Antiques Roadshow Detours

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.

63 episodes

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Episodes 63

Encore: If it’s Brown it’s Down
12d ago · 29:56
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 more rare, along with a powerful new market trend combine to dramatically change the value.
A Lasting Impression
27d ago · 28:59
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 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW in 2016 and aired on national TV, the previously unknown relic created a stir in the Madison research community. Join host Adam Monahan as he unseals history around the man known as the “Father of the Constitution,” his mentorship of a young politician from whom he asks a peculiar favor, and
The Tiffany Gamble
1mo ago · 34:38
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 purchase of 52 rare Tiffany mosaics, previously discovered in 2024 at ROADSHOW in Las Vegas? Join host Adam Monahan as he shuffles through the history of a once glamorous Detroit building that had fallen into ruin, how the rare relics were rescued, and whether Arlie will cash in big or be left holding a
The Sucker and the Punch
1mo ago · 29:08
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 genre known as pulp is now hotter than ever on the market. Join host Adam Monahan as he fights to answer the question of why such an image was created, learns the intriguing story of the creator whose legacy is largely forgotten, and uncovers the true intent behind the canvas.
Jaws vs. the Jinx
2mo ago · 26:18
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 movie treasures hit the auction block, including a rare, shark-toothed clapperboard discovered on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW in 2021 and at the time appraised for a whopping $25,000 to $35,000. Join host Adam Monahan as he dips his toes back into the auction pool to find out if the clapperboard would have fina
Not What You Hurd
3mo ago · 30:44
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’ clues to reveal both the silver’s early-American history and extraordinary value. But does Nick’s tale of the tankards hold water? Join host Adam Monahan as he searches for the untarnished truth, picking through the many stories, half-truths, and wishful legends in a quest for what may or may not have be
The Empire Strikes Cash
4mo ago · 29:16
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, still sealed in plastic on colorful cards at ROADSHOW in Salt Lake City, he had found the stuff of collecting dreams. Join host Adam Monahan as he speaks with Jim Swearingen, the Kenner designer who helped turn putty and Fisher-Price parts into a global phenomenon, to learn the real history behind the
Bunny Business
4mo ago · 23:58
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” costume complete with sash and shoes, trophies, and a celebrity-signed program. Join host Adam Monahan as he goes down the rabbit hole to learn what it was like inside Chicago’s famed Playboy Club and discovers how this memorable collection went from life in the Playboy fast lane to a permanent collection
The Fake That Is or Isn’t
5mo ago · 25:52
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, acquired by the guest for $15,000, a “Faux-berge” fake. The matter seemed closed until a second, conflicting appraisal was revealed. Was Sebastian right all along or had he made a "royal blunder"? Join host Adam Monahan as he dives into the chaos of the Russian Revolution, tracks down a world leading Fabergé
Season 7 Trailer - New eps coming March 30th!
5mo ago · 2:25
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 "Faux-bergé" eggs and the appraisals that went spectacularly wrong, we’re following the truth wherever it leads. Join us for a new season of fakes, fumbles, and fascinating history. New episodes start March 30th!
Encore: If it’s Brown it’s Down
7mo ago · 29:56
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 more rare, along with a powerful new market trend combine to dramatically change the value.
On Top of the World
12mo ago · 22:59
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, MA, it raised the question – on modern maps, why is north always at the top? Join host Adam Monahan as he travels through map making history to discover the surprising events that flipped cartography on its head.
Standing the Test of Time
1y ago · 26:02
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 pilot's 1950 purchase was authentic. Would the piece pass an age-detecting thermoluminescence test? Join host Adam Monahan as he follows the horse’s trail from ancient-buried treasure to modern-day marvel, and finally to the shocking result with a return to the appraisal table!
One of a Kind
1y ago · 24:27
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 Monahan as he takes us on an unexpected journey through the world of Disney art, exploring how the true value of this treasure only revealed itself over time.
Elvis Tries to Leave the Building
1y ago · 25:25
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 turns. Will the superfan owner score a princely payday for the King of Rock and Roll or are they headed to the heartbreak hotel?
Treasure from the Trash Heap
1y ago · 23:15
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 ROADSHOW’s 2023 visit to Akron, OH? Join host Adam Monahan as he picks through the junkpile of history to rediscover a forgotten invention by Thomas Edison and rescued an appraisal from the cutting room floor to fulfill the TV dreams of the guest who owns it.
The Case of the Folk Art Forgers
1y ago · 25:40
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 Hunter, a prolific painter whose work regularly appears at ANTIQUES ROADSHOW events, and uncovers how an astute student of her work noticed oddities in the marketplace which led to the FBI cracking the biggest Hunter forgery case ever!
The Most Dangerous Book
1y ago · 22:22
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 metals – the worst being Emerald Green containing arsenic. Join host Adam Monahan who questions if over 29 seasons of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW a poisonous book has ever come before the hit series’ cameras? Follow the search through the show’s appraisal archive, the discovery of a curiously bright green book film
A Fact Re-Checked
1y ago · 28:23
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 for the truth and sets off a cascade of coincidences and corrections. What follows is a captivating journey of twists and turns, building to a thrilling auction finale…but are the mysteries of the painting ever solved?
Antiques Roadshow Detours Season 6 Trailer
1y ago · 3:21
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, 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. From GBH and PRX.
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!
2y ago · 26:16
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 Antiques Roadshow in 2021, that fan commitment clearly shone through in the $20K-$30K appraisal value. Join host (and Red Sox fanatic) Adam Monahan as he takes a swing at tracing the events leading to the curse, how this particular long-ago brewery-sponsored calendar stopped time at the moment it began, and
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
2y ago · 25:02
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 larger-than-life aquatic poster bathed in muted watery green depicting splashing swimmers and onlookers lining the balcony above, that made its way to the show during a 2004 stop in Portland. Join host Adam Monahan as he dives into the incredible story of Sutro Baths, San Francisco’s 1890 engineering m
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.
2y ago · 21:12
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 as to the plate’s true worth? Join host Adam Monahan as he chases the fantastic story of Skippy, a Belgian Shepherd who in 1952 saved Linda from the arms of a kidnapper and was subsequently honored as Dog of the Year.
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.
2y ago · 24:32
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 Gammon for its historical importance, but how would this 1895 publication make a modern-day connection 150 years later? Join host Adam Monahan as he examines how an email received by the series after the episode aired led to an incredible connection between the book’s owner and a TV viewer who recognized
The Unsinkable Titanic Biscuit – An epic shipwreck continues to fascinate a century later creating a collector’s market for Titanic memorabilia that thrives today.
2y ago · 31:49
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 biscuit and other items from the famed shipwreck find a place in today’s collector’s market? Join host Adam Monahan as he dives deep into the story of one tragic night, a honeymooning couple’s tale of survival, and the ship that continues to capture the attention of people more than a century later.