow in 2014. Did the show get it wrong? And how can a fake be so convincing it fools multiple experts? Host Adam...
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Six Touchdowns and a Song - The epic appraisal and auction of an NFL legend's jersey
In 1965, Gale Sayers was the first-round draft pick for the Chicago Bears, kicking off a history-making NFL career. 41 years later, a bloody, torn up jersey worn by Sayers appears on GBH’s Antiques Roadshow after narrowly being saved from a fate as a cleaning rag. What follows is an epic TV...
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Cowboy Jim's Big Gamble - does a test on a red diamond ring reveal big money jewelry or big disappointment?
GBH’s Antiques Roadshow has a fair share of characters cross its set, but none like the towering, booming-voiced cowboy who attended the 2018 taping in Tulsa, OK. With a rare red diamond ring, cowboy Jim sought to learn the gem’s value. But would his $35K gamble pay off big? Join host Adam…
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Let's Get Naked
In 2014 a gorgeous painting was brought to GBH’s Antiques Roadshow in Bismarck, ND. The appraisal was selected by producers but ultimately cut from the episode before it aired. What made this piece of art so controversial? The late 1800s oil featured a nude woman. Join host Adam Monahan as he...
About this show
Ever wondered what happens to the treasures featured on America’s beloved ANTIQUES ROADSHOW after the cameras leave town? ANTIQUES ROADSHOW DETOURS tracks down the juicy afterlives of your favorite finds from PBS’s hit series. Hosted by longtime Roadshow producer Adam Monahan, this podcast dives deep into mysteries, secrets, and surprises as each episode takes a thrilling “detour” into a single ROADSHOW object, astonishing and amusing listeners with every turn. A production of GBH and distributed by PRX.Antiques Roadshow is a trademark of the BBC and Detours is a trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation.
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