Stan Hywet had the largest number of sweepstakes entrants, with 27,452 people applying for 2,700 pairs of tickets. (Photographs by Eric Eakin)

By CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKIN
As seen on TV! The cast and crew of “Antiques Roadshow,” PBS’ most-watched ongoing series, recently made a stop in Northeast Ohio. They visited Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron for an all-day appraisal as part of the series’ 28th production tour.
“Holding events at properties like Stan Hywet provides an enriching experience for our guests and audiences that they may otherwise miss,” Marsha Bemko, Roadshow executive producer said. “Our cameras blanket the property, capturing appraisals with the action of the event as a backdrop and when possible, taking our audience ‘backstage’ to learn about meaningful history and cultures across the country.”
At each appraisal event, guests receive free verbal evaluations of their antiques and collectibles by experts from the country’s leading auction houses and independent dealers. Each ticketed guest is invited to bring

Expert Appraiser Richard Cervantes, SVP/Director of Asian Works of Art for Doyle New York.

two items for appraisal. The appraisers volunteer their time in exchange for being featured on the show, according to Bemko.
A ticket sweepstakes is held to determine who will be an attendance at each appraisal. There are five locations on the 2023 production tour. In addition to Stan Hywet, other locations are: the LSU Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge, LA; North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, NC; Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA; and Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage, AK.
The third location on the tour, Stan Hywet had the largest number of sweepstakes entrants, with 27,452 people from all across the country applying for 2,700 pairs of tickets. At each of the five tour events, the Antiques Roadshow crew records around 150 appraisals. Of those, about 30 will appear in each episode. Three shows will be produced from the Stan Hywet event.

Expert appraisers determine what items are worth or if they have a hidden history.

As attendees gained entrance to the grounds, they were directed to the Triage area to have their items assessed. There, the items were divided according to the area of expertise of the appraisers. Those selected to be filmed were sent to the Green Room to prepare them for taping. There were seven filming areas at Stan Hywet, with one roving crew.
“We stay at each location until everyone in attendance has had an opportunity to have their items seen and appraised,” Marsha Bemko noted. “Everything is interesting. Some things generate real excitement among the appraisers.” Bemko said one attendee at Stan Hywet arrived with a painting that they claimed was by Whistler. “Our appraisers were scurrying to determine whether that was true by the end of the day,” she added.
“You might wonder if the items you brought have a hidden history, or if your find is worth a fortune. Our experts are ready to help solve that mystery. Even after hours of non-stop action, when appraising a unique item, we often hear appraisers say, ‘thank you for making my day’,” Bemko noted.
Antiques Roadshow paid its last visit to Northeast Ohio in 2015. Bemko said they like to visit cities all across the country. “Our advance team looks at all possible locations. We are careful where we go. Not every location will welcome us. We are a lot of company. I have huge pride in how well we pull these events off,” she added.
At the end of the day, attendees are invited to the feedback area to offer comments about their day at the show. “Even if their items were not featured, they still have an opportunity to get on camera,” Bemko said.